CYBER AND DIGITAL By Ged Henderson IN ASSOCIATION WITH:
WILL THE FORCE BE WITH US?
It has been described as a once in a generation opportunity for Lancashire. The countdown is on to the opening of the government’s new National Cyber Force (NCF) headquarters in Samlesbury.
With it comes the promise of billions of pounds of inward investment and thousands of highly- skilled jobs.
It will also play a key role in the continued development of the North West Cyber Corridor, with research predicting that by 2035 that initiative could create thousands more job opportunities and unlock up to £2.7bn GVA a year for the region.
The economic prize on offer is huge, so with less than a year to go to NCF’s arrival in Lancashire in 2025, just how ready is the county to fully benefit from this massive cyber opportunity?
A range of initiatives and programmes are underway to ensure Lancashire is in a strong position to take advantage as a cyber security powerhouse. Training and skills are at the heart of much of this work.
In November last year a new collaborative initiative, The Lancashire Cyber Partnership (LCP), was announced. Its aim is to shape, support and promote Lancashire’s “world- class cyber strengths and fast-growing cyber ecosystem” and to ensure the whole county benefits from them.
Members are the big hitters: Lancashire County Council (LCC), the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), Lancaster University, BAE Systems and the National Cyber Force (NCF).
Lancaster recently announced a £19m flagship investment into cyber security and protection science. The university is using its global expertise to drive cyber innovation and R&D across Lancashire, the North West Cyber Corridor, and beyond.
UCLan, which has specialisations in combating international cyber-crime and the industrial application of cyber technologies in sectors such as future flight and space, will also utilise its academic expertise, and R&D resources, to support the LCP’s mission.
Both universities also offer a wide range of cyber and cyber-related degrees, and post- graduate courses, which LCP says will help
world’s leading destinations for cyber jobs, R&D, and investment.”
Air Vice-Marshal Tim Neal-Hopes, NCF commander, added: “This partnership, and opportunity, will ensure that Lancashire is uniquely placed to further establish its role as a national leader for cyber and security related capabilities, delivering enduring security, resilience, and prosperity for the nation.”
Lancashire is also ramping up its business engagement programme in support of the cyber corridor. A series of recent workshops have focused on the county’s growing cyber economy.
More than 160 industry organisations have taken part in the events hosted at locations
Academia, industry, government and the private
sector, there is an opportunity for everybody to come together and realise the potential of cyber security for the North West
ensure the county maintains a “strong pipeline” of graduate talent to support the growth of its cyber economy.
Meanwhile, BAE Systems, which has around 10,000 workers in Lancashire, will bring a world-leading advanced aerospace and defence technology perspective to the LCP.
Speaking at the launch Andy Walker, the county’s head of business growth, said: “Lancashire has recognised that by combining our commercial, industrial, academic and political strengths, we can become one of the
across Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
Global technology, telecoms and defence firms took part in the sessions alongside SMEs, specialist suppliers and leading cyber industry experts.
Academics from UCLan and Lancaster and Edge Hill universities contributed alongside the University of Manchester. Staff from NCF, GCHQ, Innovate Lancashire, AMRC North West, and Make UK were also involved.
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