Projects

 

The National Software Academy are looking for projects for the new academic session.  

 

 

Projects are one of the key features of the Academy and one that, we hope, will help us continue to produce extremely well-qualified graduates.  If you are seeking to recruit graduate software engineers in the next 12 months, then sponsoring a project is an excellent way of building relationships with students.

 

Lunch & Learn

 

In addition to the projects, we have other opportunities to engage with the students, particularly through lunch and learn sessions and also through delivering case studies to students, particularly those in the final year. 

 

If you have a project or other engagement that you would like to propose, then please use the link below to send outline details to us for consideration by the academic team: https://forms.office.com/e/V4Z1H7qYMF

 

(Please can you submit project proposals no later than 11th September 2023)

 

Networking

 

Related to this, we would like to invite you to a networking session on Thursday 31st August where you can discuss your ideas for projects, lunch and learns, case studies and placements with our academic team.  Our MSc students will also be showcasing the projects that they have been working on over this summer.  We hope that you, or one of your colleagues, will be able to attend.  Until our new space is ready, and as our furniture is all packed, we invite you to an attend in Abacws building.  

 

Please sign up to the networking session using the link below: https://ti.to/national-software-academy/projects-networking-2023

ScotlandIS, the membership and cluster management organisation for Scotland's digital technologies industry, have been engaged by a large multi-national organisation wishing to engage with cyber delivery partners at a grass roots/regional level.

In addition to their footprint in Scotland they also have operational activities within other UK cluster geographical areas (Including Wales).

This is a live project with significant budget in place. Although ScotlandIS are not currently in a position to reveal the client details, they have been tasked with pulling together capabilities of cyber organisations who may wish to engage as part of the delivery projects.

Any organisation interested in finding out more about this opportunity, please contact [email protected] and we will send you a short capability document to compete and return it to.

David Ferguson, Cyber Development Lead at ScotlandIS on [email protected]

In order to provide feedback regarding companies who respond, please make sure you highlight your membership of Cyber Wales in your submission.

My September update for everything DASA in Wales (and wider). I hope you managed to have some well-deserved time off during the summer holiday and are raring to go in the build up to Christmas!

We are still in the first cycle of the new Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP)which is a new opportunity to apply for grant funding with DASA. This £16M programme, running initially for 3 years is designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises across the UK to develop innovative materials, technologies and processes, and to enhance defence supply chains.
The programme offers up to 50% grant funding to collaborations between UK-registered Lower Tier Suppliers and Higher Tier Suppliers developing projects which support the current and upcoming equipment capabilities and technology priorities of the Ministry of Defence. The maximum total allowable value of each DTEP project is £1M (therefore, the maximum grant award is £500K).

Current DASA Activity

Themed Calls

Since my last update we have one new themed competition open -

Disruptive Science and Technology Impacting the Future of Defence – we have an initial £750k available to fund small (£50k), short (4 months), low Technology Readiness Level (TRL 1-2) ideas. The aim of this is to identify new ideas and ways of doing things that are potentially disruptive to Defence and then to further develop the understanding of the ideas and their future impact. We are open to ideas from any discipline that you believe may, in the future, disrupt the current ways of innovating and have the potential to lead to radical change. Closing Date of 12th October at midday.

We have one which is closing soon -

Point of Care Diagnostics at the Front Line Phase 2 – we have £1M available and expect to fund two proposals to Technology Readiness Level 5 for proposals on novel and innovative ‘Point of Care’ diagnostic technologies that provide information to enable clinicians to diagnose and treat individuals earlier and more effectively following exposure to biological or chemical agents. Closing Date of 22^nd September at midday.

Open Call

There are no new Innovation Focus Areas (IFAs) since my last update, as a summary the latest focus area includes ideas around –

• Countering Improvised Explosive Devices by Novel Technologies and Techniques (IFA034)
• Human Augmentation (IFA033)
• Audio and Visual capture for National Security Technologies (IFA032)

We are likely to suspend the older innovation focus areas within the open call from the next cycle (from 20^th September onwards) as follows –

• Simulating Future Battlespace Complexity (IFA024)
• Defence People – Skills, Knowledge and Experience (IFA023)
• Operate and Deliver Effects in Contested Domains (IFA022)
• Delivering Agile Command and Control (IFA021)
• Integrate Information and Physical Activity Across all Domains (IFA020)

Upcoming Events/Items of Interest

We within DASA alongside the MODs SME engagement team are hosting a virtual ‘doing business with defence’ session. This is to give an overview of the different options available to innovations when working with defence including opportunity to ask questions. It’s on Monday 26^th September at 1400, more information at this link .

The Royal navy are hosting a virtual event on Tuesday 27^th September at 1100 around littoral strike command force mobility. The session will introduce the Commando Force’s interest in tactical mobility of personnel and capabilities which are optimised for long-range manoeuvre in high threat environments and climactic extremes. Registration by 20^th September via this link .  

Finally, I want to congratulate Exsel Electronics Ltd, based in Welshpool, Powys who were recently successful on the Defence Rapid Impact Open call on an idea in accelerating technology across a low-cost data centric security facilitation device.

As always, if you want anymore information or a chat to discuss anything – please feel free to reach out to me.

Many thanks

Tom

Helo

Dyma fy niweddariad ym mis Medi ar gyfer popeth sy’n ymwneud â DASA yng Nghymru (ac yn ehangach). Rwy’n gobeithio eich bod wedi llwyddo i gael amser i ffwrdd o’r gwaith yn ystod gwyliau’r haf a’ch bod yn barod i wynebu’r cyfnod sy’n arwain at y Nadolig!

Rydym yn dal i fod yng nghylch cyntaf y Rhaglen Defnyddio Technoleg Amddiffyn (DTEP) , sy’n gyfle newydd i wneud cais am gyllid grant gyda DASA. Mae’r rhaglen £16M hon, fydd yn cael ei chynnal i ddechrau am 3 blynedd, wedi’i chynllunio’n bennaf i gefnogi busnesau bach a chanolig ledled y DU i ddatblygu deunyddiau, technolegau a phrosesau arloesol, ac i wella cadwyni cyflenwi amddiffyn.

Mae’r rhaglen yn cynnig hyd at 50% o gyllid grant i gydweithrediadau rhwng Cyflenwyr Haen Is sydd wedi’u cofrestru yn y DU a Chyflenwyr Haen Uwch sy’n datblygu prosiectau sy’n cefnogi blaenoriaethau technoleg a galluoedd offer presennol ac arfaethedig y Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn. Y swm uchaf a ganiateir ar gyfer pob prosiect DTEP yw £1M (felly, uchafswm y grant a ddyfernir yw £500mil).

Gweithgareddau DASA Presennol

Galwadau Thematig

Ers fy niweddariad diwethaf, mae gennym un gystadleuaeth thema newydd ar agor –

Gwyddoniaeth a Thechnoleg Tarfol yn Effeithio ar Ddyfodol y Sector Amddiffyn – mae gennym gyfanswm cychwynnol o £750mil ar gael i ariannu syniadau bach (£50mil), byr (4 mis), Lefel Parodrwydd Technoleg isel (TRL 1-2). Nod hyn yw canfod syniadau newydd a ffyrdd o wneud pethau a allai darfu ar y sector Amddiffyn, ac yna datblygu dealltwriaeth o’r syniadau hyn ymhellach a’u heffaith i’r dyfodol. Rydym yn agored i syniadau o unrhyw ddisgyblaeth rydych chi’n credu a allai, yn y dyfodol, darfu ar y ffyrdd presennol o arloesi a bod â’r potensial i arwain at newid radical. Dyddiad cau: hanner dydd, 12 Hydref.

Mae gennym un sy’n cau cyn bo hir -

Diagnosteg Pwynt Gofal yng Ngham 2 y Rheng Flaen – mae gennym ni £1M ar gael ac rydym yn disgwyl ariannu dau gynnig ar gyfer Parodrwydd Technoleg Lefel 5 ar gyfer cynigion ar dechnolegau diagnostig ‘Pwynt Gofal’ newydd ac arloesol sy’n darparu gwybodaeth i alluogi clinigwyr i wneud diagnosis a thrin unigolion yn gynt ac yn fwy effeithiol ar ôl dod i gysylltiad ag asiantau biolegol neu gemegol. Dyddiad cau: hanner dydd, 22 Medi.

Galwad Agored

Nid oes unrhyw Ardaloedd Ffocws Arloesi newydd ers fy niweddariad diwethaf, fel crynodeb mae’r maes ffocws diweddaraf yn cynnwys syniadau ynghylch –

• Defnyddio Technolegau a Thechnegau Newydd i fynd i’r afael â Dyfeisiadau Ffrwydrol Byrfyfyr (IFA034)
• Cynyddu Gallu Dynol (IFA033)
• Recordio Sain a Gweledol ar gyfer Technolegau Diogelwch Cenedlaethol (IFA032)

Rydym yn debygol o gael gwared â’r meysydd ffocws arloesed h?n yn yr alwad agored o’r cylch nesaf (o 20 Medi ymlaen) fel a ganlyn -

• Efelychu Cymhlethdod Integreiddio a Chyfuno Lluoedd Arfog yn y Dyfodol (IFA024)
• Pobl Amddiffyn – Sgiliau, Gwybodaeth a Phrofiad (IFA023)
• Gweithredu a Chyflawni Effeithiau mewn Meysydd Cystadleuol (IFA022)
• Gorchymyn a Rheoli yn Ystwyth (IFA021)
• Integreiddio Gwybodaeth a Gweithgarwch Corfforol ar draws pob Parth (IFA020)

Digwyddiadau sydd ar y Gweill/Eitemau o Ddiddordeb

Rydym ni yn DASA, ochr yn ochr â thîm ymgysylltu busnesau bach a chanolig y Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn, yn cynnal sesiwn ‘gwneud busnes gyda’r Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn’ ar-lein. Pwrpas hyn yw rhoi trosolwg o’r gwahanol opsiynau sydd ar gael ar gyfer arloesi wrth weithio yn y diwydiant amddiffyn, a bydd cyfle hefyd i ofyn cwestiynau. Cynhelir y digwyddiad ddydd Llun 26 Medi am 1400, ac mae rhagor o wybodaeth ar gael drwy ddilyn y ddolen hon .

Mae’r llynges Frenhinol yn cynnal rhith-ddigwyddiad ddydd Mawrth 27 Medi am 1100 ynghylch sut i orchymyn ymosodiadau arfordirol. Bydd y sesiwn yn cyflwyno diddordeb y Lluoedd Comando mewn defnyddio personél mewn ffordd dactegol yn ogystal â’r galluoedd sydd wedi’u hoptimeiddio ar gyfer symudiadau pell mewn amgylcheddau risg-uchel ac eithafion hinsoddol. Cofrestrwch erbyn 20 Medi drwy ddilyn y ddolen hon . 

Yn olaf, rwyf am longyfarch Exsel Electronics Ltd, sydd wedi’i leoli yn y Trallwng, Powys a fu’n llwyddiannus yn ddiweddar ar alwad agored Amddiffyn Effaith Cyflym gyda’u syniad fydd yn cyflymu technoleg ar draws dyfeisiau hwyluso diogelwch cost isel sy’n canolbwyntio ar ddata.

Fel bob amser, os ydych chi eisiau rhagor o wybodaeth neu sgwrs i drafod unrhyw beth – mae croeso i chi gysylltu â mi.

Diolch yn fawr

You asked. We listened. Our answer? International Cyber Expo, held at Olympia London on the 27th - 28th September 2022.

Nineteen Group is a renowned trade exhibitions business with dozens of world-leading events, including International Security Expo (ISE) - a global homeland and commercial security event. In its 20th year, ISE continues to thrive, but after extensive research, we have launched a new cybersecurity-focused event designed to shake up the status quo and give the industry an event they’ve been asking for – an innovative, must-attend exhibition designed by the community, for the community, that combines a Global Cyber Summit with live immersive demonstrations and informal networking.

As you know, cybersecurity is not a tick-in-the-box exercise, nor simply a product to sell. It’s an ecosystem composed of brilliant minds in a variety of functions; from government officials, entrepreneurs and academics to technical experts, executives and venture capitalists. Each of whom play a role in influencing the future of cybersecurity as well as protecting businesses and the wider public from cyber threats.

International Cyber Expo has been created to provide a space where these relationships can be nurtured. Far from a stuffy commercial event, the Expo is a refreshing alternative having found a perfect balance: it offers an intimate setting to network with the who’s who of cybersecurity, an invaluable educational experience to stay one step ahead in the fight against cybercriminals, without sacrificing the opportunity to showcase or purchase the latest cutting-edge technologies and services. 

Its agenda is shaped by a diverse and esteemed Advisory Council chaired by Professor Ciaran Martin CB (former CEO of the NCSC) and made up of credible government, industry and academic stakeholders. Organisations represented in the Advisory Council include Microsoft, IASME, Hiscox, University of Oxford, the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group and the Department for International Trade. 

So, what can you look forward to?

• Global Cyber Summit : Sponsored this year by Snyk, the Global Cyber Summit will look at the real cyber issues impacting us today and in tomorrow’s interconnected world. In a combination of roundtable discussions, fireside chats and presentations, sessions will explore a variety of themes; from cyber warfare, ransomware, and the legal landscape as it relates to data privacy, to building diversity into one’s business culture, and the questions raised by emerging technologies like the metaverse, blockchain and quantum computing. For the full programme, visit: https://www.internationalcyberexpo.com/global-cyber-summit 

• CISO Roundtables (By Invitation Only): Sit down with 8 - 12 Chief Information Security Officers to hear about the latest challenges they are facing, and ask your burning questions. 

• Cyber Griffin Tabletop Exercise: This award-winning tabletop exercise is designed to explore the decisions that people make in real-life scenarios in order to protect their businesses from modern-day threats.

• Connect+ Live: A meeting service to connect qualified international buyers with sellers based on their buying needs.

• Immersive Cyber Demonstrations: Professional actors from Crisis Cast deliver immersive demonstrations on how to prepare for cyber threats, explore vulnerabilities and survive in the new age of information warfare. This is a great opportunity to showcase your products in a live environment.

• Tech Hub Stage: An opportunity to launch products and services, and talk about real-life applications and case studies of your game-changing solutions. 

• International Pavilions: A range of International Pavilions expand the market opportunity and international nature of this high-level cybersecurity event.

• Government Zone: With support spanning the Home Office, UKDSE, UK Cyber Council, Joint Security and Resilience Centre (JSaRC) and more, the Government Zone provides a central meeting point for visitors to network and discover the latest projects and plans for the future from UK Government departments, organisations and agencies, bringing the most senior and influential figures to the event.

International Cyber Expo’s Founding Partners include Fortinet, Snyk, ThreatLocker, Mimecast and e2e Assure.

To register for FREE as a visitor: https://ice-2022.reg.buzz/e1

To find out how you can take part as an exhibitor, please feel free to get in touch with Eleanor Hall ([email protected]).

BCS South Wales Branch Update

I wanted to take this opportunity to say a big thanks to all those who have supported the BCS and our branch over the past year.  As we reach the end of our 2021-22 programme, we’re celebrating yet another successful year of events, having worked with many great speakers and professionals from across the industry, as well as working on collaborative events with our partners from BCS mid-Wales and colleagues from the South Wales IET branches.

We’re already looking forward to the next year’s diary with our 2022 AGM planned for later September.  As the branch continues to expand and our membership numbers grow becoming the second largest branch in the UK, we’re looking to fill some more volunteer roles on our branch committee.  We’re specifically looking for a Social Media and Publicity Officer, an Inclusion and Diversity Officer and an Early Careers Advocate.  If you’d like more information on these volunteer roles, then please email me at the following address [email protected]

The branch continues to develop it’s STEM and outreach work across the region, particularly around educating young learners, parents and teachers around robotics. Our special interest working group has been working alongside STEM See Science  team for the past five years developing and delivering a basic introduction to robotics within schools and science fairs.  The Lego Mindstorm kits have been the main tool used to bring the topic to life for children. However, during the pandemic, in-person delivery wasn’t possible so the group took the step of capturing the lesson in the form of short videos and supporting materials that could be used by teachers in schools. This lesson plan can be found here on the STEM resources server: 

https://www.stem.org.uk/uxgxgx

Here's my question for you this month in the form of a linkedin poll: How would you like to listen to podcasts to help you scale a tech company?

Investment

• The Term Sheet Explained: PWC and the British Business Bank are joining forces for a series of webinars in November all around equity fundraising and this session is guiding you through the term sheet and how to assess the terms under which you might enter into. The last session is happening on Tuesday 23rd November.

• 10 month legal support for tech scaleups - AG Elevate: Addleshaw Goddard is a big legal firm that runs a really interesting 10month programme for selected high-tech businesses designed to accelerate them through legal challenges that arise when they grow.
• You can also sign up for some useful materials covering fundraising, regulation, data & privacy, brand protection, property, & software, here:

• Our partners for the Tech Nation D&I Toolkit, "All In", are looking for founders who want to champion D&I in the startup/scaleup world. If you're interested in joining the first alpha community with them you can find out more here

• Transport for Wales are launching the 4th cohort of their rail innovation accelerator programme. Previous Welsh cohort members you may know include Yoello, Route Konnect, Immersity, and more. You can find out more about the programme and apply for the next cohort here.

• Thought Leadership Session as a sales tactic: Date: 10th December at 1pm. Register here.

• Business Development in South East Asia: If you're considering expanding your business into the APAC region, Tech Nation is holding the APAC Webinar Series which aims to bridge the gap by exploring common issues faced by companies on their international expansion into the APAC region. The next event is on Business Development 23rd Nov at 9am.

We are looking to set up some placements in industry for Bridgend College staff.

We are really keen to offer some placements in cyber, but currently do not have any opportunities secured, Could the Cyber Wales cluster help?

Do let me know if you would like to arrange a quick call to discuss, or you have any questions/require any further information.

Thanks and all the best,

Liz Rees
Project Coordinator – Building Resilient Communities in FE
Tel | Ffôn: (01656) 302 302 ext. 139
Email | E-bost: [email protected]

Some opportunities and resources that may be of interest. Bit of a long one this month as it's been a while!

Investment and Fundraising

• Applications for Playfair Capital's Europe-wide remote Female Founder Office Hours are now open! Designed to create an opportunity for women founders to connect with VCs, they have 110 VCs from across Europe signed up. It's your chance to pitch or get feedback from leading investors.
• OpenVC - An open list of VCs filterable by thesis, stage of investment, first cheque, etc
• BBB and PwC are doing a series of 3 events for Fundraising - Investor Readiness, Valuations and Term Sheet Explained
• Huckletree is co-hosting VC Connect office hours with Lakestar, the VC firm investing in technology companies led by exceptional entrepreneurs. Early investments included Skype, Spotify, Facebook, and Airbnb. Since raising the first fund in 2013, Lakestar manages an aggregated volume of over EUR 1bn across three early-stage funds, and more recently a growth fund.Open to founders who are looking to raise in the near future, VC Connect offers a chance to get 30 minutes of informal, personalised virtual advice, insight and feedback, completely free. Founders can apply for a 30 minute slot below: All Founders: 15th December - Lakestar, the VC firm investing in technology companies led by exceptional entrepreneurs. Early investments included Skype, Spotify, Facebook, and Airbnb. Since raising the first fund in 2013, Lakestar manages an aggregated volume of over EUR 1bn across three early-stage funds, and more recently a growth fund.Open to founders who are looking to raise in the near future, VC Connect offers a chance to get 30 minutes of informal, personalised virtual advice, insight and feedback, completely free. Founders can apply for a 30 minute slot below: All Founders: 15th December - Lakestar, the VC firm investing in technology companies led by exceptional entrepreneurs. Early investments included Skype, Spotify, Facebook, and Airbnb. Since raising the first fund in 2013, Lakestar manages an aggregated volume of over EUR 1bn across three early-stage funds, and more recently a growth fund.Open to founders who are looking to raise in the near future, VC Connect offers a chance to get 30 minutes of informal, personalised virtual advice, insight and feedback, completely free. Founders can apply for a 30 minute slot below: All Founders: 15th December - Black Founders: 24th November
• Impact X Capital VC - Venture Capital firm, founded to support underrepresented entrepreneurs across Europe.
• Founders Factory Launch Sustainability Seed Programme with 150k Euro equity investment for Pre-Seed/Seed climate tech companies with a North Star of reducing GHG
• Tom Blomfield's Guide to Investing - Tom, co-founder of Monzo and GoCardless posted this guide on Twitter and it looks most relevant for founders who are raising a Seed or Series A round, with some amount of product development and early customer traction.
• Funding and Grant Support with DRIAD - Grant support often comes up in my conversations with scaleups and this week this company was highly recommended by my fellow EEMS.
• Current Dynamics in HealthTech by ScaleUp Group - ScaleUp Group helps entrepreneurs with Series A investment and are particularly good at helping you become investment ready and what metrics you need. This event is relevant for anyone seeking funding and investors participating in delivering technology to the UK Health & Care sectors.

Wavestone is a global technology and management consultancy with a key focus on cybersecurity. As a result of this, on a yearly basis, we conduct a research project aiming to capture the growing UK cybersecurity start-up environment – the last of which was conducted in 2019 (link to the publication).

Taking part in this radar with Wavestone will help improve start-ups visibility, notably with potential clients that we regularly work with on cybersecurity engagements (e.g. in the UK: Barclays, AXA, HSBC, BBC, National Grid, Primark, Legal & General, etc.). Please see this link to read more about our engagements.

Involvement in our 2022 radar is completely free, the only thing we would ask from the start-ups is to meet our criteria (to be headquartered in the UK, to be less than 7 years old and to have a maximum of 35 full time employees) as well as 30 minutes of their time to conduct an interview.

If you could help ask the start-ups to participle or even broker an introduction, it would be appreciated.

Feel free reach out to Florian Pouchet and Lucie Watrin if you have any questions or would like to talk about this initiative!.

Our Visions
To create brighter futures for the people of Wales

Our Purpose
To support young people and adults in Wales to create brighter futures through access to high quality, impartial careers support that makes a positive impact on individuals’ education, economic and wellbeing outcomes.

Goal:

• To support delivery of the curriculum for Wales and contribute to the achievement of the four purposes.
• ambitious, capable learners ready to learn throughout their lives.
• enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work.
• ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world.
• healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society.

• Expressive Arts.
• Health and Well-being.
• Humanities.
• Languages, Literacy and Communication.
• Mathematics and Numeracy.
• Science and Technology.

• Changes the attitudes of pupils to education.
• Influences pupils’ career plans and subject choices.
• Motivates pupils to study harder.
• Helps pupils to achieve better grades.
• 85% of pupils told us they felt more confident and motivated to do further planning for their career.
• 97% of pupils told us the session improved their knowledge of the career opportunities available to them.
• 89% of pupils told us they learned about careers of which they were previously unaware.
• 88% of parents told us they were more aware of the opportunities available for their son or daughter.

• Support the economy of Wales.
• Raise your business profile.
• Raise the profile of the sector.
• Address the skills gaps in our future workforce.

• Delivering a workshop or masterclass to pupils.
• Hosting visits to your company for teachers/students.
• Class or whole year group presentations.
• Taster sessions.
• Giving advice and support.
• Attending careers fairs / carousel days.
• Providing recorded content to share with pupils.

• Employers set out the activities they’d like to get involved in.
• Employers set out areas of the Curriculum they can support.
• Employers set out where in Wales they can offer support.
• Schools ‘shop’ for employers to work with their pupils.
• Requests for support come through Careers Wales.

• The School Valued Partner initiative gives recognition to employers who actively support individual schools through Careers Wales employer engagement activities.
• Through the initiative, we will identify employers who have an ongoing relationship with schools and who regularly support activities in these schools (a minimum of 3 activities per year). We will then recognise them as Valued Partners of the school.
• Schools can have multiple School Valued Partners and employers can be School Valued Partners of more than one school.
• Employers who are identified as School Valued Partners will be nominated for an award at the Valued Partner Award ceremony. The Valued Partner Award ceremony will showcase the initiative and celebrate the relationships between employers and schools.
• Careers Wales Business Engagement Advisers will chair an introductory meeting between the School Valued Partner and a senior member of the school staff to ensure that the support offered by the employer is recognised at a senior level in the school.
• Careers Wales Business Engagement Advisers will arrange a termly 'keeping in touch' contact (telephone call or meeting) with the school and the School Valued Partner, offering support and ideas for working together.

New for academic year 2021/22, Bridgend College is delivering an Enhanced programme of study which looks to place students in the cyber security industry for up to 25 days during their course.

As part of the wider Cyber College Cymru initiative, the goal of this programme is to produce work-ready learners who will leave their Level 3 qualification with the skills and knowledge required to enter the workplace. Alongside these placement opportunities, students study for two Microsoft professional certifications, undertake weekly technical workshops and participate in challenge days organised by our industry partners.

We are asking for any offers of work placement, anytime before July 2022. You don’t have to commit to the full 25 days and it could be as little as one week! Anything and everything you could offer would be extremely helpful for us to achieve our goal.

If you would be interested in working with us to provide these meaningful placement opportunities, please contact Scott Morgan in the first instance.

Happy Friday Everyone!

Women in Cyber Wales Meeting - 7th October 2021
We've just published details of our next event, which will be held online on 7th October, 3.30-5pm. We've got some truly brilliant speakers lined up for you, Lorraine Dryland (Global CISO, First Sentier Investors), Dr Hoda Alkhzaimi (Director, Centre of Cyber Security, New York University in Abu Dhabi), Anna-Lisa Miller (CISO, Spectris) and Chani Simms (Managing Director, Meta Defence Labs). All the details and booking form are here: https://bit.ly/wicwoct21. Please come along and listen to some great women talk about their work and experiences in the sector. You'll have a chance to ask them your burning questions too!

Next Tech Girls
We've been talking to Marie-Clare from Next Tech Girls (https://twitter.com/NextTechGirls) about a future work experience event (online) providing girls an opportunity to talk to industry about the exciting careers that technology can offer. This will include workshops and presentations on things like recruitment processes, appropriate educational pathways and hints and tips to improve their tech skills. If you'd like more information and might be interested in your company being involved, please contact Marie-Clare on [email protected]

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is hosting an SME workshop in collaboration with the Crown Commercial Service on Tuesday 21st September at 11am. This workshop will aim to outline and clarify the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for SMEs, identifying common issues experienced when using the framework, highlighting routes to market, and making the framework easier for businesses to use. DCMS will also be providing a high-level overview of their work, setting out the strategic context of cyber - particularly how the department can support SMEs going forward. Click here to register.

Developing Entrepreneurial Women Programme
USW are running a series of expert-led masterclasses and networking sessions for female founders in the early stages of mobilising start-up ideas. There are an excellent range of sessions available, fully-funded, including Virtual Networking, DIY Website Design, Canva, Developing Your Online Brand and much more. For full details and to book your place please visit: https://www.southwales.ac.uk/business-services/usw-exchange-events-membership/developing-entrepreneurial-women/

And if that doesn't quite work for you, how about the Google Startup Academy at Tramshed? This is a 12-week programme starting 30th September designed to teach early stage business owners and entrepreneurs everything they need to know about building a successful business. As well as peer-to-peer sessions, progress support and a large range of on-demand video & written support content, the cohort will also have access to a range of our partners to include Barclays Eagle Labs, Geovation and Fintech Wales. The final week will involve pitching to a panel of investors whereby one lucky startup will receive £10,000 in equity-free cash and mentoring support from Google for Startups. More info at https://bit.ly/3j9JflE.

Jobs
Tramshed also have a couple of jobs going that may be of interest: Innovation Project Co-ordinator and Enterprise and Innovation Assistant. More details here: https://www.tramshedtech.co.uk/post/enterprise-and-innovation-hiring.

Finally, I don't know what's happened to the fonts in this mailing! I've tried to get them all the same but to no avail, so I've opted for variety as they say that's the spice of life 😉

Kind regards
Clare Johnson, Founder Women in Cyber Wales
Clare [email protected]

The Centre exists to support and protect businesses and third sector organisations in the Wales against cyber-crime.

Defend against the latest online crime threats through our business memberships. The Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales partnership with local Police Forces, Universities, our Advisory Group, Cyber Expert Group and wider business network means our memberships offer the very best guidance and support for businesses of any size.

KNOWLEDGE
The first step to cyber resilience is knowledge. By staying updated on the latest cyber threats, you have a greater chance of preventing attacks on your business. To help you stay up to date, we provide you with regular e-news, resources and updates, relevant to SMEs.

PROTECTION
We provide a small range of affordable cyber resilience services with the very current knowledge and technical expertise from the UK's top university cyber talent. Our services help SMEs and the wider supply chain to prepare and improve cyber resilience.

COMMUNITY
Membership with us provides benefits through a range of packages which support you, or your supply chain, in your journey to becoming cyber resilient. From free resources for small businesses, to strategic CISO groups, membership options are designed to meet your needs.

Core Membership is FREE
It includes:

• NCSC Guidance - How organisations can protect themselves in cyberspace, including the 10 steps to cyber security from the Government NCSC division.
• NCSCs Exercise In A Box – a tool to give your organisation a ‘dummy’ run of a cyber attack. Similar to testing your fire drill. Tailored for different sized organisations.
• NCSC Board Toolkit - Resources designed to encourage essential cyber security discussions between the Board and their technical experts.
• E-news – regular digestible updates relevant to Welsh organisations about cyber resilience.

This update is a little longer than usual, but a lot of good useful information here.

Investment

• 2150 VC - Constructive Capital - A €200 million venture capital fund. A new €200 million venture capital fund that invests in technology companies that seek to sustainably reimagine and reshape the urban environment. They are looking to back future Gigahorns. They focus on the Urban Stack which comprises every element of the built environment, from the way our cities are designed, constructed and powered, to the way people live, work and are cared for.
• Index Origin have announced a $200m Seed Investment Fund
• Demystifying Your Series A - with Tech Nation, Cooper Parry, Cooley and Albion VC - The webinar will focus on helping you to understand the challenges of raising the elusive “Series A” round, demystifying many of the misconceptions around this fundraise, looking at getting your ship in order ahead of the process, understanding financial and legal considerations and terms and how VCs/founders approach the process from either side.
• Sie Ventures event focused on best practises from Female Founders raising Pre-Seed & Seed on Clubhouse on 28th April
• Creandum (VC) Series A Deck Template - Here is a blog AND Series A deck template you can adapt from Creandum.
• Series A Funding - Success through Customer Success - I attended a superb webinar focused on Customer success delivered by the team at ScaleUp Group and Adam Hale (Fairsail and now ScaleUp Institute Chair and NED) and Edward Keelan (Octopus). The link takes you to a YouTube video of the webinar. My background is in Customer Success and I thought the webinar was spot on. My favourite point: It costs 6x to attract a new customer and if you're growing 20%, 80% of your revenue will be coming from existing customers.

This update is heavy on funding and accelerators, let me know what you think.

Funding

• New Fund by Fuel Ventures - Fuel Ventures launches a new SEIS fund for early seed stage companies, with access to follow-on investment from its flagship EIS funds.
• Indie.VC - Indie.VC offer an alternative to Seed investment which is worth looking into if you want to build your company differently to what the standard VC model forces you to do. Applications open now.
• The Dos and Don'ts around Series A - a long webinar (1.5hr) but covered some great insights into raising Series A.

• Grow F Accelerator - Grow F is an Investment Readiness Accelerator for Female-Led Ventures that Shape the World of Tomorrow and they have opened applications for their next programme which starts in April.
• The ScaleUp Accelerator - is accepting applications for the March 2021 programme for companies approaching £1m revenue.
• NHS Market Access Accelerator 2021: Digital Healthtech Accelerator - The Hill's flagship start-up support programme for digital health companies is now open for registration of interest with increased places across two cohorts.

• CleanTech Venture Day - Cambridge Cleantech & Oxfordshire Greentech invite you to apply to pitch before an audience of investors at Cleantech Venture Day, to be held online on 25th March 2021

• RLC Ventures have put together an incredibly useful guide to early stage investment. It covers:
What Types of Funding are Available?
UK VC Funds Overview
Accelerators & Incubators
List of UK Angels and Syndicates
Venture Builders
Crowdfunding

So much is going on that I thought another update was in order.

Worcester DEFCON have approached us looking for speakers for their regular events, which take place monthly on Sunday evenings. Most of their talks have a technical focus, but they are open to talks about wider issues in cyber security. You can check out their previous events here: http://dc441905.org and if you are interested in offering a talk, please contact them via info@dc441905 or using their Twitter DMs (@dc441905).

The National Digital Exploitation Centre is working hard to increase gender diversity within the cyber sector in Wales, and are planning a virtual work experience day for girls on 8th March 2021 (International Women's Day). This celebration of women in the industry is open to secondary-aged girls and will offer a fun-filled day of activities and inspiring talks, along with the chance to network with other girls with similar interests. Find out more about the itinerary for the day here along with details of how to sign-up: https://www.s4snextgen.org/Opportunities/View/id/1096

Subscription Giveaway

We Hack Purple Academy (https://store.wehackpurple.com/) have generously offered us three free subscriptions to their online portal, which includes an online community for people to learn about how to create security software, network, and meet new people. If you are interested in getting your hands on this amazing opportunity, please drop me an email ([email protected]\") with a quick message (maybe saying why you'd like to win) and I'll put all the names into a hat or other similar vessel and let you know the lucky winners are.

Reminders from previous mailing: Our next meeting will be another collaboration with our colleagues at Women in Cyber Scotland, as part of Cyber Scotland Week - 24th Feb, 4-5pm. Jane Frankland is the main speaker and you can sign up here: https://cyberscotlandweek.com/event-database/women-in-cyber-scotland.

If you have a few minutes to spare, please do complete the NDEC's SME Cyber Security survey. There are only a few questions and it will really help inform the direction of their future work: https://southwales.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/smes-start-ups-and-cyber-security (Eng) / https://southwales.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/arolwg-seiberddiogelwch-i-fusnesau-newydd-a-busnesau-bach\" (Cym)

Dates for your diary

Please put a placeholder in your calendar for 12pm-1pm on 26th March, which is when we plan to host our next Women in Cyber Wales meetup.

Clare [email protected]

This is just a quick and short update as everyone breaks up for Christmas. I hope you manage to get some time off to relax and enjoy the holidays, even with everything that is going on.

Funding
Deep Tech Series A office hours - Octupus Ventures are running Deep Tech Series A office hours on January 13th. This would be a unique opportunity for a Deep Tech company* to meet three leading Series A investors (Octopus Ventures, Amadeus Capital and Cambridge Innovation Capital) and learn from them what a good Series A pitch looks like.
Coronavirus Support - The Chancellor of the Exchequer has further extended the government's three Coronavirus business interruption loan schemes. The extension means that the schemes will now have an end date of 31 March 2021, putting further support in place for those who may need it.

FinTech
Scaleup Bridge Mexico - Mexico's soft-landing programme for world-class B2B Scaleups is looking for "5 UK-based scaleups who want to connect with world-class enterprises and commercial opportunities at driving innovation. Open to partnering with other high-quality entrepreneurs and establish Mexico as a gateway to open markets in Latin America."

RegTech
US RegTech Roadshow - The UK's Department for International Trade (DIT) is recruiting UK-headquartered RegTech scaleups to apply for a Virtual RegTech Roadshow to the US in 2021. This virtual roadshow will provide a select group of leading UK RegTechs the opportunity to meet directly with key financial services stakeholders in the United States.

Other
New Innovation Challenges - Fujitsu are looking for solutions to address numerous challenges, including: fraud detection, customer experience, digital transformation and more.

*In order to qualify for the Deep Tech Series A office hours, the following criteria need to be met:
The company should have raised at least one round of financing (from either Angels or seed investors)
The company should have a UK presence (in terms of an employee and some office space)
The company should have been established after 2010

Thanks, Gino Brancazio, Entrepreneur Engagement Manager - Wales ([email protected])

Calling all Secret Agents... Operation Bletchley: Christmas in Berlin is your virtual codebreaking challenge. Your mission is to cover 24 miles on foot through Soviet territory, decrypt vital intelligence about the blockade, cracking codes as you go and help bring our stranded contacts back to HQ. Do you have what it takes to accomplish your mission and deliver the final message before time runs out?

The 12 days of Christmas but not as you know it. Your mission begins on 26 December and you must complete, and deliver the final message by midnight on 6 January 2021.

With three levels of codes to choose from; junior, codebreaker and cypher expert, get the whole family together this Christmas - you have 12 days and one chance to break the Soviet blockade.

Sign up now.

Operation Bletchley: Christmas in Berlin is a virtual event that you can take part in anywhere in the world. Here’s how it works...

• Sign up for just £10 and link your phone or fitness tracker to your fundraising page (you can also record your miles manually if you prefer)
• Start walking at your own pace (from 26 December 2020)
• Receive updates and codes to crack after every two miles completed - three levels are available - Junior, Codebreaker or Cypher Expert
• Codes will be delivered straight to your inbox and you can select your level then
• Solve the codes to decipher the hidden message
• Complete the journey and deliver the message by the midnight on 6 January 2021.

• £50 - could help cover travel costs so a veteran can attend a job interview.
• £75 - could go towards the cost of a temporary wheelchair ramp, allowing an injured soldier to enter and leave their home.
• £250 - could contribute towards the care home fees of a frail elderly veteran who requires continuous care.
• £1000 - could help pay for home adaptations so that a veteran’s young disabled child can live in a safe and accessible environment.

Whenever interesting opportunities land in my inbox here at TechNation, I collect them to send in a single email once every month or so, a bit like a newsletter. Here is the latest batch...

Investment & Accelerators
Advice for VC-based pitch decks - My colleague, Harry Davies, who is our Applied AI Lead, recently shared some fantastic advice for founders raising seed funds with a VC/ Ambitious Angels. He used to see thousands of pitch decks when he was at Wayra. I've summarised his advice in this doc.
PWC Raise Programme 9.0 - They are launching their latest programme for companies looking to raise £1-5m in January (deck attached)
Ignite NI - Applications are now open and this time the accelerator will be online so it is open to companies UK wide, with no requirement to relocate
FinTech Circle - A european investor network specifically for FinTechs
PWC Term Sheet Webinar - PWC ran a webinar on December 3rd discussing the key emerging themes from their term sheet survey, based on c.100 final VC term sheets offered in 2019. You'll need to register to watch the video of the webinar.
Q&A with a VC - One of my colleagues recently ran a Q&A with a VC session for Tech founders in her region, and after conversations with a number of Welsh tech founders I recognise that there is an appetite to do the same thing here. I'm planning to organise a small Q&A session in January for Welsh Tech founders to have the chance to hear from a tech VC and ask questions. If you're interested please let me know and I'll send out an invite when we have a date confirmed.
Geovation Opens in Wales - Through Tramshed Tech, start-ups in Wales can now receive specialist support from Geovation, Ordnance Survey's successful initiative that propels innovative start-ups, using location and property data, to the next level.

GreenTech New Innovation Challenge: IBM are seeking digital tech-led SMEs with innovations in the fields of clean transport, clean cities, clean energy and renewables from across EMEA. This is an exciting opportunity to showcase your product to leading corporates, governments and with support from IBM, potentially, the COP26 Summit in November 2021.
Welsh Gov Call for Decarbonisation R&D Projects - The Welsh Government's EU funded SMART Cymru programme is offering eligible businesses the chance to apply for a new SMART Cymru Decarbonisation grant. It offers eligible businesses a non-repayable grant of up to £50,000 to contribute towards exploring the feasibility of decarbonisation ideas.

FinTech FinTech Circle - A european investor network specifically for FinTechs

AI Microsoft AI for Social Impact Programme - Microsoft is looking for organisations that support the UK healthcare, manufacturing and resources industries to recover faster and better from COVID-19. Impact should include improving the lives of patients, communities, employees and customers.

Reports The State of European Tech 2020 - from Atomico

Other New Innovation Challenge: GSK is currently looking for market ready digital channels and technologies to deliver messages on the value of vaccination to the general public.
New Innovation Challenge: Leading Resolutions are looking for a way to discover and map the entire technology estate of an organisation.

Thanks, Gino Brancazio, Entrepreneur Engagement Manager - Wales ([email protected])

The Cardiff School of Technologies at Cardiff Met University are working with EC Council to run a HACKATHON!

Cardiff Met have partnered once again with EC Council to bring you and your students the Cyber Security challenge.

The event will take place on Wednesday 16th December between 10:00 and 15:00

The challenge is simple – follow the instructions to decrypt and protect the network in the fastest time, to the highest accuracy!

Prizes will go to the top 3 students!

Sign Up Here: https://bit.ly/3mb5hDV

This will give you and your students access to the exclusive Hackathon Helpline on the day

Please send a full list of students (name, year group and e-mail address - we need an e-mail address for each student) to:

The Hackathon is geared towards Year 12/13 or Year 1/2 students, but is open to students from Year 9 upwards (Students do not need to have any experience with coding or coding languages).

Closing date for sign-up is Friday 11th December at 15:00

We look forward to welcoming your students on the day!

Cardiff and Vale College are running a set of fully funded Microsoft IT Technical courses.

The courses comprise:

• Microsoft Azure Fundamentals.
• Microsoft Technical Associate Security Fundamentals.
• Microsoft Technical Associate HTML Application Development Fundamentals.
• Managing Microsoft Teams (Microsoft Certified Associate.)
• Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure (Microsoft Certified Associate.)

We are looking for Subject Matter Experts for a number of workshops within the Digital Intelligence and Investigations Project here at the College of Policing.

The DII Project from the College of Policing aims to ensure that all new officers acquire the digital skills they need to undertake investigations effectively. One work stream of the DII Project is Digital Learning, with episodes based on key DII areas identified below.

Each workshop will be based on one of the key DII subject areas of the Digital Learning Programme. During the workshops, we will be utilising the expertise of the SMEs on the subject area to inform and develop the content in order to achieve the learning objectives/standards for each episode of the course.

SMEs will be briefed with a detailed agenda and prep guide prior to each workshop. This will prepare the SMEs by bringing them up to speed on the project and outlining the key learning objectives of the episode.

Workshops will be taking place via video call (across an afternoon) for the following DII Subject Areas:

* Digital Media Internet of Things – 07/09/20 (FULL)
* Digital Scene Management / Wi-Fi Access Points - 21/09/20 (FULL)
* Public submission and Officer collection of data to Police networks - 02/10/20
* Data Sources - CCTV & ANPR - 15/10/20
* Core Digital Data Collation & Interpretation - 04/11/20
* Digital Forensics - 17/11/20
* MISPER Support (Digital Elements) - 30/11/20
* Digital Victim and Witness Support - 11/12/20
* Internet, Intelligence & Investigation - 13/01/21
* Online Fraud - 20/02/21

Please could you recommend any SMEs who would want to take part in these workshops, indicating their area of expertise from the subject area above? Our first two workshops on ‘Digital Media Internet of Things’ and ‘Digital Scene Management /Wi-Fi Access Points’ are a priority.

There will be a limited number of places available on each workshop and unfortunately we cannot guarantee a place for all volunteers.

Although the workshops will be running by web-session for the foreseeable future, it is expected that they will will return to being in-house at some point. When this happens the College of Policing will pay travel and accommodation expenses (in line with their travel policy) for all SMEs should they require it.

For more information please contact Kate Lloyd, Cyber Protect Officer, E-mail: [email protected]

Bristol University would like to invite you to join them for a Challenge-Driven Sandpit on the morning of 14 September 2020, where participants will have the opportunity to network with researchers (and vice versa), discuss their challenges and apply for funding to initiate proof-of-concept projects that may help to resolve them.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has identified research into Cyber Security as a priority for its Global Uncertainties programme, with the ultimate aim of contributing to making the UK's networked and online activities secure from misuse and as a result safer, more productive and more enjoyable. University of Bristol has significant strengths in this area, and is looking to partner with external organisations to help solve these challenges.

The Offer:
* £70k is available to fund 3-4 proof of concept proposals, co-written by an external organisation and a UoB researcher(s)
* Support for proposal development provided by the Knowledge Exchange team at the University

The Ask:
* They ask that potential attendees outline a challenge they face in advance of the event so they can pair partners with relevant researchers and maximise the efficiency of the session
* No cash contribution is required to receive funding, but it is expected that in-kind contributions of time, space, resources, equipment, data are provided as appropriate for each project

The Event will provide:
* Details of the funding available
* Structured networking opportunities
* Discussion time with industry and external partners to understand the Cyber Security challenges they face
* Time to develop the start of proposal for the seed funding
* After this event, submissions of proof of concept proposal will be due for review in late October/early November with funding following shortly after, if successful

If any of the organisations in the Cyber Wales Ecosystem might be interested in participating then, in the first instance, we would be grateful of a discussion with interested organisations regarding their specific Cyber Security challenges.

Contact Dr Louise Evans, Cyber Security Research Group Manager, University of Bristol, [email protected]

Cluster member Suvash Khadka is doing Cyber Security in University of South Wales where he has chosen an academic project on Cyber Security which aims to prepare 'Guidelines and Framework for organisations and governments initiating security management, incident response, and digital forensic investigation'.

It is hoped that this work will help with creating a framework that people can follow with ease.

Suvash has aked if Cluster members would mind filling in a form so that he can collect data from cyber professionals.

This form will take 10 to 12 minutes and can be found here:-

Link to survey

If you have any questions of if you'd like any more information contact Suvash on [email protected]

Arcanum Cyber Security are hosting a free webinar on Friday 4th September 2020 where we will be discussing the Cyber Essentials scheme and how we can help you!

A perfect opportunity to join us from wherever you are, and find out all you need to know about Cyber Essentials! A simple and effective, Government backed scheme, that will help protect your organisation against some of the most common cyber-attacks.

This accreditation should now be factored into your company's IT strategy, for ensuring a good base level of security. These requirements will affect your relationships with existing and future clients as well as your future company growth. Now is the time to grasp this opportunity and join us for this game changing introduction to the Cyber Essentials & Cyber Essentials Plus scheme.

The session will be led by Marie Caruso, Arcanum's Sales and Marketing Manager, with hints and tips from James Tucker, Arcanum's Certified CE Assessor.

The session will include:

* What Cyber Essentials is all about
* Why it should be a key part of your businesses security strategy
* Practical guidance on how to protect your business
* How Arcanum will help you
* Q & A

Register here

How to ensure business continuity in the face of coronavirus: your weekly update on the latest guidance and intelligence around the employment, tax, and financial implications of operating during the COVID-19 outbreak.

This week youll get access to the latest guidance and information on the cyber security landscape, including:

• Current COVID-19 cyber threats
• Latest guidance issued by NCSC
• Update on the government-backed Cyber Essentials scheme

• Fiona Geskes, Principal Policy Advisor, Tax and Fiscal Policy, CBI
• Stefan Martin, Partner, Hogan Lovells (guest speaker)
• Representative from the National Cyber Security Centre (guest speaker)
• Deborah Fraser, Director - Regions, CBI (chair)

The results of IntaPeople's recent COVID-19 business survey are in...

Last week we asked our clients and employers within our network about the impacts of coronavirus on their business, productivity and recruitment plans to find out how things have changed.

The results confirm that most businesses are taking a cautious approach to business activity, with over 60% furloughing staff and putting a hold on recruitment for the time being, while optimistically preparing for the future.

We have collated the feedback and compiled a report of our findings.

See the full survey results

If you're facing any of the challenges highlighted or any others we're happy to have a chat and provide insight on the market so you're better informed to prepare for the future.

Life Sciences Hub Wales and NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership would like to invite you to an online event which may be of interest to you and your colleagues.

https://lshubwales.com/events/providing-ppe-and-getting-it-right

During this online event, talking place at 10:30 - 11:30 on 7 May 2020, a guest panel of contributors will:

* Explain how PPE is used in different health environments.
* Provide up-to-date information on the current requirements for PPE in Wales for the health and social care sectors.
* Outline what manufacturers need to do, and consider, in order to effectively produce and supply PPE products.
* Provide an overview of Life Sciences Hub Wales’ innovation portal and how it’s being used to receive offers of support from industry.

‘Providing PPE and getting it right’ is chaired by Chris Martin, Deputy Chair of Life Sciences Hub Wales. Attendees are invited to submit a question to the panel on registration – to enable the panel to respond to key queries and concerns of participants.

Keep well and kind regards

Kelley Howlett-Booth
Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government
[email protected]

Event: Office Hours for Female Founders with Playfair Capital

From Playfair Capital: Our third, remote edition of our collaborative Female Founder Investor Office Hours builds on the success of our events in February 2020 and November last year.

This time, were going fully remote to broaden access to female founders across the country, supported by Tech Nation and 30 investors from the UKs leading VCs alongside the Playfair Capital team.

The primary aim of this initiative is mentorship & support, and secondary is fundraising. We hope that with time, the two will go hand-in-hand.

We welcome applications from any UK-based female founder whose business is tech and pre-Series A. We will do our best to accommodate as many founders as possible and provide support to all regardless. Applications will close at midnight on Sunday 24th May.

Register here

Event: Storytelling for Startups

I previously hosted Martyn for him to deliver his two-part workshop: Storytelling for Startups and Ideas to Say Yes to. The feedback from those workshops was exceptional and Martyn is running them again, this time online and with Barclays.

Part one is happening tomorrow: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/storytelling-for-startups-tickets-102674000700

Event: Deloitte: Operational resilience in high growth companies: Practical considerations for senior leaders working within finance, compliance and risk

From the event page:
“As the UK continues its lockdown, we are pleased to invite you to join our next webinar for high growth, tech-enabled business leaders, exploring “operational resilience amongst firms in the high growth sector”.

A topic perhaps now more pertinent than ever, this 60 minute webinar will be hosted by Deloitte subject matter experts on how the UK high growth, tech-enabled sector can address and navigate operational risk, both now, and in the coming months.

We are also delighted to be joined by Richard Caven of Amazon Web Services (AWS), who will provide an overview on what operational resilience means at AWS and how high growth, tech-enabled businesses can achieve operational resilience when using AWS Cloud.”

Register here

Tech Nation is running an event next Tuesday about scaling a tech company through this crisis. You can see the full listing here but below is the agenda so you can decide if any part of it would be useful to you

KEYNOTES

• 10:00 - Tech Nation Welcome

  
  

  • Gerard Grech, CEO, Tech Nation

  
  

• 10:10 - Government Keynote

  
  

  • Caroline Dineage, Minister of State for Digital and Culture

  
  

• 10:20 - Futurist Keynote - How will covid-19 affect global economies in the future?

  
  

  • Azeem Azhar, Founder, Exponential View

  
  

PANELS

• 10:30 - Investor Panel with Q&A - How will the funding landscape change post covid-19?

  
  

  • Check Warner, Partner, Ada Ventures & Co-Founder, Diversity VC

  • Andrei Brasoveanu, Partner Accel

  • Tom Wilson, Investment Partner, Seedcamp

  • Moderated by Miruna Girtu, Partner, Syndicate Rooms

  
  

• 11:00 - Debate - What is the role of the state vs the role of the ecosystem/VC during this crisis?

  
  

  • Brent Hoberman, Co-Founder & Chairman, Founders Factory

  • Robin Klein, General Partner, LocalGlobe and Latitude

  • Moderated by Gerard Grech, CEO, Tech Nation

  
  

• 11:20 - Government Panel with Q&A - Moving past the pandemic - How can government support the tech sector?

SESSIONS

12:00 - Leadership during Lockdown

• Jill Palmer, CEO, Clicktravel

• Asi Sharabi, Founder, Wonderbly

• Moderated by Parveen Dhanda, Head of Programmes Tech Nation

12:30 - Scenario Planning - Unlocking opportunities and Containing the Risks

13:00 - Cash is King

• Dave Blacher, Partner, Head of Media and Technology, RSM

You’ll also have the opportunity to network (virtually) with the wider UK tech community, offer support and connect with those facing similar challenges.

Each industry has its own set of unique challenges, none more so than those which we are faced with today brought on by the global Covid-19 pandemic. During these unprecedented times we believe it will be useful to bring together tech leaders such as yourself, to create an environment for you to chat with others that may be facing similar challenges, discuss ideas, and to learn from each other.

As such we’d like to invite you to a digital round table event that we are chairing @ 10am on Wednesday 13th May 2020.

This free online session will be about 30 mins in duration, and will include open discussions centered around topics of your choice, such as:
* How has your business been affected by COVID-19?
* What are the biggest challenges that you/your department/your business is facing at the moment?
* How are you managing and motivating remote teams/workers?
* How are you planning for post lockdown? social distancing measures?, etc.
* Has this situation changed how you view remote working? Will it become the norm for your business moving forward if it wasn’t already?

This is an opportunity for you to ask questions, air views, and to chat with other like-minded leaders in your industry, in order to share thoughts, strategies, methods and ideas. You are not alone, what is a challenge in your business is likely to be affecting others in a similar way.

If you would like a seat at the digital round table for tech leaders please let Jon Stock know on [email protected]

If you can’t make it, but would still like to have a chat then let me know and we’ll arrange a call shortly after the event to share a summary of what was discussed.

Periodic indicative notice – utilities
Directive 2014/25/EU - Utility Directive

Section I: Contracting entity
I.1) Name and addresses
National Grid UK Limited/National Grid USA Service Company, Inc
Warwick Technology Park, Gallows Hill
Warwick
CV34 6DA
Contact person: Faye Osborn
Telephone: +44 7808094949
E-mail: [email protected]
NUTS: UKG13
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.nationalgrid.com
I.3) Communication - Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
I.6) Main activity - Other: Electricity and Gas

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title - Cyber Security Products and Services
II.1.2) Main CPV code - 48000000
II.1.3) Type of contract - Supplies
II.1.4) Short description - Over the next 12 months, National Grid expects to be conducting various sourcing events
for cyber security related products and services.
II.1.6) Information about lots - This contract is divided into lots: No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance - UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
National Grid uses the Achilles — Utilities Vendor Database (UVDB) — to identify and qualify potential suppliers for our goods and services requirements. For the majority of our purchases, it is a condition of supplying to National Grid that suppliers are registered on the UVDB. Over the next 12 months, National Grid expects to be conducting various sourcing events for cyber security related products and services using the following Achilles codes:
1.5.1. computer hardware and accessories – workstations/servers,
1.5.7. general business software,
1.5.8. specialist business software,
1.5.9. technical software,
1.5.12. computer systems.
Should you wish to tender for the provision of cyber security related products and services you will need to be registered on Achilles — UVDB for all codes listed above that are relevant to the products and services you provide.
Please contact Desta Wheeler at Achilles on: [email protected] if you require any assistance.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice: 06/04/2020

Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No

Section VI: Complementary information
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice - 03/04/2020

During this unusual time in our lives, many of us find we want to improve our knowledge, skills or even prepare for new career opportunities. If you are interested in cybersecurity careers, there are numerous online education providers to choose from. Many online courses are available from your local community college, four-year universities, even the prestigious Centers of Academic Excellence programs – please review all options.

The links on this webpage are for free and low-cost online educational content on topics such as information technology and cybersecurity. Some, not all, may contribute towards professional learning objectives or lead to industry certifications and online degrees.

https://www.nist.gov/itl/applied-cybersecurity/nice/resources/online-learning-content

Please note that this site will continue to be updated as new information is gathered and edited for clarity and accuracy.

Innovate UK Fund

New Innovate UK fund: Business-led innovation in response to global disruption

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £20 million to respond to new and urgent needs in UK and global communities during and following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Update to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

From the BBB:

“...the recently launched Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) has now been significantly expanded along with changes to the scheme’s features and eligibility criteria. The changes mean even more smaller businesses across the UK impacted by the Coronavirus crisis can access the funding they need.

Importantly, access to the scheme has been opened up to those smaller businesses who would have previously met the requirements for a commercial facility but would not have been eligible for CBILS. This significantly increases the number of businesses eligible for the scheme. The expanded scheme will be operational with lenders from Monday 6th April 2020.

New scheme features

• No personal guarantees for facilities under £250k: Personal guarantees of any form cannot be taken under the scheme for any facilities below £250k.

• Personal guarantees for facilities above £250k: Personal guarantees may still be required, at a lender’s discretion, but recoveries under these are capped at a maximum of 20% of the outstanding balance of the CBILS facility after the proceeds of business assets have been applied.

• A Principal Private Residence (PPR) cannot be taken as security to support a personal guarantee or as security for a CBIL backed facility.

• Security: For all facilities, including those over £250,000, CBILS can now support lending to smaller businesses even where a lender considers there to be sufficient security, making more smaller businesses eligible to receive the business interruption payment."

Here is a fact sheet from the BBB.

Support & Mentorship

We are working on a research project with Cambridge Judge Business School and the Behavioural Insights Team to determine the impact of mentoring on digital tech businesses.

As part of this project, we are able to offer the opportunity for free mentoring to any digital tech SME with more than five employees.

For more information and to apply go here.

Statistics and Interesting Reads

A fascinating dive by Google into UK mobility changes city-by-city since the lockdown began.

Good article on building a virtual community across speed networking, webinars, shared experiences, virtual conferences etc - Don’t Just Throw Together a Webinar - The Virtual Events Crash Course You Need

A 24-tweet thread on how VCs are thinking about the pandemic. Not all VCs of course, but worth a read to get one perspective - https://twitter.com/fdestin/status/1243674766155943937?s=20

A solid post on managing layoffs, should founders unfortunately have to use it - Planning and Managing Layoffs

An interesting ready from Beauhurst on The effect of coronavirus on UK investment: Q1 2020

This week, London Office for Rapid Cybersecurity Advancement (LORCA), have launched the call for our fifth cohort of technology and cyber innovators.  After speaking to industry experts about their cybersecurity needs and in response to the challenges of COVID-19, We are now recruiting cybersecurity scaleups throughout the UK and abroad with solutions that create a more robust and resilient digital economy.

We know that participation in accelerator programmes is positively correlated with higher survival rates, increased growth in employee numbers and higher amounts of funds raised (Source: Nesta here). Of the 55 companies we have supported so far, LORCA members have brought in 600 new contracts and raised over £86m in investment since joining our programme.

We’d be very grateful if you could share the opportunity with your networks and companies you think should apply. The deadline for applications is Monday, 4 May at 5pm UK time via LORCA.co.uk/apply.

More information about the programme can be found here, below and in the attached brochure.

What are the benefits of joining?

• World-class innovation support to help member businesses scale
• Connections to investors and industry buyers through exclusive member events
• Deloitte strategic and technical cyber expertise
• Engineering support from Centre for Secure Information Technologies (Queens University Belfast)
• Connections to our industry partners, Dell Technologies, Lloyds Banking Group, Kudelski Security, SOSA, Kx and Global Cyber Alliance
• Professional workshops and individually designed one to one support on:
• Sales and business development
• Marketing and design
• Legal issues
• Lead generation
• Investment readiness, financial modelling and pricing strategy
• Business mentoring
• LORCA takes zero equity or IP from members
• Soft landing programmes and bespoke international trade missions
• Free desk space at Plexal innovation centre and coworking space in London
• Peer networking, learning and trading opportunities

You are invited to attend a Breakfast Briefing to facilitate collaboration between Irelands & Wales Cyber Security Clusters, hosted by the Welsh Government Office in Dublin & UK Department of International Trade.

Wednesday 11th March, 7.45 - 9.30am at the Dome Cymru, CHQ Building Dublin

Why Attend:

* Learn about Irelands & Wales Cyber Security Clusters
* Panel Discussion on initiatives to address the cyber security skills shortage in Ireland & Wales
* Networking & Opportunities for Business Development in Wales

Limited availability for 30 Guests, RSVP by Wednesday 4th March to [email protected]

Dr Eoin Byrne,
Cluster Manager,
Cyber Ireland
Web: www.cyberireland.ie