55 Section 7 DEVELOP 7.0.1. The DEVELOP strand of the strategy sets out how we will acquire and strengthen the tools and capabilities that the UK needs to protect itself from the cyber threat. 7.0.2. The UK requires more talented and qualified cyber security professionals. The Government will act now to plug the growing gap between demand and supply for key cyber security roles, and inject renewed vigour into this area of education and training. This is a long-term, transformative objective, and this strategy will kick-start this important work, which will necessarily continue beyond 2021. A skilled workforce is the lifeblood of a vital and world leading cyber security commercial ecosystem. This ecosystem will ensure cyber start-ups prosper and receive the investment and support they need. This innovation and vigour can only be provided by the private sector; but the Government will act to support its development, and actively promote the wider cyber security sector to the world market. A dynamic and thriving scientific research sector is required to support both the development of highly skilled people, and to ensure that new ideas translate into cutting-edge products. 7.1. STRENGTHENING CYBER SECURITY SKILLS 7.1.1. The UK needs to tackle the systemic issues at the heart of the cyber skills shortage: the lack of young people entering the profession; the shortage of current cyber security specialists; insufficient exposure to cyber and information security concepts in computing courses; a shortage of suitably qualified teachers; and the absence of established career and training pathways into the profession. 7.1.2. This calls for swift intervention by the Government to help address the current shortage and develop a coherent long-term strategy that can build on these interventions to close the skills gap. However, it must be recognised that to have any profound impact, this effort must be collaborative, with input from a range of participants and influencers across the Devolved Administrations, public sector, education providers, academia bodies and industry. Objective 7.1.3. The Government’s ambition is to ensure the sustained supply of the best possible home-grown cyber security talent, whilst funding specific interventions in the short term to help meet known skills gaps. We will also define and develop the cyber security skills needed across the population and workforce to operate safely and securely online. 7.1.4. This requires action over the next twenty years, not just the next five. We will define the long-term, coordinated set of actions needed by government, industry, education providers and academia to establish a sustained supply of competent cyber security professionals, who meet the requisite standards and certification to practise confidently and securely. 7.1.5. We will close the skills gap in Defence. We will attract cyber specialists to government who are not only effectively trained but also ready to maintain our national security. This includes an understanding of the impact of cyberspace on military operations. Our approach 7.1.6. We will develop and implement a self-standing skills strategy that builds on existing work to integrate cyber security into the education system. This will continue to improve the state of computer science teaching overall and embed cyber National Cyber Security Strategy 2016