How former teachers are thriving in cyber security careers
Kate is a cybersecurity consultant at AtkinsRéalis who transitioned from teaching A-level computer science to working in cybersecurity. With a rich background in PC support and over 15 years in education, Kate brings a unique perspective to the cyber front. Her passion for blending educational principles with cybersecurity challenges highlights the diverse opportunities in the field, even for those with non-technical backgrounds.
Meet the original #STEMGIRL
For as long as I can remember, I've been surrounded by computers. My father's career was in the IT industry. For most of my childhood, he ran the Computer Room for a large retail organization. Once computers became small enough, my sisters and I got to play with the computers he brought home. Everything from an early version of Pong, exploring VisiCalc and programming in BASIC. Although my school had a Computer Club, it seemed unwelcoming to girls—a contrast to the freedom I enjoyed at home to explore computing as much as I wished.
I enjoy using computers to solve problems, but I also love the challenge inherent in creating a solution to a problem. A passion I still have today.
Simplifying tech for others
I did a degree in computer studies, or what we now call software engineering. During the industrial year of my degree, I was lucky to be accepted for a PC support role with IBM. At IBM, I discovered I had a talent for explaining complex technical ideas in simple, easy-to-understand ways. Something I found very useful when trying to help someone solve their hardware or software problem! This led to jobs in PC Support when I left University.
Empowering users through education
I quickly discovered that just solving a problem was only half the solution. I found that explaining why a problem occurred and then training the user to solve it themselves ensured I ended up with fewer repeat incidents and more confident users. Training provides two challenges—how to solve the problem and then how to explain the problem and its solution to someone else.
Passion for teaching and technology
Training challenges were my favorite part of my role. So when I returned to work after having children, another training role seemed a natural choice. I chose to take the teaching route because it gave me a formal teaching qualification. Teaching young people worked around my own children, allowing me to spend all day sharing a subject I'm passionate about.
Going from teaching to cyber
Teaching is an all-consuming job, and when my children left home, I realized that the job was taking over. I had little time to enjoy my newfound freedom. I spent a long time considering where I wanted to go next. Teaching in a Sixth Form College gave me a wide range of computing skills, and I enjoyed them all! In 2020, I was lucky enough to attend a CyberFirst Train the Teacher Futures Course. I quickly realized that cybersecurity was what I was looking for as my next challenge. A sector that mixed people and technical skills equally and where training and awareness were needed.
Office days for team connection
As a teacher, being constantly surrounded by and talking to people was something I thrived on. Transitioning to working from home, I discovered just how much I missed the interaction. AtkinsRéalis supports flexible and hybrid working options, allowing me to spend a significant part of my week in the office or at client sites, reconnecting with the team and enjoying the collaborative buzz I love.
Leveraging my transferrable skills
Learning the cybersecurity skills was daunting at first. There seemed and still seems to be so much to learn, but the soft skills I honed while teaching have meant I am not afraid to ask for help, and I have found everyone willing and happy to support me.
Celebrating my cyber achievements
There are several things I am proud to have achieved since joining AtkinsRéalis. Firstly, I passed my ISO27001 and CISMP courses—it had been a long time since I took exams! Secondly, being part of the project team that delivered NIS-R training. I combined my teaching skills with my technical skills. I achieved a successful outcome for the client—all my reasons for moving into cybersecurity!
Building a cyber-aware future
People are the thing we can't control when it comes to technology. Training and awareness are the only ways we ensure that we keep people and their data safe without taking away their own agency. Teaching young people how to keep their data safe and why this is important would lay the foundations for a supremely cyber-aware workforce. Not only would this benefit the whole of society, but it would also help us meet the enormous challenges of the next century.
Diversity fuels cyber innovation
The bad guys are constantly inventing new ways to steal our data and invade our privacy. We can't fight that by repeating the same old methods. We, too, have to change, adapt and innovate. We can only stay one step ahead if we encourage people into the industry who can look at existing problems in new ways, innovate and think differently, and imagine the answers to the issues that don't yet exist. I believe we can foster this by making cybersecurity welcoming to all.
Shaping mindsets for cyber resilience
The technical Computer Science educational curriculum is a barrier to young people being taught more general IT and cybersecurity skills. There is an assumption that because young people have grown up with technology, they understand the risks associated with using it. We need to explain and help our young people understand these risks. Not only will this go some way to making staying safe online a default, but it will also ensure that a much wider group of people consider cybersecurity as a career.
Interested? Find out more about life at AtkinsRéalis
Sign up to receive the latest content tailored to your interests
Our articles

Preview
CanadaContent type
BlogsPublish date
03/20/2025
Summary
Snippet title Lire en français Meet Marc-Antoine, a structural engineer and structural inspection and asset management expert at AtkinsRéalis in Canada. Let’s learn about his passion for st

Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
03/20/2025
Summary
Behind every successful project, from towering skyscrapers to cutting-edge industrial facilities, there’s a structured and efficient flow of information. At the heart of this process is the documen
.jpg)
Preview
AfricaContent type
BlogsPublish date
03/19/2025
Summary
Architecture jobs in Egypt are among the fastest-growing opportunities in the country. Projected to grow by 20% by 2030, the market is booming, creating plenty of demand for visionary architects in

Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
03/19/2025
Summary
Transport systems are the backbone of any economy. In India, they’re hugely influential for both connectivity and trade facilitation. Transport systems in India are projected to account for 40% of

Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
03/18/2025
Summary
Imagine a career where your engineering expertise doesn’t just contribute to projects—it helps shape the world’s future. At AtkinsRéalis India, we offer you the chance to be part of groundbreaking

Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
03/12/2025
Summary
Hi, I'm Lana. I hold a French engineering degree in geotechnical and civil engineering from Polytech Grenoble, which included a two-semester Erasmus+ exchange at Loughborough University. My journ

Preview
AsiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
03/11/2025
Summary
Sustainability is no longer a choice but an imperative for modern engineering. Today, it is woven into every decision, every project, and every goal. At AtkinsRéalis, we have the privilege to

by
Shailaja Mantha

Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
03/07/2025
Summary
Hello, my name is Manali, and I work at AtkinsRéalis at the Global Technology Centre (GTC) in India. This International Women's Day, I want to tell you about my career journey, which has been as

by
Akash Kumar
.jpg)
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
03/06/2025
Summary
The state of the UK water industry Water is the foundation of life. It sustains communities, powers industries, and supports ecosystems—but across the world, this critical resource is under increa

Preview
GeneralContent type
BlogsPublish date
03/06/2025
Summary
What are social value jobs? Social value jobs aren’t just roles with ‘social value’ in the title—they’re careers that make a tangible impact on communities, the environment, and society as a whole
.png)
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
03/05/2025
Summary
Hi, my name is Britty. I'm a Chartered Water and Environmental Manager based in Bengaluru. I have over seven years of engineering experience in the water and wastewater industry and work in the Gl

by
Akash Kumar

Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
03/03/2025
Summary
The importance of job satisfaction can’t be understated. When we work in a great place, we do our job with a smile. At AtkinsRéalis, we’re committed to being the best place in the Middle East for impa
Related jobs
Salary
Location
Epsom
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Project management
Market
Security, aerospace & defence
Category
Permanent
Location
Epsom
Description
Take our vision into the future.The AtkinsRéalis Infrastructure Project Delivery Practice (PDP) is the centre of excellence for the delivery of infrastructure projects and combines the best in project
Reference
R-128723
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Dwithi MAuthor
Dwithi MSalary
Location
Silchester
Job Type
Flexible Working
Full Time
Career Area
Mechanical engineering
Market
Security, aerospace & defence
Category
Permanent
Location
Reading
Silchester
Description
Empowering projects in a complex world.Are you ready to take up a vital role in shaping some of our exciting projects? How about joining our talented team, where everyone has a voice, and together we
Reference
R-128588
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Sudhan PrabhuAuthor
Sudhan PrabhuSalary
Location
Bristol
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Mechanical engineering
Market
Security, aerospace & defence
Category
Permanent
Location
Bristol
Silchester
Description
Empowering projects in a complex world.Are you ready to take up a vital role in shaping some of our exciting projects? How about joining our talented team, where everyone has a voice, and together we
Reference
R-128584
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Sudhan PrabhuAuthor
Sudhan PrabhuSalary
Location
Bristol
Job Type
Flexible Working
Full Time
Career Area
Mechanical engineering
Market
Security, aerospace & defence
Category
Permanent
Location
Bristol
Description
Empowering projects in a complex world.Are you ready to take up a vital role in shaping some of our exciting projects? How about joining our talented team, where everyone has a voice, and together we
Reference
R-128582
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Sudhan PrabhuAuthor
Sudhan PrabhuSalary
Location
Bristol
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Human factors
Market
Security, aerospace & defence
Category
Permanent
Location
Cheltenham
Derby
Manchester
London
Bristol
Silchester
Description
Shaping a smarter, more agile world.Join our organisation, where we have a huge variety of projects on-the-go at any one time. So when you start this role with us, it could take your career wherever y
Reference
R-128523
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Sudhan PrabhuAuthor
Sudhan PrabhuSalary
Location
Bristol
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Human factors
Market
Security, aerospace & defence
Category
Permanent
Location
Cheltenham
Derby
Manchester
London
Bristol
Silchester
Description
Shaping a smarter, more agile world.You might know us for the great work we do across our wide variety of projects. We're proud to say it's thanks to our people's diversity of thought, expertise and k
Reference
R-128521
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Sudhan PrabhuAuthor
Sudhan PrabhuSalary
Location
Bristol
Job Type
Flexible Working
Full Time
Career Area
Engineering (Other)
Market
Security, aerospace & defence
Category
Permanent
Location
Manchester
London
Reading
Bristol
Silchester
Description
Empowering projects in a complex world.You might know us for the great work we do across our wide variety of projects. We're proud to say it's thanks to our people's diversity of thought, expertise an
Reference
R-128511
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Sudhan PrabhuAuthor
Sudhan PrabhuSalary
Location
Bristol
Job Type
Flexible Working
Full Time
Career Area
Engineering (Other)
Market
Security, aerospace & defence
Category
Permanent
Location
Manchester
London
Reading
Bristol
Silchester
Description
Empowering projects in a complex world.You might know us for the great work we do across our wide variety of projects. We're proud to say it's thanks to our people's diversity of thought, expertise an
Reference
R-128507
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Sudhan PrabhuAuthor
Sudhan PrabhuSalary
Location
Silchester
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Project management
Market
Security, aerospace & defence
Category
Permanent
Location
Silchester
Description
Empowering projects in a complex world.Are you ready to take up a key role in delivering a range of challenging engineering projects? How about joining our talented team, where everyone has a voice, a
Reference
R-128002
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Lini RathinamAuthor
Lini RathinamSalary
Location
Bristol
Job Type
Full Time
Career Area
Finance
Market
Security, aerospace & defence
Category
Permanent
Location
Bristol
Description
Shaping a smarter, more agile world.You might know us for the great work we do across our wide variety of projects. We're proud to say it's thanks to our people's diversity of thought, expertise and k
Reference
R-127828
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Lini RathinamAuthor
Lini RathinamEquality, diversity and inclusion
We’re devoted to growing the diversity of our people, promoting an inclusive culture, providing everyone with an equal voice because simply put, it’s the right thing to do. Click to learn more.
Find out more