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BLETCHLEY PARK: Alan Turing’s codebreakers decoding of the Enigma Machine helped win WW2

The home of the Enigma codebreakers Bletchley Park is set to become the home of the UK’s first ever National College of Cyber Security.

Bletchley Park was home to the team of scientists who helped crack Enigma code and win World War 2 for Britain.

Secret codes were used by the German military to encrypt their messages for their army, air force and navy.

Mathematician Alan Turing led a team of scientists to cracking the Nazi code and was invaluable in helping win the war for Britain.

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ALAN TURING: Bletchley Park will reopen as the National College of Cyber Security

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U-BOATS: Breaking the Enigma code allowed Brit ships to evade German U-boats

“The cyber threat is the real threat facing the UK”

Alastair MacWilson

Following in Turing’s footsteps, Bletchley Park is now set to be reopened as a place where Britain’s brightest students can become the nation’s next line of defence in the age of cyber warfare.

The college – which is being created by a new cyber security body called Qufaro – will open in 2018 once a £5m restoration of buildings on the Bletchley Park site is complete.

Aimed at 16 to 19-year-olds, the college will be free and selected on talent alone.

Alastair MacWillson, chairman of Qufaro, said: “The cyber threat is the real threat facing the UK, and the problem it’s causing the UK government and companies is growing exponentially.

“There is a shortfall in terms of the professional resources to combat this right now and it will get so much worse unless there is a programme to get to grips with it.”

He added there is a shortfall of around 700,000 cyber security experts across Europe.

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KATE MIDDLETON: The Duchess of Cambridge visiting Bletchley Park

MacWilson added: “Our cyber education and innovation landscape is complex, disconnected and incomplete putting us at risk of losing a whole generation of critical talent.

“For those interested in forging a career in cyber, the current pathway is filled with excellent but disparate initiatives – each playing a vital role without offering a truly unified ecosystem of learning and support.

“By connecting what already exists and filling the gaps, Qufaro will make it easier for budding professionals to grow their cyber security skills at every stage of their journey, and contribute more to the sector as a result.”