UKC3

UKC3 Co-Chair Dr Ismini Vasileiou has been appointed to the UK Government’s new Women in Tech Taskforce.

The taskforce is led by Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Liz Kendall, and brings together 15 high-profile industry leaders and experts from across the tech sector. Its purpose is to advise on how the Government can better support industry diversity.

Over the next 18 months, the taskforce will act to ensure the UK accesses the full talent pool, market opportunities, and innovation capacity. Research shows women leaving tech leads to estimated loss of £2-£3.5 billion annually.

The taskforce’s ambitions include expanding opportunities for women across the UK, driving sustainable and inclusive economic growth, shaping government action and supporting the development of technology that benefits everyone.

The taskforce’s inaugural meeting was held at The British Science Association (BSA) in London yesterday. It brought together industry and policy leaders to examine how to remove the systemic barriers that prevent women from entering, progressing and leading in technology roles.

Dr Vasileiou, who is also founder of East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster and Associate Professor at De Montfort University Leicester, joined business leaders including Alison Kirkby, CEO of BT group, Emma O’Dwyer, head of public policy at Uber, and Francesca Carlesi, CEO of the UK arm of Revolut.

“It’s a privilege to be invited to join DSIT’s Women in Tech Taskforce,” said Dr Vasileioum who is Skills Lead for UKC3.

“Drawing on my work in cyber security and digital skills, I’m keen to help shape solutions that move beyond discussion and deliver meaningful, long-term change for women working in technology.

“We will be supporting action-driven solutions that align policy, skills and industry practice to deliver lasting impact for women in technology.”

Ms Kendall said: “Technology should work for everyone, that is why I have established the Women in Tech Taskforce – to break down the barriers that still hold too many people back, and to partner with industry on practical solutions that make a real difference.

“This matters deeply to me. When women are inspired to take on a role in tech and have a seat at the table, the sector can make more representative decisions, build products that serve everyone, and unlock the innovation and growth our economy needs.”

Founding members of the Women in Tech Taskforce

• Liz Kendall: Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
• Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon: Founder – STEMETTES
• Allison Kirkby: CEO – BT Group
• Anna Brailsford: CEO and Co-Founder – Code First Girls
• Francesca Carlesi: CEO – Revolut
• Louise Archer: Academic – Institute of Education
• Karen Blake: Tech Inclusion Strategist, Former Co-CEO of the Tech Talent Charter
• Sue Daley OBE: Director Tech and Innovation –  techUK
• Vinous Ali: Deputy Executive Director, StartUp Coalition  
• Charlene Hunter: Founder – Coding Black Females
• Dr. Hayaatun Sillem: CEO – Royal Academy of Engineering
• Kate Bell: Assistant General Secretary at TUC
• Amelia Miller: Co-Founder and CEO –  ivee
• Dr Ismini Vasileiou: Director – East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster 
• Emma O’Dwyer:  Director of Public Policy – Uber

One of the UK’s newest cyber security clusters has celebrated another key milestone – with the successful delivery of its latest regional innovation showcase. 

Hampshire and Sussex Cyber Cluster (HANDS C3) partnered with the South Central Regional Defence & Security Cluster (SCRDSC) to deliver Cyber Den – a pilot event created to spark collaboration across the South East’s cyber ecosystem.

Hosted at the University of Southampton Science Park, the Dragons’ Den-style session brought together start-ups, SMEs, universities, corporates, public sector partners, and expert panellists to showcase cutting-edge solutions to real-world cyber challenges. 

Led by Dr Basel Halak, Director of the Cyber Security Academy at the University of Southampton and Founder of HANDS C3, the event underlined the momentum behind building a strong, interconnected cyber ecosystem across the South.

Blending live pitching with opportunities for networking, the format gave early-stage businesses a platform to test ideas with sector leaders and practitioners, gaining feedback that can accelerate their journey from concept to market.

Dr Halak said: “The event benefited greatly from the depth of expertise on our industry panel and the active participation of organisations from across the region, whose insight helped shape and refine the innovators’ thinking. 

“We are particularly grateful to Factory Internet and NquiringMinds for sponsoring Cyber Den – their backing is exactly the kind of industry engagement that enables clusters like HANDS C3 to thrive.”

The winning pitch was delivered by a graduate of the University of Southampton, illustrating the strength of the talent pipeline emerging from regional universities and the role academic institutions play in powering the UK’s cyber sector. 

With further online events planned, and an in-person showcase scheduled for the summer, HANDS C3 is continuing to work on community building across the South East.

Ben Shorrock, UKC3 Director and Ecosystem Development Lead, said: “HANDS C3’s Cyber Den shows exactly what local clusters do best – bringing founders, researchers and industry together around real problems and helping new ideas get the traction they need. 

“By backing clusters to run this kind of focused innovation activity, we are strengthening regional ecosystems and, in turn, the resilience and growth of the UK’s cyber sector as a whole.”

CyNam showed why Cheltenham and Gloucestershire is recognised as a cyber innovation hub during this year’s Gloucestershire Tech Week.

The week-long programme celebrated innovation, collaboration, and the region’s growing influence on the global cyber stage. 

Highlights included a discussion on how Gloucestershire built its cyber ecosystem, capped by the headline talk ‘How to Save the Internet’ from former Deputy Prime Minister and Meta president, Nick Clegg, hosted as part of Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Attendees also explored essential topics shaping the digital age – from international politics and technology investment to cyber resilience – with sessions ranging from a start-up funding workshop to a high-level national security summit at the Bacon Theatre, focusing on geopolitical cyber threats and national defence strategies.

The standout event was arguably EmPower Cyber 2025, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at closing the UK’s digital skills gap and promoting diversity within the cyber workforce. 

Held at Oxstalls Sports Centre in Gloucester, EmPower welcomed more than 1,000 Year 8 and 9 students – making it the largest youth cyber education event in the South West.

With support from 25 leading tech and cybersecurity organisations, the event gave students a chance to get hands-on with interactive cyber challenges, meet industry professionals, and discover pathways into digital and STEM careers. 

The focus on encouraging more girls and underrepresented groups into cyber technology underscored Gloucestershire’s commitment to building an inclusive and future-ready workforce.

UKC3 Director, and Ecosystem Development Lead, Ben Shorrock, said: “What’s happening in Gloucestershire right now shows the power of collaboration between education, business and government.

“Events like EmPower are not just inspiring the next generation of cyber professionals – they’re proving that regional hubs like Cheltenham and Gloucester are driving national progress in digital innovation and resilience.”

By nurturing young talent through initiatives like EmPower, Gloucestershire continues to demonstrate why it stands at the forefront of the UK’s cyber evolution – driving innovation, developing skills, and creating opportunities that ensure the region remains a beacon for digital excellence.

UK cyber clusters are inviting people to complete a new national survey which will help forge a deeper understanding of organisations served by the network.

The Surrey Cyber Security Cluster, in collaboration with SocialOptic, has developed a short questionnaire to gather insight from individuals and organisations across the UK cyber ecosystem. 

The survey is open to anyone in the UK, including employees, organisations across all sectors, students, and universities.

Participants’ responses will help build a clearer picture of current needs, challenges and opportunities, so they can shape support, events, and programmes that are genuinely useful to organisations.

Survey questions are designed to find out what areas of cyber security people are interested in, what type of support would be most valuable, barriers to developing cyber security skills, and how people prefer to receive support or learning opportunities.

Taking part will take approximately 10-15 minutes, and respondents can also choose to receive a copy of the findings once the survey closes.

UKC3 Director, and Ecosystem Development Lead, Ben Shorrock, said: “This survey is about listening to the people and organisations who make up the UK’s cyber ecosystem. 

“It will help shape a solid evidence base to guide clusters in providing the right support – whether that’s skills, networking or growth opportunities.”

You can complete the survey here. 

Some of the biggest myths about hacking have been challenged in a new open letter from leading cyber experts. 

The letter, signed by a group of current and former Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), security leaders, and practitioners, aims to correct common misconceptions about everyday digital risks facing people and small businesses. Meanwhile, it highlights the practical steps that actually can make a difference to device security.

As the national body for cyber clusters, the UKC3 is working with regional ecosystems, government and industry to turn evidence-based advice into accessible guidance, workshops and support for SMEs across the UK.

The open letter is led by Bob Lord, former security chief for Yahoo, Twitter and the Democratic National Committee, who says he has long been frustrated by what he terms ‘hacklore’ – scary-sounding security tips that persist through repetition, even when evidence does not back them up.

He has launched hacklore.org to challenge this kind of cybersecurity folklore, arguing that it distracts people from the simple, proven steps that genuinely cut everyday cyber risk.

Top of the myth list is the idea that you should always avoid public wifi. While a recent report from Google warned that public networks are easily exploited, the experts point out that large-scale attacks via public wifi are now very rare. 

Modern apps and services typically use strong encryption, and today’s operating systems and browsers warn users when connections are unsafe. 

The letter makes similar points about QR codes, Bluetooth and contactless functions, noting there is no evidence of widespread crime caused by QR-code scanning itself, and that real-world wireless exploits are extremely rare and usually require specialist equipment, physical proximity, and unpatched devices.

The experts also push back on some long-standing ‘best practice’ tips. Frequently changing passwords, for example, can encourage people to choose weaker options and reuse them across accounts – both of which increase risk rather than reduce it. 

Other familiar warnings, such as never using public USB charging points, always turning off Bluetooth and NFC, or constantly clearing cookies, are also labelled as distractions from higher-impact protections.

Instead, the experts recommend focusing on a small set of proven measures: keeping devices and apps up to date, turning on multi-factor authentication for sensitive accounts, and moving towards passkeys – a newer sign-in method designed to replace passwords. 

They also stress the value of using a reputable password manager to generate strong, unique passwords where needed and to store passkeys securely.

UKC3 co-chair Dr Ismini Vasileiou said: “It’s easy to be overwhelmed by alarming headlines and mixed messages, but most people don’t need to be afraid of everyday tools like public wifi or QR codes. 

“What really counts is getting the basics right – keeping devices up to date, switching on multi-factor authentication, and using strong, unique login details. If more individuals and small businesses focused on those simple actions, we’d see a much bigger increase in real-world cyber resilience.

“Alongside this, the programmes and events delivered by our clusters are specifically designed to help organisations of all sizes reduce risk and build resilience. By taking part, leaders can access practical support, ask questions in a safe space, and leave with clear, realistic next steps to strengthen their defences.”

UKC3 has welcomed a new Ministerial letter urging small businesses to take cyber security more seriously in the wake of high-profile attacks on major UK companies. 

The letter, signed by Liz Lloyd CBE, Minister for Digital Economy, warns that hostile cyber activity is becoming ‘more intense, frequent and sophisticated’ – and that organisations of every size are now potential targets.

Recent incidents at companies including Marks & Spencer and Jaguar Land Rover underline the scale of the risk, with the JLR attack in August contributing to a 24% year-on-year revenue drop in its second quarter after production was halted for around five weeks. 

The letter, co-signed by Richard Horne, CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and Blair McDougall, the Small Business Minister, highlights that half of UK small businesses have reported a cyber attack in the past 12 months, while 35% of micro businesses have experienced phishing attacks.

To help firms ‘stay resilient in the face of evolving threats’, ministers are directing SMEs to the free Cyber Action Toolkit. 

This online resource from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) offers a simple, step-by-step way for organisations to strengthen their defences against email compromise, data breaches and ransomware, with personalised guidance and progress tracking. 

The letter also encourages businesses to work towards Cyber Essentials, the UK’s recognised minimum cyber security standard, which demonstrates protection against the most common attacks.

UKC3 co-chair, Dr Ismini Vasileiou, said: “This letter is a clear reminder that cyber risk is a board-level issue for every organisation, not just large enterprises. 

“Small businesses are deeply woven into national supply chains and local economies, so when they are hit, the impact ripples far beyond a single company. 

“Practical tools like the Cyber Action Toolkit and schemes such as Cyber Essentials give SMEs a realistic, affordable way to start improving their resilience today – and UKC3’s cluster network stands ready to help them turn that guidance into action on the ground.”