A college has launched a new course aimed at tackling the cyber security skills shortage.

Heart of Worcestershire (HoW) College, which has campuses in Worcester, Bromsgrove, Malvern and Redditch, has introduced the 'Cyber Security – Accredited Level 1 qualification' course, designed for UK businesses that, according to recent government research, lack basic cyber security skills.

The course is open to people aged 19 and over, and is available for free or at a reduced cost, depending on eligibility.

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The reduced fee is made possible by funding from SkillsBoost.

The course will run from Monday 2 to Thursday, December 5 and can be taken online or in person at the college's Worcester or Redditch campuses.

Those who complete the course will receive a 'Level 1 Award in Cyber Security' and gain knowledge in areas such as understanding cyber crime, protecting against cyber crime, and the law and cyber crime.

This initiative comes in the wake of research conducted by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which found that half of businesses and around a third of charities have experienced some form of cyber security breach or attack in the last year.

The study also found that many UK businesses continue to lack staff with the technical skills, incident response skills, and governance skills needed to manage their cyber security.

Neil Gardiner, curriculum, resource, and quality lead at the college, said: "Heart of Worcestershire College aims to prepare students for careers in the fast-growing field of information security, as technology continues to shape industries and daily life.

"This new course aims to educate and empower people with the essential skills to combat cyber threats and protect digital infrastructure."

The course content includes understanding the types, motives, and tactics used in cyber crime and their effects on people and organisations.