Co-op is helping young people use their digital skills for good — opening up ethical career paths and tackling the causes of cybercrime at their source. That’s why we’re partnering with The Hacking Games to spot emerging cyber talent early and steer it towards careers that protect people, not exploit them. It’s all part of our Right By You mission to fight cybercrime the right way.
• £12 trillion: estimated global cost of cybercrime this year.
• 4.8 million: unfilled cybersecurity roles worldwide across a range of sectors.
• 69%: European teens report some form of online offence.
The Hacking Games is a UK-based social impact business working in partnership with Co-op to help prevent cybercrime at its source. They identify unconventional talent — especially Gen Z gamers, coders and self-taught problem-solvers — and channel their digital skills into ethical careers in cyber security. It’s a vital intervention — especially as cybercrime gangs increasingly target young people for criminal recruitment.
Together Co-op and The Hacking Games will initiate pilot schemes across Co-op Academies Trust’s 38 academies in the North of England, reaching more than 20,000 students. The pilot focuses on prevention, digital resilience and inclusion with support tailored for neurodivergent learners.
Students will use the HAPTAI platform, a bespoke recruitment tool that translates gaming performance into aptitude. HAPTAI’s unique gamified environment connects with students often excluded from traditional routes, including neurodiverse, those from underserved backgrounds and young people engaged through gaming and modding, sparking curiosity and unlocking hidden potential.
The programme signposts next steps into study, training and early career opportunities in cybersecurity with employer partners helping translate aptitude into real placements. By tackling this challenge head on, the programme gives students exploring these areas a new perspective and insight into ethical pathways, creating a scalable progression from classroom to career.
“We can’t just stand back and hope it doesn’t happen again — to us or to others.”
— Shirine Khoury‑Haq, Co‑op Group CEO
“This partnership offers a powerful new way to connect our students to future careers.”
— Jo Sykes, Head of Careers, Co‑op Academies Trust
“Many don’t realise their skills can be used for good. This partnership with Co-op will help unlock that potential. It’s about giving people the opportunity to do something positive.”
— Fergus Hay, Co-founder and CEO of The Hacking Games
Cybercrime affects people and communities across the UK, including the ones we serve. We’ve seen the disruption it causes, the pressure it puts on colleagues, and the risk it poses to everyday lives. Doing Right By You means tackling causes, not just symptoms. That’s why we’ve partnered with The Hacking Games — to reach talented young people early, help them use their skills for protection rather than harm, and open real, ethical paths into work. Together, we’re trying to build safer communities across every UK postcode we touch.
The following articles were originally published on theguardian.com as part of a commercial partnership called 'From Play to Purpose with Co-op and The Hacking Games'. The articles provide wider context on why early engagement matters and how the Co-op Academies pilot fits our prevention approach.
Sources
¹ Forrester Research, Cybercrime expected to cost $12 trillion in 2025
² ISC2, The State of the Cybersecurity Workforce
³ Julia Davidson et al., European Youth Cybercrime, Online Harm and Online Risk Taking: 2022 Research Report
