Innovative cyber startups, small businesses and scaleups will
benefit from a new scheme to help them launch and grow their
businesses while spreading wealth and opportunity across the UK.
Cyber Runway will see entrepreneurs and businesses across the
four nations get access to business masterclasses, mentoring,
product development support, networking events and backing to
trade internationally and secure investment so they can turn
their ideas into commercial successes.
The new programme - funded by the Department for Digital,
Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and delivered by Plexal in
partnership with CyLon, Deloitte and The Centre for Secure
Information Technologies (CSIT) - aims to support at least 160
organisations and companies over the course of six months.
The cyber security sector is one of the UK’s tech success stories
with revenue growing 7 per cent in the last financial year and
the number of companies increasing by 21 per cent. The sector is
now worth £8.9 billion.
Companies participating in DCMS’s cyber growth initiatives in the
past have, on average, more than tripled their revenues year on
year.
Minister for Digital Infrastructure said:
The UK’s cyber sector is booming and we’re working tirelessly
to ensure the benefits are felt by businesses and individuals
right across the country.
Our new Cyber Runway programme will help tackle barriers to
growth, increase investment and give firms vital support to
take their businesses to the next level.
Cyber Runway will promote growth across the UK with a
particular focus on Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, the
North East, North West and South West of England to support the
government’s levelling up agenda. Much of the activity will
build on the success of emerging cyber hubs such as Cheltenham,
Manchester, Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The programme will also support founders and innovators from a
diverse range of backgrounds - targeting applicants from
underrepresented groups in the UK’s cyber sector such as women
and people from black, asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.
Saj Huq, director of innovation at Plexal, said:
COVID-19 has catalysed the need for effective cyber security
across industries, and a record level of capital is being
invested into the sector. But there is still a need for support
for businesses at the earliest stages of their development and
innovators and entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities
still face barriers when entering the ecosystem.
These are challenges we look forward to addressing with Cyber
Runway by supporting the best innovators, regardless of their
background or geography, to thrive and grow.
Nick Morris, CEO at CyLon, said:
The UK’s cyber security ecosystem is at a critical and exciting
point in its development, with both new challenges and new
opportunities having arisen out of the pandemic. Through its
Launch, Grow and Scale streams, we believe Cyber Runway will be
able to help a diverse range of entrepreneurs, startups and
scaleups capitalise on this.
Cyber Runway will support UK innovators to develop the crucial
security technologies that will safeguard the future of our
digital economy. We are very pleased to be a part of this
initiative alongside DCMS and our fantastic partners Plexal,
CSIT and Deloitte.
Louise Cushnahan, head of innovation at CSIT, said:
CSIT has a strong reputation for providing support to cyber
startups through their various growth stages.
We are delighted to bring our expertise to Cyber Runway to
collaborate with cyber companies and entrepreneurs bringing
innovative cyber solutions to market.
Cyber Runway is part of the government’s wider work to develop
the UK’s strength in cyber as we build back better after the
pandemic and improve prosperity and security.
Expressions of interest from applicants, mentors and investors
can now be made.
Notes to editors:
DCMS press office is on 020 7211 2210.
Cyber Runway follows a number of other DCMS-funded cyber
programmes which have now completed. These include HutZero, Cyber
101 and Tech Nation’s cyber accelerator for scaleups.
Cyber Runway is looking for expressions of interest from
potential applicants, mentors and investors.
