OCTOBER 2020
The U.K. Brand Element for Cyber Security and Intelligence is Number One in the World! The U.K. brand element for Cyber Security and Intelligence is Number One in the world. When viewed with our history in mind I believe this is true. Of course, some would dispute this but let them do so. Let them disprove it. Whilst we have work to do and many improvements to make we can consolidate and confirm this lead. If we view the U.K. from the perspective of a High Tech. or Cyber Security company from, say, the U.S.A. or Israel wanting a base in Europe they typically only think of basing themselves in Southern Ireland, London, and Holland. There are many reasons for this – geographical knowledge and incentives amongst them. To redirect eyes, thinking, investment, and jobs to locations other than this we have to work hard and we have to work together. In the Midlands, where I live, they formed the “ Midlands Engine “ brand realising that Birmingham and “ the Midlands “ names were better known internationally than any other. I was always a fan of this single, better known, and stronger brand. This is no disrespect to other lesserknown areas, towns and cities. It is to their advantage that the Midlands and Midlands Engine brand becomes known. Once attracted people and companies will look at the detail of their desired locations. They must find a fully prepared, complete and functioning ecosystem that supports – in this case – Cyber Security. Midlands Engine and others have Business Digest 17
alluded to the name “ Cyber Valley “ for some time. Referring to the M5 area from, say, Wolverhampton down to Cheltenham. Cheltenham being, of course, the home of the pretty well-undisputed epicentre of Intelligence and Cyber Security – GCHQ and NCSC. The area needs to be bigger in my view and that of others like Nick Sturge for example who is helping build the £400 million Golden Valley development alongside GCHQ/NCSC and who co-founded the Engine Shed in Bristol and advised Tramshed in Wales. How big? Well, we have tended to talk in triangles .. for example, Cheltenham, Cardiff and Bristol. My triangle started out as Birmingham,( a line through Cheltenham ) Bristol and Cardiff. I am half Welsh and Wales has a leading Cyber Security community and a strong Inward Investment strategy. My big “ triangle “ ( actually quadrilateral ) for Cyber Security Valley UK is now Derby, Swindon, Exeter, Swansea. Interestingly, to me anyway, the a38 ( formerly the Roman Road Rycknield/Icknield Street ) runs from Derby to Exeter and beyond. Of course this, therefore, includes some of the Midlands Engine original area and Nick’s area which is the Western Powerhouse triangle ( Salisbury, Swansea, Cheltenham ). Having defined the approximate area to brand and market we have to detail the strength of that area in Cyber Security terms. To do that we are building Directories on our website. These Directories are many and varied but include key locations like Cyber Hubs and Property Developments, and Universities and Colleges focused on Cyber Security ( some 18 or so ), Cyber companies, Cyber people ( Movers and Shakers as I term them ) and many other Cyber related entities. The Valley is very very strong and the connections with GCHQ/NCSC are also very apparent. The Covid19 pandemic has added another dimension to the appeal of Cyber Security Valley. Although vested interests will argue against it it is now pretty clear that companies will allow their staff to work from home for some time to come. This and
