The recently established National Cyber Force will be permanently
located in Samlesbury, Lancashire. The NCF will be backed by over
£5 billion of investment before 2030 and run jointly by the MOD
and GCHQ.
The new site will sit between Blackburn, Preston, Bolton and
Burnley and create thousands of skilled jobs in a region with
award-winning Further Education colleges, world-class
universities, and thriving defence and aerospace sector. In doing
so the National Cyber Force will deliver for the North West what
establishment of GCHQ in Cheltenham did for Gloucestershire in
the 20th Century.
The Government’s more than £24bn additional funding for Defence
over the next four years created an unprecedented opportunity to
modernise our Armed Forces, ensuring they are fit to face the
threats of a more competitive world and help seize the
opportunities of Global Britain.
Earlier this year the Defence Secretary, Rt Hon MP, set out his vision for a threat-lead, modernised
and sustainable approach to UK Defence. The Defence Command
Paper, part of the Integrated Review, confirmed significant
investment in next-generation capabilities – ensuring we can
continue to keep this country safe in a world where threats are
constantly evolving.
A world-class offensive cyber capability, and investment in cyber
skills, is a vital part of this new integrated approach. That is
why we are establishing a new National Cyber Force campus that
will be at the heart of the UK’s cyber capabilities.
The site will become a centre for cyber excellence, keeping the
UK safe from cyber criminals, terrorists, and hostile states as
well as providing important new investment and opportunities to
the North West.
The National Cyber Force will house its growing workforce in a
custom-built facility in Samlesbury by 2026, bringing thousands
of news jobs to the North West through the course of the decade.
The new site will contribute to national security whilst also
boosting skills, employment, and investment in the local area,
delivering on this Government’s commitment to level-up whilst
also bringing together Government, skills and industry to build a
world-class capability.
As well as becoming the home for thousands of cyber hackers and
analysts the new campus will create hundreds of additional jobs
in support roles such as business support staff and legal and
financial roles.
Rt Hon MP, Defence Secretary, said:
“The National Cyber Force located in Samlesbury, will embrace
exciting new offensive cyber technologies and provide thousands
of highly skills jobs and expertise to the North West. I am
hugely proud and enthusiastic to see this happen, not only will
it provide a catalyst for investment, but will also see our
levelling up agenda bring economic stimulus and tangible benefits
to this region.”
Rt Hon MP, Foreign
Secretary, said:
Foreign Secretary said:
“The National Cyber Force will help confront aggressive behaviour
from malign actors, and demonstrate that Britain is investing in
next-generation defence capability to protect our people and help
our friends counter cyber threats. It sends a powerful message to
our allies and adversaries alike.”
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said:
"The National Cyber Force is at the cutting edge of our country's
defence.
"Basing the campus at Samlesbury in Lancashire will bring high
skilled and well paid jobs to the area, building on our drive to
move key public sector roles outside of London.
"It underlines this government's important levelling up agenda
and our commitment to spread opportunity across the country."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The National Cyber Force was launched in April 2021 to conduct
cyber operations to disrupt hostile state activities, terrorists
and criminals who threaten the UK’s national security. They are
currently co-located with GCHQ in Cheltenham and draws together a
workforce from GCHQ, the MoD, the Secret Intelligence Service
(MI6) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory under one
unified command for the first time.
Focussing on offensive rather defensive cyber, (which is the
focus of GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre) examples of
National Cyber Force activity include interfering with the mobile
phones of would-be terrorists, preventing serious cybercrimes
such as child sexual abuse and fraud, and keeping UK military
aircraft safe from targeting by hostile weapons systems.
