Niall McNicholas
Cyber Dependent Crime Specialist at Cumbria Police
Key Details:
| Current industry | Public Sector & Defence |
|---|---|
| School attended | St. Joseph's Catholic High School Workington |
| College/training provider attended | Energus |
| Year completed GCSEs | 2016 |
| Favourite lessons at school | Computing/computer science , Business, Geography |
Q&A
— Give a short overview of your career journey after school
After completing my studies at Cockermouth Sixth Form, I secured a Cyber Security apprenticeship with Energus, gaining hands-on experience across diverse placements. I spent 12 months with Sellafield Ltd. and a further 12 months with Cumbria Police, where I developed strong technical and investigative skills. Following this, I successfully gained a permanent position in the Cyber and Digital Crime Unit as a Cyber Dependent Crime Specialist, where I support the investigation and prevention of cybercrime. Alongside this role, I recently completed a Cyber Security degree with Northumbria University through my organisation, further strengthening my expertise in the field.
— What do you love about your job?
What I enjoy most about my role is the variety and impact it brings. I get to engage with a wide range of communities and businesses, raising awareness of cyber resilience and helping people protect themselves online. I also value the investigative side of my work, where I assist in tackling cyber crimes directly and support victims in reducing their risk of future attacks. Beyond cyber-specific cases, I enjoy contributing to broader investigations by bringing in a digital perspective, knowing that my skills can make a real difference.
— What piece of advice would you give to young people about finding their best next step?
I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I looked at lots of different options and found that I had a passion for cyber security, because it was something I enjoy. Although this is my current career path, I understand it doesn’t have be my forever career and there are always opportunities to change.
— What three essential skills do you think have helped you to be successful in your job?
Listening, Speaking, Teamwork.
— What advice would you give to someone considering working in your industry?
Be curious and willing to learn, my field changes rapidly , so you have to always keep up to date with current trends and be adaptable.
— What is the best piece of advice you have been given that has helped you on your career journey?
Soft skills are more important than any technical knowledge. My technical knowledge around cyber crime wasn’t very great but because I had lots of great experience with soft skills i managed to land my role, and then learn the technicalities.