Recognising talented people were being locked out of the cyber sector due to their background, confidence, finances or not knowing the “right” route inspired the creation of educational organisation CAPSLOCK, which has been on a non-stop mission to reskill adults into cyber security professionals since 2019.
The business prides itself on inclusivity, welcoming learners with drive and ability to qualify for placement, rather than relying on degrees. With this approach, CAPSLOCK paves the way to new opportunities and long-term career prospects for the individuals and a fresh talent pipeline for the cyber sector itself.
CAPSLOCK has been selected for various programmes delivered by Plexal, including LORCA and Cyber Runway Ignite, during which it’s been a pleasure to support and witness the team’s unwavering commitment to drive impact across communities. This is demonstrated by the more than 1,000 learners enrolled onto CAPSLOCK programmes, while 70% of graduates have secured employment in cyber security roles within six months of training completion.
This undeniable passion to change people’s career prospects has resulted in CAPSLOCK founders Lorna Armitage and Dr Andrea Cullen being recognised on The New Year Honours List 2026 to each receive an MBE for their services to cyber security.
“It really is a massive honour,” Lorna tells Plexal. “It reflects years of hard work, across our wider careers in cyber and the work we’ve done together to make the industry fairer, more open and representative of the society it serves.
“We’ve spent our careers building teams, programmes and pathways that focus on real skills, potential and attitude. CAPSLOCK gave us the chance to do that at scale. Our learners have seen their average salaries increase by more than 50%, demonstrating the life-changing impact reskilling can have.”
Clearly, Lorna and Andrea’s work is rewarding. But Lorna details that they both come from working class backgrounds, which is another motivator. “Through our training, mentoring and employer partnerships, we’ve helped people from all sorts of backgrounds move into meaningful cyber careers, often changing not just their own lives but their families’ futures too,” she says. “Seeing that impact, over and over again, is what’s kept us going.”
CAPSLOCK has designed its curriculum to incorporate real-world skills development rather than “outdated tick-box criteria.” Lorna and Andrea believe skills can be taught – but passion and curiosity are invaluable and should be nurtured rather than ignored because someone has a non-traditional background.
And while equipping enthusiastic learners with the knowledge needed to succeed in cyber, there’s another big picture benefit CAPSLOCK is generating. “The industry becomes diverse, more inclusive and better equipped to meet the demands of the future,” Lorna says.
“Coming from working class backgrounds ourselves, this New Year Honours recognition means a great deal. It shows that doing things differently – and doing them properly – matters. Diversity and inclusion aren’t add-ons for us, they’re built into how we work every day.
“The MBE feels like recognition that breaking down barriers in cyber is important work and that with the right support and belief, talent really can come from anywhere. Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do and the MBE is a testament to the importance of these values in shaping a brighter future for the industry and for society.”
Although the success of CAPSLOCK is evident, Lorna shares that imposter syndrome still creeps in. “I don’t think imposter syndrome is something you just ‘fix’ and it disappears – it comes and goes, especially when you’re running a business and constantly juggling problems, decisions and pressure,” she reasons. “When you’re in the thick of the day-to-day, it’s easy to forget the positives and the real impact you’re having.”
Fortunately, Lorna has found a formula that restores faith in her abilities. “What’s helped me is stopping to acknowledge what we’ve built and the difference it’s made to people’s lives. Having a supportive team around me – and the wider CAPSLOCK community – has made a huge difference. They’ll tell you straight when you’re doing something right and that matters. I’ve also learned to accept that feeling out of your depth now and again doesn’t mean you don’t belong. It usually means you’re pushing yourself. You keep showing up, keep learning and crack on – that’s how you get through it.”
As a familiar and friendly face in the cyber ecosystem, Lorna says being part of the community has been instrumental for the CAPSLOCK journey. “The support we’ve received from other founders, industry experts and professionals has been invaluable, especially during the early stages of building CAPSLOCK,” she says. “From practical advice to moral support, the network we’ve built has helped us navigate challenges and celebrate successes. Networking has played a crucial role, enabling us to form partnerships, gain feedback on our programmes and stay abreast of the latest trends and needs within the sector. These connections have not only fuelled the growth of CAPSLOCK but also enriched our own professional development.”
Pointing to collaboration, shared purpose and expertise that’s led to continuous improvements, Lorna notes that these elements have all made business leadership more enjoyable. “The Plexal Cyber Runway Ignite programme particularly helped forge a strong bond with fellow founders and as a group we’ve supported each other immensely,” she says.
Of course, growth is an objective for all companies to thrive – but how and why growth takes shape can vary drastically. “Our approach to growth has always been values-driven,” Lorna declares, noting that all decisions are guided by a desire to deliver impact for learners and employers. “We’ve prioritised sustainable, mission-led expansion rather than chasing rapid scale at the expense of quality.”
Starting 2026 with an MBE is already enough of a milestone moment to shout about, so it begs the question: what’s next for CAPSLOCK on the road ahead?
“Our core mission remains the same: opening cyber careers to people who might never have seen it as an option, while making sure the skills we develop genuinely meet what industry needs now – not five years ago,” Lorna says.
With that in mind, you can expect to see CAPSLOCK deepening its work with employers. The company is already delivering results for organisations including BAE Systems, BBC, BT, Dyson, ITV and PwC to diversify their workforces, while meeting their demand for cyber talent alongside supporting government departments too.
“We’re helping organisations not just hire cyber talent, but deploy it effectively, reskill existing teams and build sustainable pipelines that work for their business and their people,” Lorna explains.
“By working in long-term partnership with industry, we’re addressing the cyber skills gap in a practical way – aligning training to real roles, real environments and real demand. Innovation and inclusion will continue to sit at the heart of everything we do, not as a nice-to-have, but as the reason our model works.”
