I was absolutely delighted by the unveiling last week of the UK's first-ever GCHQ/NCSC-accredited cyber skills course at Gloucestershire College's Advanced Digital Academy in Hester's Way.
Hosted in a state-of-the-art £3m Government-funded facility that looks a bit like Nasa mission control, this course offers unrivalled opportunities for Cheltenham's young people.
At the same time, it is a major step forward in delivering the cyber vision for the town.
When I first set out my plans for Cheltenham to be a cyber innovation hub in a speech at local IT firm Converge in 2014, it was motivated by my drive to boost social mobility here in Cheltenham.
Three of the 18 'wards' in the town face significant deprivation, and I am passionate about turning that around.
I always knew the fast-growing cyber sector could make all the difference.
This facility provides the 'bright lights' that I talked about back in 2014 - physical proof here on our doorstep of the opportunity for a better future for young people who may not have had the easiest start in life, but who have the potential to do great things and are prepared to work hard.
The course will develop a pipeline of local skill, creating a workforce equipped with the latest knowledge in cyber technology. Such skills are in great demand.
Much support has already been provided to Cheltenham over recent years. Since 2015, the Government has funded a Cyber Innovation Centre here, with start-up companies being supported and nurtured by GCHQ experts.
The first iteration of this centre, the Cyber Accelerator, has supported several tech start-ups, which are estimated to have a combined value of over £35 million.
It has also attracted businesses from as far afield as Spain and the United States to invest here.
Cheltenham is rushing to embrace the future - helping the next generation forge a better future.
[Column printed in the Gloucestershire Echo]