Ethical Hacking
Learn to think like a hacker - and use those skills to protect organisations, find vulnerabilities, and pursue a career in cybersecurity.
Programme Overview
Our Ethical Hacking programme is a structured, beginner-accessible introduction to offensive security and penetration testing. Participants learn the techniques, tools, and mindset used by ethical hackers to find and expose vulnerabilities in systems, networks, and applications - before malicious actors can. This programme is the direct next step after our Cybersecurity Awareness and Cybersecurity Skills Pathway programmes, providing a clear pathway into professional penetration testing and security engineering roles.
Ethical hacking - also known as penetration testing or offensive security - is one of the most in-demand skills in the UK cybersecurity sector. This programme covers the full ethical hacking methodology from reconnaissance and scanning through to exploitation and reporting, using the same tools and frameworks employed by professional penetration testers. All activities are conducted in safe, legal lab environments. No prior hacking experience is needed, though familiarity with basic cybersecurity concepts is recommended.
No experience needed. This programme is free, inclusive, and designed for people with no prior background in the subject. We welcome everyone, especially those from underserved and digitally excluded communities.
Duration
8–12 weeks
Format
Online & In-Person
Programme in Action
What You'll Learn
- Ethical hacking foundations: legal frameworks, scope definition, responsible disclosure, and career landscape
- Reconnaissance and information gathering: OSINT techniques and tools (Maltego, Shodan, Google Dorks)
- Scanning and enumeration: network scanning with Nmap, service discovery, and vulnerability identification
- Exploitation basics: understanding common vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10), Metasploit introduction
- Web application testing: SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), authentication flaws, and IDOR vulnerabilities
- Password attacks: cracking techniques, hash types, and credential stuffing defences
- Wireless security: WPA2 vulnerabilities, rogue access points, and Wi-Fi attack vectors
- Social engineering and phishing: how attacks are crafted and how to defend against them
- Post-exploitation and privilege escalation: understanding attacker persistence techniques
- Penetration testing reports: documenting findings, risk ratings, and communicating recommendations professionally
Who Is This For?
This programme was built for people who have been overlooked, underserved, or never shown the door in.
- You've done the Cybersecurity Skills Pathway and want to go into the deep end of offensive security
- You want to get paid to find vulnerabilities before the bad guys do. This is how you learn.
- You're from a community that was never shown that ethical hacking could be a career for you
- You're changing careers and want to break into one of the highest-paid roles in UK tech
- You've always wanted to understand how cyberattacks actually work, not just how to avoid them.
Programme Benefits
- Completely free and open to everyone, including career changers and those from non-technical backgrounds.
- Confidence to conduct structured vulnerability assessments and penetration testing in authorised environments
- Hands-on experience with the exact tools used by professional ethical hackers
- Pathway to industry-recognised certifications including CEH, CompTIA PenTest+, and OSCP
- Clear career direction into one of the highest-paying roles in the UK cybersecurity sector
- Certificate of participation upon completion
What You'll Walk Away With
By the end of this programme, you will have gained practical skills, confidence, and a recognised certificate ready for the job market.
Completely free and open to everyone, including career changers and those from non-technical backgrounds.
Confidence to conduct structured vulnerability assessments and penetration testing in authorised environments
Hands-on experience with the exact tools used by professional ethical hackers
Certificate of Completion
Participants receive a certificate of completion upon finishing the programme. We are working towards recognised accreditation through industry and awarding bodies.
Clear Pathway from Beginner to Job-Ready
This programme is structured across three progressive levels. You start at the beginning and build confidence, skills, and knowledge step by step.
Level 1 - Foundation
What you will cover
- Core concepts and terminology for the discipline
- Setting up your learning environment and tools
- Industry context: why this skill matters in the UK job market
- Guided introductory exercises and confidence building
- Understanding career roles and what employers look for
By the end of this level you will:
- Understand core concepts and career context
- Set up your tools and learning environment
- Build foundational confidence in the discipline
Level 2 - Intermediate
What you will cover
- Core technical skills applied to real-world scenarios
- Hands-on labs and guided practical exercises
- Industry-standard tools and workflows
- Collaborative activities and peer learning activities
- Building a portfolio of practical work
By the end of this level you will:
- Apply technical skills to real scenarios
- Build a portfolio of practical work
- Use industry-standard tools independently
Level 3 - Advanced Pathway
What you will cover
- Advanced techniques and real-world application
- Capstone project demonstrating end-to-end capability
- Industry certifications and further training pathways
- Mentorship, networking, and alumni community support
- Interview preparation and job application support
By the end of this level you will:
- Complete a capstone project
- Prepare for certifications or employment
- Progress into specialist roles or further training
Learning Approach
- Hands-on, practical training using real tools and scenarios
- Beginner-friendly delivery with no jargon or prior experience needed
- Guided labs, exercises, and step-by-step walkthroughs
- Supportive learning environment with peer and mentor access
- Online and in-person options to suit different needs and schedules
- Real-world examples drawn from industry and community contexts
Assessment & Certification
- Short quizzes and knowledge checks at the end of each module
- Practical tasks and mini-projects applied to real scenarios
- Guided reflection activities to consolidate learning
- Peer review and collaborative feedback exercises
- Certificate of Completion issued upon successful programme completion
Participants receive a certificate of completion. We are working towards recognised accreditation through industry and awarding bodies.
Progression Pathways
- Direct employment pathways in the UK digital economy
- Industry-recognised certifications in your specialist area
- Freelance and self-employment opportunities
- Progression to advanced technical programmes
- Mentorship, networking, and alumni community support
Expected Impact
What participants typically experience through this programme
Increased digital confidence and self-belief
Improved employability and job-readiness
Access to further education or training pathways
Reduced digital exclusion in underserved communities
Practical, real-world skill development from day one
Recognition of achievement through a certificate of completion
Who Is This Programme For?
No qualifications or prior experience needed. This programme is free, inclusive, and designed for people who have been underserved by traditional education and training.
Ethical Hacking
Registration for this programme is not currently open. Get advance notice of the next dates below.
Please email info@globalinnovationhub.org.uk if you would like to be the first to know when we have confirmed the next dates for this course.
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