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Recognising Excellence: Ben Shorrock Awarded Honorary Doctorate of Science

We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of Ben Shorrock, the Managing Director of techSPARK and Director of UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration (UKC3), as he receives a prestigious Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Bristol. This distinguished recognition comes as a testament to his ongoing work to support the success of the cyber and tech ecosystem and the city of Bristol.

The degree ceremony was held on 3rd August at the University of Bristol as part of its celebration of people who have been active part of its civic mission. Among the guests was Martin Reid, the Executive Director of SETsquared Partnership, who had presented the award to Ben. Martin commended Ben’s exceptional contributions to the cyber ecosystem and the city of Bristol, underscoring the transformative impact of his tireless efforts.

In his work, Ben has achieved genuinely exceptional outcomes for the city of Bristol, the West of England, and the general UK, he represents the tech and digital ecosystem to local and national government. And has been a source of inspiration and hope during the COVID pandemic leading the roadmap to recovery for the tech cluster with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Martin Reid, Executive Director of SETsquared Partnership

Throughout his career, Ben has been an influential force in driving innovation and collaboration within the cybersecurity industry. As the Managing Director of techSPARK, he has championed  initiatives that empower and support the tech community in Bristol and Bath. Under his  leadership, techSPARK has grown into a hub for the region’s technology community, attracting top talent and fostering world-leading digital innovation within the city.

Additionally, Ben’s role as the Director of UKC3 has been instrumental in advancing the UK Cyber Ecosystem. By spearheading collaborations between various cyber clusters, businesses, and educational institutions, he has cultivated a powerful network that leverages collective expertise to tackle cyber challenges head-on.

Ben’s role in strengthening Bristol’s cybersecurity landscape has been recognised beyond the region. The University of Bristol’s decision to bestow upon him an Honorary Doctorate of Science stands as a testament to his significant contributions to the field and the community.

Congratulations, Dr. Ben Shorrock, on this remarkable milestone! Your dedication to fostering growth and driving innovation in the cyber ecosystem serves as an inspiration to us all.

We look forward to witnessing your continued success in shaping a brighter technological landscape for Bristol and beyond.

Meet the Directors: Ben Shorrock

Ben Shorrock was interviewed on 14th June 2023

As cyber continues to grow and pop up on the radar of businesses and organisations across the nation, we spoke with Ben Shorrock, Ecosystem Development Lead and Director at UK Cyber Cluster collaboration (UKC3).

Before joining the UKC3 board, Ben, current managing director of TechSPARK, has been working for a decade to support the growth of tech and digital businesses. He currently works with 35,000 individuals each month, helping them with recruitment, networking, and increasing capital.
Furthermore, Ben serves as an assessment lead for TechNation’s exceptional talent visa program, evaluating applicants for global leadership abilities and UK residency eligibility. Apart from his role at TechSPARK, Ben co-founded the Bristol Tech Festival and serves on the boards of Tech South West, UK Tech Cluster Group, and Bristol’s One City Board.

What is your role within UKC3?

I have multiple roles in supporting UKC3! I first became involved as a lead via Bristol & Bath Cyber cluster and saw the great work UKC3 were doing to support a thriving sector. This last year I joined as a board director, where I’m supporting the team with Marketing and how we, as cluster organisations, can work together to learn and share.

Why is cyber security so important on a national and international level?
Being able to secure our data and systems is absolutely key, whether you’re a business, an individual or a government. There are a lot of bad people out there who want to take advantage of us, and at its core, cyber security is about protecting what we’ve all worked to build.

What would you say is a major issue the UK is facing in the cyber sector?
Talent and diversity remain a huge challenge for the sector (and tech as a whole). We’re growing hugely as a community, so we need to make sure we can find the right people to support that growth. It’s imperative those people are representative of society as a whole otherwise, we’ll be failing both morally and, frankly, operationally.

What benefits does UKC3 provide on a regional level to help tackle cyber security issues?
Right across the UK, businesses have formed or are springing up with new ideas, approaches and passion in our sector. All of them are more likely to achieve if they can connect and learn from each other. To do that, you really need people on the ground to join the dots, which is what UKC3 does via its cluster organisations.

How does the UKC3 community help address national cyber issues?

UKC3 is recognised as part of our National Cyber Security Strategy. To succeed, cyber security has to connect with the best minds wherever they are in the country, not just a few hotspots. UKC3’s network and coverage is a key channel to do that.

How have clusters been impacted by UKC3 services?
UKC3 does all sorts of things to support different clusters across the UK. Some of that is direct and visible to cyber companies, like showcasing them at national events or helping government understand industry concerns. Other work is less visible but equally important, like helping local cluster organisations become self-sufficient so their work can continue and grow.

What opportunities are important for clusters with UKC3?
Ultimately across the UK, our clusters are made up of businesses and people. UKC3 want to help create the right environment for them to thrive through supporting connections to learning, innovation and potential partnerships.

What would you like to see UKC3 accomplish in the future?
UKC3 is still a young organisation (a start-up, really!), but there’s huge scope for us to support the development of the sector, and I’m really excited to see the plans we have. It feels like we’re just getting started!

Last month proved to be an eventful April for the field of cyber security, with the publication of two significant reports by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

These reports shed light on the current state of the UK’s Cyber Security industry, emphasising its growth, employment opportunities, and the pressing need for robust security measures. In this blog, we will explore the key findings from these reports and offer our opinions on the implications they hold for individuals and organisations alike.

The first report, the Cyber Security Sectoral Analysis 2023, provides a comprehensive overview of the UK’s cyber security industry in terms of its size, employment figures, and organisational revenue. It highlights the remarkable advancements made by firms in enhancing cyber resilience while contributing to the overall strength of the UK economy.

 “The UK cyber security sector generated revenue of £10.5 billion, up 3% since last year”

Whilst the almost 8% increase in number of companies is positive for the sector; a closer look at the report’s regional snapshots shows in comparison to last year’s findings, that again, we have seen further growth centralised around the Greater London area. 

Decreases were reported in the West Midlands and more notably the South East, but despite this slight decline, the South East and Greater London regions account for 49% of the cyber security offices in the UK. This emphasises that there is still significant work to be done to foster growth and attract investment in the remaining regions of the UK, a goal UKC3 and all our regional cyber clusters continue to strive towards. 

There were some positive findings for other regions of the UK with the East Midlands and the North East seeing the most notable increases in mean advertised salaries, and the North West being the only region outside of Greater London to see an increase in the percentage of UK based cyber security employment. The opening of GCHQ Manchester in late 2019 is likely the contributing factor behind this growth, illustrating the positive influence investments like this can have on a region.

The second report released by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology was the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2023. This survey plays a crucial role in informing local and national government policies related to cyber security, ensuring a secure environment for conducting business across the UK.

“32% of businesses and 24% of charities overall recall any breaches or attacks from the last 12 months.”

The survey revealed alarming statistics regarding cyber breaches and attacks faced by  medium (59%) and large (69%) businesses in the past year, as well as highlighting troubling findings that micro and small organisations see cyber security as less of a high priority than they did in previous years. 

 As the government continues to release reports underscoring the criticality of the cyber security sector, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that our knowledge and understanding remain up to date. By connecting with UKC3 and your regional cyber cluster you can foster a broader understanding of the threats faced by businesses and organisations on a regular basis, and collectively take steps to fortify our cyber defences and protect our digital landscape.

Meet the Directors: Phil Jackman

Phil Jackman was interviewed on 18th May 2023

As cyber continues to grow and pop up on the radar of businesses and organisations across the nation, we spoke with Phil Jackman, Treasurer and Director of UK Cyber Cluster collaboration (UKC3). 

Phil Jackman is a strategic thinker, occasional maverick and over-achiever with an interest in culture change, creative opportunities and regional development. With experience of working in both the private and public sectors, Phil also leads the CyberNorth cyber cluster including the delivery of #CyberFest, this interview hopes to give you a closer insight into the minds that help run UKC3.

 

What is your role within UKC3?

Primarily I look after process, procedures and the money.

 

Why is cyber security so important on a national and international level?

Firstly we see that it is, or rather the lack of it is a huge threat to the way that the world works, affecting everyone from individuals and small businesses up to nation states. Secondly, with threat comes opportunity and it offers enormous growth potential.

 

What would you say is a major issue the UK is facing in the cyber sector?

To me, cyber security is a people issue and we focus too much on the technical. All cyber attacks are initiated by people and require others to do something, or not do something, to have their effect. Improved resilience requires a focus on the human aspects.

 

What benefits does UKC3 provide on a regional level to help tackle cyber security issues?

Cyber security is such a global issue that individual companies are going to struggle to be effective. By coming together to work in collaboration and in a community, businesses and other stakeholders can combine their resources. UKC3 helps local clusters to develop and have a national presence.

 

How have clusters been impacted by UKC3 services? Is it through skills? Innovation? Ecosystem growth?

All of the above but for CyberNorth, UKC3 has provided the resources to transform the company from a passion project into a viable business.

 

What opportunities are important for clusters with UKC3?

Whilst each cluster is different, they are focussed on achieving similar things. The main benefit of uniting the clusters is to work together to share experiences, gain learning opportunities and collaborate to achieve these common aims. 

 

What would you like to see UKC3 accomplish in the future?

Before UKC3 can achieve anything, it needs to be financially sustainable and cut its cloth accordingly. Having achieved this, its pivotal position at the heart of the clusters allows it to represent the sector at a national level, raising the profile with other trade bodies and governments. Its position should also encourage closer collaboration between clusters to maximise opportunities available to them.

Last week, we had the pleasure of exhibiting at the National Cyber Security Show in Birmingham at the NEC!

The event was focused on bringing together the UK’s industry expertise to tackle cyber threats and protect  our digital world. UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration (UKC3), along with members from our regional cyber cluster network attended to help encourage the knowledge sharing across the private, public and academic sectors.

As a super connector, UKC3 and its 13 officially recognised clusters host events that educate and encourage networking across Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Our members share the clusters’ determination in encouraging ecosystem development, community innovation, and cyber security growth.

Firstly, The National Cyber Security Show offered attendees the chance to attend live demonstrations and workshops. Our very own Linda Smith, Chair and Director of UKC3, gave an insightful talk on the importance of UKC3 and why the UK cyber security sector needs a super connector. In the rapidly-evolving world of cyber, where new threats surface constantly, staying up-to-date with the latest risks and countermeasures is essential. This necessitates collaboration and knowledge-sharing among industry players. With cyber being a fast-paced, ever-changing sector, working together becomes even more critical to staying ahead of the curve. By giving members of the private, academic, and public sectors a chance to network and collaborate, UKC3 encourages growth in knowledge across the UK.

The Birmingham event was a fantastic example of the importance of networking and being a part of the greater cyber ecosystem, regardless of where you are in your career. As the cyber security industry continues to advance, the conference program provided an opportunity to engage with the leading themes in the industry, learn about advancing innovations, and discover the initiatives being developed to combat cyber threats

Attending the National Cyber Security Show is an absolute must if you want to stay on top of the latest cyber security products, solutions and services and understand where the market is heading. It’s the pulse of the industry, and we encourage everyone to be a part of it.

We hope you enjoyed learning about our experience at the National Cyber Security Show in Birmingham. We’re excited to continue connecting with those who attended our stand and those who are attending the rest of this year’s conferences across the UK – Infosecurity Europe is up next!

If you’re interested in getting more involved in our cluster events or staying up-to-date with our latest news and updates, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter or contact us using the information below.

We can’t wait to hear from you soon!

CYBERUK is the UK’s most prestigious national cyber conference and exhibition ! Every year the event moves to different national locations with 2023 being hosted at the ICC in Belfast, Northern Ireland. For the second time since launch UKC3 – United Kingdom Cluster Collaboration is excited to share their involvement and exhibit at this important event.

As an organisation set up eighteen months ago to provide funding and support for sector growth into new and emerging regional Cyber Clusters across the UK, UKC3’s ecosystem is dedicated to growing and assisting start ups, small and medium businesses, along with skills providers and stakeholders to capture and capitalise on the immense opportunity cybertech offers. UKC3’s  mission is to encourage greater collaboration across regions and nations, and what better opportunity than to represent the network at CYBERUK 23!

This year’s conference theme is “Securing an Open and ResilientDigital Future for the UK,” and it’s happening in the prime location – Belfast, home of the internationally renowned Queen’s University Belfast and an increasingly developing vibrant cybersecurity sector. The conference will have strong ties to the Centre for Secure Information Technology as well as the NI Cyber cluster and NI Cyber Security Centre.

According to Simon Whittaker, the NI Cyber Chair, “Our commitment to innovation and excellence in this field is evident, and this is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our leadership in the field, and to learn from other industry leaders as we work towards a safer and more secure digital world.”

UKC3 fully supports this statement from this years host cluster, and they’re honoured to be representing the thirteen clusters at CYBERUK 23 with the ongoing support of the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology.  We will also be sponsoring a number of events throughout the conference.

Here are some events you won’t want to miss:

• As more people use AI every day, from ChatGTP to Face Detection and recognition on your phone, it’s time to talk about AI & Cyber. NI Cyber and Allstate Alliance are hosting a panel session on the first day of CYBERUK 23 at 8 am and runs until 9:30 am at Allstate Northern Ireland.

• To end the first day on a high note, the UK Cyber Meetup will bring attendees together to encourage collaboration and discussions over food and drinks. This evening event will be hosted by CyNam, the cluster covering the Cheltenham region.

• As we work to acknowledge the issues women face in the techworld, Women in Cyber Wales will be holding a session to offer an opportunity to network and discuss. Clare Johnson will be hosting their breakfast sessions for their second year running on 20th April at 8:30 am.

UKC3 is committed to helping make the UK a cyber-superpower through the core three themes of Innovations, Skills and Ecosystem throughout the country via the cluster community. If you’re interested in meeting a UKC3 representative to learn more about making connections to your local network  you can secure a five minute meeting at CYBERUK below.

We hope to see you at CYBERUK 23!