Posted by Ben Waters
From Teenage Soldier to Tech Titan: Cyber Security Training Helped Shape the CTO of BIT Group
At BIT Training we provide IT and Cyber Security Training and have nearly 20 years of experience helping former military personnel transition from life in the forces into successful careers in cyber and the wider IT industry.
Occasionally, we come across a candidate that can’t be passed up on and they’re offered a job after their training in complete. One of those candidates was Ben ‘Franky’ Franklin. Five years after joining BIT Group, Franky is today Chief Technology Officer.
At the age of 16 Franky joined the British Army with one sole objective, to secure his HGV License and become a lorry driver when he subsequently left. He didn’t actually leave the Army for 24 years and although he rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant, he never got that HGV License. He did however have a successful career and during his last two years started his training with BIT Group in the hope of securing a career in cyber security,
During his time with the Army, Franky served in the Royal Corps of Signals giving him valuable experience in the tech industry and at one point he was building network systems in Bosnia well in advance of the internet being widespread. His work in the forces brought him in to contact with BIT Group and that created a logical path when he came to embarking on training which he part funded with the ELCAS scheme.
Franky’s Cyber Security Training included three individual courses, Comptia Security+, Comptia CYSA+ and ISACA CISM and after these courses were completed, the BIT Team were so impressed that Franky was offered a role within the company.
As a member of the British Army Franky achieved many notable things, but as Head of Technology for BIT Group, his achievements have continued. He’s overseen the PSM Cyber Stars project with Liverpool FC, a Home Office Pilot project that helps people get their lives back on track and is even part of the training scheme that supports 3,000 Royal Signals in the British Army.
Commenting on his career journey to date, Ben ‘Franky’ Franklin said: “When I was in the Army, I gained significant experience in the cyber and IT industry but equally I had little experience in the commercial world. I left the forces the day before my 40th birthday and landed a job with BIT group where I’ve been for the last five years. The cyber industry is huge, not because it’s growing each and every day, but because there’s not an industry in the world that’s not being impacted by it. Being in the Armed forces gave me the skills and experience to take advantage of these opportunities .”
BIT Training are experienced at delivering courses for former and current military personnel, preparing them for careers in the tech industry. Covering IT, Cyber Security and Network Infrastructure, these courses allow people to embark on new careers in a sector that is often perfectly suited to follow on from life in the Armed Forces.
Here are a few helpful links and articles if you are/have been in the forces and considering training with us;