Bug Bounty programmes provide safe environments for experts to identify areas where security can be improved. The identification of real vulnerabilities by ethical hackers is rewarded and Defence cyber teams are working with the ethical hacking community whose expertise has been extremely valuable in finding and remediating vulnerabilities – ensuring better security across Defence’s networks and 750,000 devices.

In the Integrated Review published earlier this year, the government committed to a more robust position on security and resilience, ensuring that lives and livelihoods are protected from those who may wish to do us harm. This challenge is part of wider plans to ensure transparency and collaborate with partners to improve national security.

MOD will continue to make use of the Bug Bounty expertise, in addition to other capabilities available to ensure cyber security and resilience. MOD cyber security efforts reinforce the UK Government strategy for cross-department resilience and security, lessons learned by Defence are shared with partners.

Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey said:

Bug bounty is an exciting new capability for the Ministry of Defence. Our cyber teams are collaborating with the ethical hacking community to identify and fix vulnerabilities in our systems, ensuring we’re more resilient and better protected.

This work will contribute to better cyber and information security for the UK.

Participants praised Defence for its openness and willingness to embrace new tools and capabilities to secure cyber systems. Programmes like this are industry best practice and used by governments and organisations across the world to defend against possible cyber-attacks.

Christine Maxwell, Ministry of Defence Chief Information Security Officer said:

The Ministry of Defence has embraced a strategy of securing by design, with transparency being integral for identifying areas for improvement in the development process.

It is important for us to continue to push the boundaries with our digital and cyber development to attract personnel with skills, energy and commitment. Working with the ethical hacking community allows us to build out our bench of tech talent and bring more diverse perspectives to protect and defend our assets. Understanding where our vulnerabilities are and working with the wider ethical hacking community to identify and fix them is an essential step in reducing cyber risk and improving resilience.

CEO of HackerOne, Marten Mickos said:

Governments worldwide are waking up to the fact that they can’t secure their immense digital environments with traditional security tools anymore.

Having a formalised process to accept vulnerabilities from third parties is widely considered best practice globally, with the U.S government making it mandatory for their federal civilian agencies this year. The U.K MoD is leading the way in the U.K government with forward-thinking and collaborative solutions to securing its digital assets and I predict we will see more government agencies follow its example.

Applications for Chevening Scholarships to study in the UK are open between 3 August and 2 November 2021, with applications to be submitted here

Chevening Scholarships offer full financial support for scholars to study for any eligible master’s degree at any UK university, and are awarded to individuals who can demonstrate that they have the commitment and skills required to create positive change.

Since the programme was created in 1983, over 50,000 professionals have had the opportunity to develop in the UK through Chevening. There are more than 1,500 scholarships on offer globally for the 2022/2023 academic year, demonstrating the UK’s ongoing commitment towards developing the leaders of tomorrow.

British Ambassador to Somalia, Kate Foster, said:

I’m pleased to announce this year’s opening of 2021/22 Chevening Scholarship. This is a brilliant opportunity and I want to encourage as many Somalis as possible to compete for this life changing experience. Seeing Somali talent being developed through this scholarship is extremely fulfilling.

Since 2016, the Chevening Scholarship programme has so far benefitted 41 Somalis some of whom are now working at senior levels in government, private sector and international organisations.

In September, 11 Somali scholars will depart the country to undertake their chevening award for a one-year Master’s Degree programme in various universities across the UK. Many past scholars such as Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohammed Guled and Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf Ahmed are now playing leading roles in Somali public life.

Head of Scholarships at the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Naomi Rayner, said:

As the world continues to tackle major global issues such as Covid-19 and climate change, international cooperation is more essential than ever. Chevening seeks to build an international community of people who are committed to working together to drive positive change. We do this by bringing together incredible people from around the world and supporting them, through education, to achieve their goals.

The UK is committed to supporting the Somalia education system by empowering Somalia’s future leaders. The Chevening Scholarship is one of the ways we deepen the strong ties between the UK and Somalia.

Applications should be submitted via www.chevening.org/apply

Chevening Scholarships are awarded to individuals from all backgrounds who can demonstrate that they have the commitment and skills required to create positive change, and can show how a UK master’s degree will help them do that. The scholarship offers full financial support for scholars to study for any eligible master’s degree at any UK university whilst also gaining access to a wide range of exclusive academic, professional, and cultural experiences.

Since the programme was created in 1983, over 2,000 professionals from Pakistan have had the opportunity to develop in the UK through Chevening.

The Head of Communication and Public Diplomacy at the British High Commission, Fouzia Younis, said:

If you want to inspire others, learn new ideas and help shape the future then the Chevening Scheme is for you. Chevening provides opportunities for all. For the last two years, we have smashed our 50% target on gender with talented Pakistani women forming nearly 60% of our intakes; and I encourage even more applications from across Pakistan and minority groups. There are no limits on ambition.

The call for new applicants follows the selection of 37 scholars from Pakistan, who won an award to study at a UK university this year. Successful applicants have been sharing their stories through the #ChosenForChevening hashtag on Twitter and Instagram.

More information

Visit here for detailed information on the eligibility criteria and scholarship specifications.

Notes to editors

Chevening Scholarships are the UK Government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. The scholarships support study at UK universities – mostly one year taught master’s degrees – for individuals with demonstrable potential to become future leaders, decision-makers, and opinion formers.

Chevening began in 1983 and has developed into a prestigious international awards scheme. Chevening Scholars come from over 160 countries and territories worldwide, and over the past five years we have awarded almost 10,000 scholarships. There are over 50,000 Chevening Alumni around the world who comprise an influential and highly regarded global network.

Chevening alumni in Pakistan include prominent personalities such as Nafeesa Shah, Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Abia Akram, Chairperson Special Talent Exchange Programme (STEP) and Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, Director General (Monitoring, Evaluation & Capacity Building) at the National Counter Terrorism Authority.

The British High Commission strongly supports diversity, inclusion and opportunity for all. For the last two years women have formed nearly 60% of our Chevening intake. We have made great strides to reach out to areas which have been less well represented with formal opportunities in the past, such as Balochistan. As part of our inclusive outreach, the British High Commission has also been giving equal opportunities and help to disabled scholars. The name ‘Chevening’ comes from Chevening House in Sevenoaks, Kent – currently the joint official residence of the UK’s Foreign Secretary. More information is available at Chevening website

For updates on the British High Commission, please follow our social media channels:

• Net Zero Treasury Minister Kemi Badenoch visits key East Coast Cluster sites, with less than 100 days until COP26
• Minster tours Saltend Chemicals Park, home to world-leading blue hydrogen project to reduce CO2 emissions, Saltend Power Station and British Steel
• Green energy innovation in the region key to delivering on the UK’s net zero target and supporting up to 55,000 jobs by 2030

The Net Zero Treasury Minister visited Humberside yesterday (August 2) to see how the East Coast Cluster is actively bringing together communities, business, industry and academia – including energy firms Equinor and SSE – to deliver the infrastructure needed to decarbonise the UK’s key industrial heartland.

Kemi Badenoch joined staff at key sites where activities are ramping up to create green jobs, including Saltend Chemicals Park near Hull, home to a project that could help the chemicals and renewable energy businesses onsite to switch over to hydrogen energy.

During a tour of the Park, the Minister met workers from Equinor, who are leading the project, which has the potential to be the largest of its kind in the world to convert a plant reliant on natural gas to hydrogen. This will reduce emissions by nearly 900,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Investing in new hydrogen industries could support thousands of new green jobs by 2030, bring new economic opportunities across our regional economies, and help to level up across all corners of the country. It follows the Chancellor’s commitment of a £240 million Net Zero hydrogen Fund at the Spending Review 2020, which aims to kick-start low carbon hydrogen production in the UK.

Speaking after the visit, Net Zero Treasury Minister Kemi Badenoch said:

It was fantastic to see how these world-leading projects in the East Coast Cluster are accelerating decarbonisation in the region and beyond.

From what I have seen in Humber and Teesside is that just a small number of organisations are beginning to make a big difference in our united effort to address climate change and deliver on our net zero target by 2050.

Hydrogen could be an important part of this work, as well as support thousands of green jobs, and that is why we are backing it with investment to create a clean, resilient, and sustainable economic recovery from Covid-19.

Alex Grant, Senior Vice President and UK Country Manager for Equinor, said:

It was a pleasure to welcome Kemi Badenoch, the Exchequer Secretary, to the Humber. As part of the UK’s East Coast Cluster, the Humber is poised to be part of the UK’s, and the world’s, first net zero industrial cluster, and the birthplace of the UK’s new hydrogen industry.

Partnership between the Treasury, the Department for Business, and industry, will bring thousands of jobs and zero carbon skills, and help make the UK a global leader in these industries of the future.

The Minister also toured the neighbouring Saltend Power Station and met staff at British Steel, one of 12 companies in the Zero Carbon Humber (ZCH) Partnership working to make the region net zero by 2040.

She rounded off the day by touring Keadby 2 power station which is currently under construction. Once compete, it is expected to become the cleanest and most-efficient gas-fired power station in Europe.

As part of the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, the Government has committed to deploy carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) in four industrial clusters by 2030, with the first two by the mid-2020s. The £1 billion CCS Infrastructure Fund will help to support meeting this four cluster ambition.

The plan – which is part of the PM’s mission to level up across the country – will mobilise £12 billion of government investment to create and support up to 250,000 highly-skilled green jobs in the UK, and spur over three times as much private sector investment by 2030.

This Spring, the Treasury launched a new UK Infrastructure Bank which will help to finance important projects in every region and nation of the UK in sectors including clean energy, transport, digital, water and waste. And later this year, subject to market conditions, the Treasury will issue its first Sovereign Green Bond, to help finance projects that will tackle climate change, finance much-needed infrastructure investment and create green jobs across the country.