Tech Nation, the UK network for tech entrepreneurs, has announced the 20 cyber scaleups accepted onto its first national cyber security growth programme.

Funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and supported by global cyber security firms Tessian, Digital Shadows, Darktrace and CensorNet, the six-month programme is aimed at helping to accelerate the growth of UK cyber security businesses.

From machine learning and blockchain, biometrics and cloud solutions, the initial cohort are utilising technology to offer clients new ways to improve security, and protect businesses and individuals online.

The companies will benefit from a series of workshops held across the UK, along with meetups and networking support to help the scaleups navigate common barriers to growth, with guidance on everything from how to recruit the right talent, to meeting goals for international expansion.

Following the call for applications in February, the cohort was chosen by a panel of expert judges from the public and private sector. The judges assessed applicants against their growth record to date, current scaling plans and expertise, and long-term business potential.

Of the 20 businesses joining the programme, 45 per cent are based outside of London, with cohort headquarters located in nine different cities across the UK – Reading, Belfast, Cheltenham, London, Glasgow, Bristol, Cardiff, Caerphilly and Brighton & Hove.

Margot James, minister for digital and the creative industries, commented: “This important scheme will not only allow promising cyber security startups to access world-class expert advice but also help us achieve our aim of making Britain the safest place in the world to be online."

Ollie Bone, cyber programme lead at Tech Nation, added: “In recent years the success for a handful of UK Cyber Security innovators is more than could be imagined, they have enhanced the nation's reputation for producing world-class technology, while also helping to pave the way for many more startups hoping to follow suit.

“Concurrently, the market for cyber security is continuing to grow at a rapid pace and this conspires to make our cohort of scaleups exciting ones to watch,” he concluded.

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