From Monday 26 October, school pupils and local community groups from across the Scottish Borders took part in a week-long CGI Cyber Escape room-style event at Tweedbank. The interactive challenge from CGI, a global IT and business consulting firm, was hosted within a shipping container outside Inspire Learning: Tweedbank, the dedicated digital learning facility, with multiple sessions held daily.
Designed to be both fun and educational, the experience addressed the worldwide rise in artificial intelligence and online cyber-attacks. Participants worked through a series of puzzles, riddles, and challenges with the mission to outsmart hackers as a team.
Schools including Berwickshire High, Earlston High, Galashiels Academy, Hawick High, and Jedburgh Grammar Campus attended, alongside community groups such as Beyond Earlston, Social Work Transitions, TD1, and Youth Voice PDC.
“"This was a brilliant opportunity for our pupils and the wider community to test their IT and cybersecurity skills. The experience offered a valuable learning exercise for aspiring students in the Scottish Borders, many of whom are considering a future career in these areas, a growing sector where skilled people are needed. It was great to see that the event also inspired local people to get involved and navigate through an interesting and very current topic."
Councillor Leagh Douglas, Executive Member for Finance, IT and Corporate Performance, also attended the event, alongside senior CGI staff. Tom Gutsell, Vice President, Consulting Services at CGI, stated that CGI is proud of its strong relationships with communities across the Scottish Borders and that bringing the Cyber Escape experience to Tweedbank was an important part of that commitment. He highlighted that cybersecurity is a concern for everyone, not just IT teams, and the experience brought these risks to life in a practical way.
Gutsell added, “The experience brought those risks to life in a practical and memorable way, giving people the chance to test their instincts, spot the warning signs and learn simple steps that can make a real difference. With so much of our lives now taking place online, it’s vital people feel more confident about protecting themselves, their families and their workplaces from cyber threats.”
Opportunities for further education in online safety and cyber security are available locally, with colleges and universities including Borders College offering dedicated courses for residents considering a future in IT and computing.
