11
September
2025
[LEICESTER, 110925] Applications are now open for a £150,000 programme offering practical support to boost the cyber resilience of regional businesses.
East Midlands CyberGrowth is offering businesses fully-funded, practical support to improve how they manage cyber risk, train staff, and futureproof their operations.
Led by Dr Ismini Vasileiou, founder and director of the East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster and Associate Professor at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), East Midlands CyberGrowth arrives at a critical time. Recent high-profile hacks on high street brands have combined with the UK Government making cyber security a central thread of its industrial planning.
East Midlands CyberGrowth is itself funded through the Cyber Local scheme, part of the Government’s Plan for Change work to kickstart economic growth and ensure good jobs, skills and growth nationwide. As such, East Midlands CyberGrowth’s overarching aim is to make cyber resilience a core part of how organisations think, operate and grow.
Dr Vasileiou said: “The recent wave of high profile cyber attacks on UK businesses shows that even large companies can fall victim to hackers. East Midlands CyberGrowth will help local businesses reduce risk of becoming the next casualty.
“Courses are designed to meet businesses where they are - regardless of whether they have an existing cyber security plan. We can help SMEs and nonprofits increase resilience and embed cyber security in their operations.”
The fully-funded, in-person East Midlands CyberGrowth programme will help 30 regional SMEs boost their digital resilience. It features 4 separate workstreams - meaning all levels of knowhow are covered:
The programme will also organise the East Midlands Cyber Resilience Summit which will see 100+ business come together with leading speakers and delegates for a day-long cyber security conference hosted at De Montfort University Leicester in February 2026.
Courses start in October. Learn more and apply now at www.emcsc.co.uk/cybergrowth
ENDS
Jason Senior / De Montfort University
NOTES TO EDITORS
About East Midlands CyberGrowth
East Midlands CyberGrowth is a £150,000 fully-funded programme supporting businesses embed cyber security into their operations. Led by Dr Ismini Vasileiou, founder and director of the East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster and Associate Professor at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), the programme is funded through the Cyber Local scheme, part of the Government’s Plan for Change work to kickstart economic growth and ensure good jobs, skills and growth nationwide.The programme will help 30 regional SMEs boost their digital resilience.
About EMCSC
East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster CIC supports effective use of cyber security as a means of increasing regional economic growth. Founded in Leicester in 2023, it creates opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange, sharing of best practice and opportunities. EMCSC works across public and private sectors, as well as academia, promoting business cyber-resilience and cyber security careers throughout the East Midlands. Its partners include UKC3 and the Cyber Resilience Centre for the East Midlands.
About Dr Ismini Vasileiou
EMCSC was founded by Dr Ismini Vasileiou. Dr Vasileiou is Associate Professor in Information Systems (FBCS, FCIIS, PFHEA) at De Montfort University Leicester. Dr Vasileiou has extensive leadership experience in Computer Science and has led a range of prestigious institutional bids. Her research interests include Social Engineering, Security Education, Learning Analytics and technology-supported learning. She is also Director and Co-Chair of UKC3.
CONTACT
Amy is Account Director at 1284 Communications. She is a Chartered PR Practitioner. Amy will complete her MSc in Strategic Leadership at Loughborough University Business School in 2026. Amy previously worked as Communications Manager at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and Senior Local Democracy Reporter for the Leicester Mercury and BBC.
