The Business Cyber Centre – a UK first – opens in Chippenham

The UK's first business-led cyber centre has opened in Chippenham. The Business Cyber Centre was opened by Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan on Tuesday (May 10).

The Universities Minister had to miss the state opening of Parliament by Prince Charles to open the facility at the town's Greenways Business Park.

The Business Cyber Centre’s primary objective is to create cyber confidence and support SMEs to grow, and to grow safely.

Services to SMEs will be affordable, delivered remotely to meet the expectations of start-up and growing SMEs, and importantly be relevant and current.

Based in 21,000 square feet across three floors, the centre will provide a range of services extending from virtual cyber training to security awareness for cyber-SMEs and micro-businesses, through to specialist courses and cyber career employment opportunities for both young adults, mature learners, and existing cyber professionals and freelancers.

The project will also benefit from, and support civilian spinouts from, military facilities at MOD Corsham – home to the military’s Global Operations Security Control Centre, the Joint Security Co-ordination Centre, and Joint Forces Command’s Information Systems and Services – and Bulford, home to 4 Military Intelligence.

The initiative is based on the Be’er Sheba cyber centre in Israel was led by the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP).

SWLEP CEO, Paddy Bradley said: “The BCC will transform the future of UK business by making cyber security a catalyst for growth.

"By working alongside cyber businesses and educators and having a diverse group of organisations linked to one site, the BCC will offer key support and enable significant skills and specialist job growth in our region.”

SWLEP chairman Paul Moorby said: “The SWLEP has built a strong, highly-skilled, regional partnership to deliver the Business Cyber Centre.

"My thanks to the University of Bath, Defence Digital, the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for their valued expertise and ongoing support.

"The BCC is designed specifically for SMEs to use as a base to scale up within the £5 billion a year UK cyber market.”

The centre is expected to create 250 new jobs and 1,700 training opportunities.

Funding came from a £3.7 million grant through the government's Getting Building Fund.