Explore the ways cyber security could boost your business. A programme open to all SMEs based in Greater Manchester.

European Regional Development Fund - This project has been part-funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund.

Four universities sharing cyber security expertise to grow Greater Manchester businesses.

We believe that cyber security innovation, technology and practices can grow SMEs.

From online shopping to web pages, we're using digital technologies more than ever before. And these technologies can help to grow our businesses.

Whatever your business, Greater Manchester Cyber Foundry can help to improve your cyber operation.

Help us to use the universities' cyber security research to innovate and design new products and services.

Did you know? Cyber attacks pose an £860m risk to the region's businesses each year*.

If we use electronic data, systems and networks, we need cyber security. This is because we're processing an increasing amount of sensitive and personal data. We might store our customers' credit card details so they can make payments faster, for example. Or, our employees' National Insurance numbers for their salaries.

Cyber security allows us to create a safer virtual environment to do business with our customers. Digitally secure operations, supported by cyber innovation, will help deliver growth and productivity.

*‌Estimates by the Lloyds City Risk Register.

For more information about how your business can benefit, email info@gmcyberfoundry.ac.uk

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

Our training programme

If your business is accepted onto our Greater Manchester Cyber Foundry programme, you'll have the opportunity to:

Assess your current business model
Investigate the potential for cyber security to support business growth and productivity through: defence, market differentiation, differentiation, diversification
Develop growth strategies using cyber security
Receive technical assistance (if eligible) from experts in cyber security

We tailor our business support for the product or service you're looking to develop. Although you'll be part of a group for this programme, you'll focus on your innovation across each session.

You'll typically attend group workshops, receive research support, and have one-to-one interventions with our technical experts. You'll also have access to our facilities and equipment.

Phase One: Workshops, online materials and one-to-one meetings

As a business, you commit to:

An initial diagnostic meeting
Attend 2 days of face-to-face workshops
Complete several online, structured packages of support which cover:
- business model canvas
- innovation audit
- absorptive capacity analysis
- driving forces exercise
- cyber growth
- developing a business strategy
Attend a one-to-one development meeting

You'll then receive a tailored report, business strategy, and action plan.

Phase Two: Technical assistance

After you've completed Phase One, your business might be eligible to receive further technical assistance from one of our academic teams. This is to help you to develop a new cyber product or service.

We'll pair you with a member of our team who has technical expertise grounded in research in that area. You'll work collaboratively on the project for around four months.

Some of our specialisms include:

Data visualisation
Data science – privacy and anonymisation
Applied cryptography
Data driven democracy and fake news
Cloud computing security
Distributed ledger technology
Human aspect of security (socio-technical)
Distributed systems security

Biometric authentication
Fraud detection
Machine learning
Electrical power
Code verification
IoT security
Crypto markets
Penetration testing

Four universities. A team of cyber security researchers. Greater Manchester SMEs.
Apply now to join Greater Manchester Cyber Foundry.