Small businesses have been offered two weeks of funded research support to build their cyber security defences.

The opportunity will see cyber experts from De Montfort University placed into businesses looking to step up their online resilience.

An e-commerce SME which wanted to protect customer data in a digital platform used the expert support to overcome GDPR and security gaps, enabling secure data practices and regaining client trust through Cyber Essentials certification.

A logistics SME which wanted to secure cloud back-ups used the researcher’s guidance and expertise to fix backup vulnerabilities, shortening recovery times and strengthening continuity against cyber threats.

The East Midlands Cyber Resilience Enterprise programme is offering hands-on support specialists who will be embedded directly into organisations to help them learn how to safeguard digital security.

East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster is leading the initiative and accepting applications now. 

But businesses will need to move quickly – there are only five placements available and applications are already being received.

The funded offer to SMEs is part of a wider project led by EMCSC founder Dr Ismini Vasileiou, who is also an associate professor at DMU, which aims to embed cyber resilience at every level – from boardrooms to shop floor.

“Cyber resilience must be integral to every organisation to protect against evolving digital threats,” Dr Vasileiou said.

“Our fully-funded 100-hour academic placements offer SMEs an amazing chance to work directly with expert researchers, translating cutting-edge cyber knowledge into practical, tailored solutions for their operations. 

“This collaboration not only strengthens individual businesses but also builds the broader digital safety and innovation ecosystem that the East Midlands urgently needs to stay competitive and secure.”

As part of the Enterprise scheme, five businesses will learn how to:

• Apply cutting-edge research into their processes
• Open the way to KTPs and more
• Access tailored support for new products or services
• Position themselves for further funding or grants

The 100-hour academic collaboration can be used to improve internal processes, develop a new service or product, as well as enhance cyber resilience.

Those businesses successful in obtaining the support will be assigned an academic researcher for 100 hours of hybrid and onsite consultancy in January 2026.

You can register here.