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1284 Communications will support a £150,000 initiative to boost the cyber resilience of regional SMEs.

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Funded through the Government’s Cyber Local scheme, the programme is being rolled out to help East Midlands businesses - particularly those in manufacturing, logistics, and professional services - strengthen their defences against the growing threat of cybercrime.

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Led by Dr Ismini Vasileiou, Associate Professor at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) and founder and director of the East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster it offers practical, hands-on support to businesses that want to improve how they manage cyber risk, train staff, and future-proof their operations.

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1284 Communications will work in collaboration with East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster and  Bulb Studios, a digital design agency that specialises in turning complex ideas into accessible, user-centred solutions.

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The 1284 team will provide corporate communications, public relations and for the first time support with public affairs relating to the project. 

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Founder George Oliver said: “Through our existing work with Ismini and the East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster and as an SME, we know how important it is for businesses to be cyber safe.

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“This project will help tell the story and emphasise the importance of cyber resilience for businesses and support them in getting measures in place to ensure they are robust in relation to a growing threat. 

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“We’re also excited to branch out into the public affairs world, offering support in a way we haven’t before.”

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Dr Vasileiou, director of the East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster  added: “The programme is designed to meet businesses where they are. It’s aimed particularly at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that do not have dedicated cyber security expertise in-house or rely on the same trusted person to ‘do the IT’.

“The reality is that cyber threats have changed. Ransomware, phishing scams and data breaches are constantly looking for weaknesses. Whether you’ve got a full IT team or just someone who’s always ‘looked after the computers,’ now’s the time to think differently.

“It’s about building confidence and capability. Our mission is to make cyber resilience as second nature as health and safety.“As a region powering the UK’s manufacturing, logistics, and professional sectors, the East Midlands urgently needs practical, localised cyber support to protect its businesses and sustain economic growth. This project turns national ambition into local action – equipping East Midlands businesses with the tools to become resilient, confident, and digitally secure.”

The programme has been carefully designed to deliver measurable outcomes. 

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Through tailored interventions, the pilot will directly support 30 businesses to embed cyber resilience at every level – from boardrooms to shop floors. 

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This will include:

• 15 businesses which will take part in a structured programme to build organisational cyber resilience, focusing on governance and strategy
• 10 businesses who will be supported to develop internal cyber workforce plans, identifying and reskilling existing staff into cyber roles
• 5 businesses who will host academic placements from DMU to trial research-led cyber innovations

Alongside this, a sustained outreach campaign will target traditionally underrepresented organisations, ensuring the benefits of the project are widely felt and not just confined to those already engaged in the cyber sector.

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The project builds on the momentum of CyberSprint: Fast Track to the Future, part of the 2024/25 Cyber Local programme. That engaged more than 90 schools and colleges, helped embed cyber security into workforce development, and culminated in a Parliamentary roundtable on the future of the UK’s cyber workforce.

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After the pilot ends, the East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster (EMCSC) will take over, scaling up the tested models and commercialising them for long-term use.

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