Cyber security breaches and attacks remain one of the biggest threats to UK industry.
In response, the cyber security sector has experienced significant growth in recent years as businesses of all sizes seek to protect themselves online.
North East England has established a reputation as one of the leading destinations in the UK for cyber security. Backed by a strong mix of industry, academic, and technical cyber security capability, the North East is now home to over 100 businesses selling cyber services and a region-wide network supporting the sector’s growth.
Market-leading companies including Waterstons, Aspire Technology Solutions and Arctic Wolf are all based in the North East and have helped establish a growing ecosystem of digital security providers. Other major companies in the North East, including Sage UK, Atom Bank, Accenture UK Cloud/AI Factory, IBM, DXC Technology, also have significant cyber security resources in the region.
Bringing the sector together and highlighting opportunities for the sector is CyberNorth – the cyber security cluster for the North East of England. Supporting the growth and development of the regional cyber security sector, it brings together cyber security businesses and influencers, users of cyber security services, academia, public sector and individual innovators and thought leaders.
Strengthening the sector even further is the strong academic support from the region’s universities. Both Newcastle University and Northumbria University have been recognised as Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR). And along with Durham University, all three offer leading cyber security and computer science courses. This partnership between industry and academia provides opportunities for research and innovation and provides a skilled pipeline of talent for the future. The collaboration extends into further education too, with the North East being the only region in the country to offer a flexi job apprenticeship programme in cyber security, as well as specialist cyber security apprenticeships, T Levels and HTQs. Pathways into the sector still exist for people not enrolled in higher education.
The announcement of a new AI Growth Zone for North East England signals a huge growth opportunity for the region’s cyber security sector. The AI Growth Zone will create thousands of jobs across the region – including data engineering, AI research and development, and AI safety. It will also put newly trained AI experts from local universities including Newcastle University, Durham University, Sunderland University and Northumbria University, within touching distance of the UK’s newest emerging tech hub.
New emerging sectors in defence and space and satellite application have significantly grown opportunities for cyber security providers in North East England and companies looking to invest in the region. Companies including Leonardo, Lockheed Martin and Airbus – who all have a presence in the North East – are actively collaborating with local SMEs, universities and government agencies to grow the defence sector and make the North East a competitive and connected part of the UK’s national security infrastructure.
Cyber security businesses investing in North East England can benefit from nationally significant R&D assets including National Innovation Centre for Data, CPI, NETPark and Digital Catapult North East Tees Valley. The region’s collaborative ecosystem includes accelerators, funding providers, collaborative networks, and innovation hubs. And major digital and tech hubs in Newcastle, Sunderland, and Durham provide the environment cyber security startups and scale-ups need to thrive.
A growing network of cyber security meetups, events, and conferences have been established in the North East, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Cyber security businesses investing in North East England can expect access to world-class facilities, a supportive regional network, a sustainable talent pool, and internationally-renowned assets.
