A cyber security programme led by East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster was among 21 projects invited to take part in a national showcase event hosted by Innovate UK.

The CyberGrowth project, run in collaboration with De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) was selected as one of just 21 funded initiatives to be presented at a showcase event hosted by Innovate UK in Birmingham.

The event brought together leading projects from across the country focused on strengthening the UK’s cyber ecosystem.

EMCSC founder and director Dr Ismini Vasileou, presented the CyberGrowth project at Intercity in Birmingham.

CyberGrowth was designed to test how national cyber ambitions can be translated into practical support for businesses at a regional level, particularly smaller companies. 

It supported small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through a combination of leadership development, skills acceleration, expert consultancy and large-scale regional engagement, including last month’s East Midlands Cyber Security Summit.

Through this integrated approach, CyberGrowth enabled businesses to build cyber resilience, identify workforce needs and access specialist academic expertise, while also strengthening collaboration across the regional cyber ecosystem.

Its inclusion in the national showcase highlights the growing recognition of place-based approaches to cyber security, with universities playing a central role in connecting policy, skills and industry.

Suzanne Lowe, Head of DSIT’s Growth, Innovation and Regions team, said: “Cyber is a critical enabler of economic growth. What’s been fantastic today is hearing about all the different programmes and how they have all brought together partners across the ecosystems.”

Dr Vasileiou said: “CyberGrowth has shown what’s possible when you bring together businesses, academics and regional partners around a shared challenge.

“We’ve been able to take national cyber priorities and turn them into something practical and accessible for SMEs, helping them build confidence, capability and resilience.

“Being invited to showcase the project at a national level is a real recognition of the impact the East Midlands is making in this space, and the role universities can play in driving that forward.”  

George Oliver, Managing Director of 1284 Communications, which was a partner in the CyberGrowth programme, said: “For many of the businesses we work with, cyber security can feel complex and out of reach. What CyberGrowth did brilliantly was break that down into something practical and relevant.”

Insights from the programme are now helping to inform the next phase of government-backed activity called Tech Local, a new four-year initiative led by the

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which places a stronger emphasis on skills development, career pathways and inclusive access into cyber roles.