North West cyber leaders pledge commitment to the region ahead of CYBERUK2025

In a significant move to bolster the North West's cyber ecosystem, NCC Group, a people-powered, tech-enabled global cyber resilience business, today hosted pre-CYBERUK discussions at their global headquarters in Manchester. The roundtable brought together senior representatives from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of GCHQ, the North West Cyber Security Cluster, the University of Manchester, techUK and others, who collectively committed to playing their part in making the North West a national exemplar of cyber resilience.

The National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) flagship conference CYBERUK will take place in Manchester in May 2025. Having grown significantly in its impact and global influence, this year’s conference is a brilliant opportunity for the region to celebrate its cyber excellence, elevate its role in driving forward national resilience and deliver unrivalled growth and prosperity for the local ecosystem. 

Chaired by NCSC’s CEO Richard Horne, the discussion focused on the practical steps that must be taken by government, industry, academia and wider ecosystem partners to ensure the North West remains at the forefront of cyber innovation.

Participants shared their visions for the North West cyber ecosystem by 2030 and were invited to sign up to a new pledge to work together to make the North West:

·        A national exemplar of cyber resilience – where organisations understand and live good cyber resilience every day

·        An international trailblazer for trusted collaboration between public institutions, industry and academia, and the top destination in the UK for external investment

·        A regional hub of talent, actively supporting and improving diversity in the UK cyber sector and attracting the most brilliant minds

As a Manchester-headquartered business with a deep technology heritage in the region, and CYBERUK 2025’s Technical Masterclass sponsor, NCC Group is immensely proud to host the discussions to secure the region’s cyber legacy.

Mike Maddison, CEO of NCC Group, emphasised the importance of the event, stating, "As we celebrate 25-years of NCC Group, this roundtable is a testament to our belief in and dedication to the North West's cyber ecosystem.

“From pioneering artificial intelligence to developing the world’s first stored program computer, our region boasts a long history of invention and innovation, and has become home to a thriving and rapidly expanding technology and cyber ecosystem. By bringing together senior leaders, we are taking this legacy forward and fostering collaboration and innovation that will drive the region's cyber resilience for decades to come."

Richard Horne, CEO of NCSC, also highlighted the significance of the discussions, saying, "The return of CYBERUK to Manchester this year offers a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on the North West’s cyber security ecosystem, as well as secure its lasting legacy.

“NCC Group’s roundtable will undoubtedly play an important part in helping to secure that legacy and ultimately help raise the cyber security of the UK as a whole.”

CYBERUK 2025 takes place in Manchester from 6^th to 8^th May. To find out more details, including how to secure a place, visit www.cyberuk.uk