Investment opportunity
Cyber security in Gloucestershire
Transform the cyber security cluster in Gloucestershire with new products and applications
- Location
- Gloucestershire, South of England
- Investment type
- Foreign direct investment
- Sector
- Cyber security
Take advantage of this opportunity to expand your business in the UK
Find out howGloucestershire has the largest cluster of cyber security companies outside of London, and is home to Government Communications HQ (GCHQ) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
The demand for cyber security solutions has accelerated because of a rising number of cyber-attacks, an increasingly diverse range of vulnerabilities, plus our greater reliance on cloud services.
With its cutting-edge expertise, the UK’s cyber security industry is growing rapidly. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a huge shift in working patterns and digitisation, meaning that robust cyber security measures are needed more now than ever.
Sector and market opportunity
An opportunity exists to take advantage of digital assurance and accreditation to provide a range of cyber security solutions in industries such as finance, healthcare, mobility, telecoms, legal, energy, critical infrastructure and agri-tech.
Global investors can exploit this demand from Gloucestershire, a region that benefits from world-class academic research, open access facilities and a well-integrated supply chain.
Growth prospects
The cyber security market is a £132 billion global opportunity ready to explode with a forecast 10.5 CAGR between 2022 and 2028.
Cyber security will play an increasingly significant role in the protection, development and expansion of multiple global sectors.
Location
Gloucestershire is home to Government Communications HQ (GCHQ) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which has been at the heart of cyber security developments for over 60 years.
CyNam is the regional cyber cluster driving the growth of the cyber ecosystem in Cheltenham and Gloucestershire by providing a platform for innovation, collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Based in Cheltenham, CyNam sits at the heart of a thriving cyber community bringing together industry, from exciting start-ups to well-established brands, academia and government.
Connectivity
The region’s strategic position, even in an increasingly digital age, remains important to this day for businesses, visitors, and residents alike.
Major UK airport hubs such as Bristol and Birmingham are just over 1 hour away, with London Heathrow reachable within 1hr 50mins.
Gloucestershire has 9 railways stations that connect to major commercial centres in the UK. Direct rail services will take you from Gloucester to London in 1hr 45mins.
Local talent and skills
Over 1,100 people are employed in the Gloucestershire cyber security cluster.
Over 1,780 students are studying relevant subjects including mathematics, software engineering, information systems and computer science.
The graduate pool is strengthened by cyber security specific courses and world-class research centres, with a further 18 universities in easy reach of Gloucestershire.
Research and expertise
Located in the heart of Gloucestershire and incorporating Cyber Central UK, the Golden Valley development is quickly developing into one of the largest innovation districts in the UK.
The NCSC and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has 5 academic centres of excellence in cyber security research close to Gloucestershire. The University of Bristol with the University of Bath operate a Centre for doctoral training in cyber security.
The Bristol Cyber Security Group has a large-scale testbed, providing a realistic environment for research into cyber-physical systems security.
Local and national government support
The UK are world-leaders in Cyber Security and associated industries and aim to build on this and become a global cyber super-power. The National Cyber Strategy presents the UK’s role as a responsible and democratic cyber power. The strategy commits £2.6 billion of new investment.
Locally, GFirst LEP, the local enterprise partnership for Gloucestershire, along with local partners, will work with you across your entire business journey. Support is available through business navigators and business guides throughout GFirst LEP’s Growth Hub network.
Success stories
RipJar
RipJar Ltd is a Cheltenham-based data intelligence company founded in 2013 by five former employees from GCHQ. The company is a leading provider of data intelligence software, developing products that combine automation, artificial intelligence and data visualisation to help companies manage their exposure to financial crime.
Utilising proprietary AI technology, Ripjar’s software, Labyrinth, uncovers new risks, and reduces false positives by more than 90%. The company has proved successful at sourcing investors, raising £28 million in its series B funding. The business has further doubled in size during COVID-19 and has significantly expanded their product offering.
Surevine
Surevine builds secure, scalable collaboration solutions for the most security conscious organisations. In doing so, they facilitate the joining of people, enabling collaboration on and around highly sensitive information.
Surevine was a spin-out from GCHQ in circa 2008 and has grown significantly. They are now a business of 30 staff with an annual turnover of £4 million. Its Threatvine product is the centrepiece to its IP and is a next generation cyber security information sharing platform designed for secure cross-organisational collaboration and analysis. It also powers the UK’s national cyber security information sharing platform.
TrustStamp
TrustStamp is a US and UK tech start-up working on biometric authentication. It’s located in Cheltenham with a team of 11 and has an active presence in the Hub8 incubator.
The company expect to recruit locally, tapping into the supply of cyber and tech specialists. It also intends to make a long-term commitment to partnering within the ecosystem and be a valuable contributor to Gloucestershire and Cheltenham’s burgeoning cyber reputation.