Cyber and digital competition launched for 11-16 year olds attending schools in Yorkshire and Humber

Cyber Switch Up 2023 is a brand new digital and cyber skills competition for every child at school in Yorkshire and Humber, in Key Stages 3 and 4.

It’s totally free to enter, and the online qualifier can be done at home or school, with permission from a parent or teacher.

Organised by Yorkshire and Humber Regional Cyber Crime Unit, it aims to not only engage the talented young people of the region, but to open their minds to career pathways in the cyber world after school.

If your child is a pupil at any secondary school in Yorkshire and the Humber, and in Key Stage 3 or 4, they can enter.

How it works

Registration for the competition is now open – simply visit www.cyberswitchup.com for the online qualifier. The online qualifier takes place between 24th-30th April and involves a series of online exercises and puzzles with a cyber and digital theme.

Everyone taking part will receive an e-certificate, and the top qualifiers will be invited to an in person final at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate on 8th August 2023. There, through a series of hands-on, fun and challenging exercises and puzzles in a gaming arena, they will battle it out to test their Cyber and digital skills in an exciting, fun packed, series of mini final rounds to claim victory, with trophies and prizes up for grabs, this is not to be missed.

The grand final will include a series of keynote talks and exhibitions around education, career opportunities and pathways for young people relating to cyber and digital themes.

Organisers have lined up a challenge coin for every finalist, and prizes and trophies for the winner and runner up in each key stage.

Claire Allison from YHROCU said: “This is a unique competition specifically created for young people in the Yorkshire and Humber region by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Cyber Unit.

“We’d be delighted to see as many young people enter as possible. If you are the parent or guardian of a person in the age group, or teach Key Stages 3 or 4, we hope you’ll encourage students to enter and showcase our young people’s cyber and digitals skills and help them to identify career pathways, and be in with a chance of winning some exciting prizes.”

All participants must pre-register here – www.cyberswitchup.com

To find out more about the competition, parents and teachers can email [email protected]