Work to begin soon on new £9m cyber security centre

A new cyber security training centre will open up in the Midlands soon.

Construction crews are to begin breaking ground soon on a new cyber security centre that will provide training and research to guard British businesses against digital attacks.

The Midlands Centre for Cyber Security is a £9 million joint venture between the University of Wolverhampton and Herefordshire Council, partly funded with money from the European Regional Development Fund.

It will be built on Skylon Park in the Hereford Enterprise Zone and, when completed, will provide advanced training facilities from the University of Wolverhampton's Cyber Research Institute (WCRI), business space, laboratory rooms and even a 'Cyber Range' to battle computer hackers.

Businesses from across the country will be able to benefit from the centre's expertise in training on cyber security.

Director of economy and place at Herefordshire Council Richard Ball said: "This fantastic new facility brings a range of opportunities in the growing cyber security sector to the county."

According to WCRI, 65 per cent of all large UK companies reported a cyber security breach last year, with cyber crime currently costing the country between £18 billion and £27 billion a year.