"My journey in cyber security began in 2021 when I joined the University of South Wales to study applied cyber security. During my time at the university, my class received numerous visits and talks from Bridewell. During one of these visits, a Bridewell representative delivered a presentation on the Bridewell Academy. This immediately caught my attention as it wasn't just an opportunity to start a career in cyber, but also an opportunity to learn and develop. The Bridewell Academy offers people the chance to gain hands-on experience while also earning industry-recognised certifications.
I joined Bridewell in March 2024. Although I was still in university at the time, Bridewell allowed me to take days off to attend university and complete my course, further highlighting Bridewell’s commitment to the development and support of its academy members. I felt incredibly lucky to be able to learn and work simultaneously without becoming overwhelmed. After I finished university, Bridewell enrolled me in the SANS GFACT course to solidify my foundational knowledge in cyber security.
By June, I had finished university, passed the SANS GFACT course, and completed my probation. I was now ready to gain experience working face-to-face with clients. I was privileged to work with one of Bridewell's top clients within their GRC team. This was a great opportunity for me to gain my first experience working with clients, test my security knowledge, and develop the skills to be a consultant. It's important to note that I was not alone on this project; I had support from senior Bridewell consultants who also worked on the project and were always there for support and guidance when needed. The experience I gained on this project was invaluable and filled me with great confidence for the next project I moved on to.
I moved on to a new project with a different client and a completely different team of consultants at Bridewell. Despite not having worked together before and my limited experience, I was made to feel incredibly welcome and was asked for my opinions and views on the project. Any advice or opinion I had was listened to and taken into consideration, demonstrating Bridewell's value of "One Team."
Bridewell isn't just a place to work, learn, and develop; it's also a place to create real relationships. BridewellCon is an annual company event where the entire company comes together for a two-day conference. In a world of hybrid working, this is a fantastic opportunity for people in the organisation to meet up and build upon the bonds they may have already created online. It's also a great chance to meet people from different areas of the business who you may never have worked with before.
Rising Star at BridewellCon
At BridewellCon, there is an awards ceremony to recognise employees for their hard work over the year. I was honoured to be awarded the "Academy Rising Star" award for my development over my first few months in the Bridewell Academy and for receiving positive feedback from the client I had been working with leading up to BridewellCon. I felt incredibly proud to receive this award and to be recognised for the work I had put in. This motivated me to keep working hard and learning something new every day to gain as much experience as possible during my time in the academy.
Now, as I approach my final few months in the academy, I am reflecting on the amazing journey it has been so far. I am filled with great excitement for what's to come in the coming years as I leave the academy and continue my journey in cyber security at Bridewell.
Looking to the future, I am excited about the times ahead with this great company as I progress and develop as a cyber security professional. I will always be incredibly grateful for the opportunity the Bridewell Academy has given me, and I look forward to helping guide future cohort members on their journey in the Bridewell Academy."
