CyberNorth

What CyberNorth does

CyberNorth is a Community Interest Company (CIC) that operates as the designated regional cyber cluster organization for the North East of England, headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne with a registered office in Bellingham, Hexham. The company connects 600+ member businesses, 2,000+ professionals, and an audience of over 5,200 individuals across the region's cyber, AI, data, and quantum ecosystems, linking business, academia, and the public sector. Its mission is to address ecosystem fragmentation, skills gaps, and limited SME cyber resilience by convening participants rather than by selling a unified software product.

The company's core offerings are a portfolio of programmes rather than a single technology platform. These include CyberFest (an annual month-long festival now in its 9th year, with 1,000+ delegates and 21 events in 2025), CyberLabs (a physical innovation hub at Grainger Hub, co-located with Barclays Eagle Labs and Northstar Ventures), the CyberNorth Awards, PlanBEE Cyber (a higher apprenticeship programme co-developed with Northumbrian Water Group and Gateshead College), CyberFirst North East (delivered with RTC North under the NCSC framework), a jobs board, CyberSips networking events, a podcast, and The Jackman Fund. The underlying technology stack is conventional community-orchestration infrastructure — website, email newsletters, jobs board, and event management — with no proprietary software product disclosed.

The business model is freemium at the member level (membership is free and open to North East-based individuals and organizations) with revenue generated from corporate sponsorship tiers (Headline, Awards, Event, In-Kind Supporter), strategic partnership contributions from enterprises such as Waterstons, Accenture, Sage, Gateshead College, and Grainger Hub, and government engagement through the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). As a CIC, CyberNorth is a non-profit-distributing entity that reinvests surplus into its mission. The leadership team comprises CEO Jon Holden (permanently appointed March 2026 following an interim tenure), Head of Operations Sarah Raw, and Marketing Manager Emily Perella; the organization has 1-10 employees and is GDPR-compliant.

Name

CyberNorth

Legal name

CyberNorth CIC

Website

https://cybernorth.biz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CyberNorth is a Community Interest Company serving as the regional cyber cluster organization for North East England, connecting 600+ member businesses and 2,000+ professionals across cyber, AI, data, and quantum through events, apprenticeship programmes, an innovation hub, and free membership funded by corporate sponsorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Cyber Cluster Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Computer Training (61142)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAEAPAI

Policy Management, Training & Ethics/Whistleblowing

Business & Public Services/IT & Digital Services (Managed Services, Systems Integration)/Governance, Risk, Compliance (GRC) & Legal Tech

SECONDARYEDAOAIAB

Cybersecurity (General)

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/IT, Networking & Cybersecurity Certifications

SECONDARYEDAAANAA

Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity Certifications

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Certification Programs

Keywords

• Regional cyber cluster
• Ecosystem development
• Cyber skills programs
• Innovation hub services
• Community networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Newcastle Upon Tyne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: CyberNorth operates as a Community Interest Company (CIC) providing free membership to individuals and organizations. External funding through sponsorship supports delivery of programmes and activities.
2. Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship from partners and members provides funding for programs and activities. Sponsorship offers benefits including increased visibility, marketing support, and opportunities to demonstrate industry leadership and social value.
3. Partnership Contributions: Strategic partnerships with organizations like Waterstons provide long-term stability for growth programmes including CyberFest, Cyber Awards, and the North East Cyber Innovation Centre.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CyberNorth is a Community Interest Company (CIC) that operates as the regional cyber cluster organization for the North East of England, connecting cyber businesses, academia, and the public sector. It delivers programs including the CyberFest festival, CyberLabs innovation hub, apprenticeship and education initiatives (PlanBEE Cyber, CyberFirst), awards, jobs board, and free membership to grow the regional cyber ecosystem.

Product overview

CyberNorth is a Community Interest Company (CIC) that serves as the regional cyber cluster organization for the North East of England. Rather than offering a unified software product, CyberNorth delivers a portfolio of programs and services designed to connect people, organisations, and ideas across the cyber ecosystem. The core offerings include CyberFest (annual flagship festival), CyberLabs (physical innovation hub), CyberNorth Awards (recognition programme), PlanBEE Cyber (apprenticeship), CyberFirst North East (education), Jobs Board, membership programme, CyberSips networking events, podcast, and The Jackman Fund. These services collectively address skills development, innovation support, ecosystem building, and sector growth across cyber, AI, data, and quantum domains.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CyberFest: The North East's largest cyber security festival, a month-long celebration taking place in October showcasing cyber and AI excellence across the region.
• CyberLabs
• CyberNorth Awards
• The Jackman Fund
• CyberSips

Products and services

• CyberFest The North East's largest cyber security festival, a month-long celebration held throughout October featuring 20+ events including speaker sessions, panel debates, networking, workshops, sector forums, and the CyberNorth Awards, with CyberFest 2025 attracting over 1,000 delegates and 40 speakers across 21 events.
• CyberLabs A dedicated physical innovation hub at Grainger Hub in Newcastle upon Tyne providing co-working and collaboration space for cyber, AI, data, and tech startups, co-located with Barclays Eagle Labs and Northstar Ventures.
• CyberNorth Awards Annual awards ceremony held on 21st October celebrating outstanding talent, innovation, and achievements across the North East cyber security and AI sector, with categories including Rising Star, Micro Business of the Year, Business or Team of the Year, Outstanding Cyber Professional, North East Excellence, and Community Champion.
• PlanBEE Cyber A unique cybersecurity technologist higher apprenticeship programme developed with Northumbrian Water Group and Gateshead College, preparing apprentices for careers in designing, building, and testing secure networks through rotations across multiple sponsor companies.
• CyberFirst North East NCSC CyberFirst initiative delivered in partnership with RTC North, providing resources, bursary schemes, degree apprenticeships, girls' competitions, and CyberFirst Schools and Colleges recognition to inspire young talent into cyber careers.
• CyberNorth Jobs Board Jobs board showcasing cyber and cyber-related roles from organizations across the regional ecosystem, featuring opportunities from Accenture, Sage, Waterstons, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, CGI, and others.
• CyberNorth Membership Free membership open to any individual or organisation based in the North East of England with a passion for cyber, offering access to CyberSips and CyberFest events, newsletters, sector engagement, knowledge transfer, networking, and growth support through government links.
• CyberSips Regular monthly networking events held on the last Thursday of each month, facilitating connections among cyber security businesses to share knowledge, discuss challenges, and identify opportunities.
• The Jackman Fund A funding programme supporting cyber security innovation and development initiatives across the North East region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 delegates attended CyberFest 2025 across 21 events
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WaterstonscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2026Strategic partnership to strengthen support for skills development, business resilience and sector growth across the North East's cyber security ecosystem. The partnership aims to expand reach in schools, universities and small businesses, providing long-term stability for CyberFest, Cyber Awards, and the proposed North East Cyber Innovation Centre.
• AccenturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026Prior partnership supporting CyberNorth's ecosystem development. Accenture's Newcastle security team was recognized at CyberFest 2025 awards.
• Gateshead CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrior partnership for skills development and the PlanBEE Cyber apprenticeship programme. Gateshead College offers HNC Digital Technologies and the PlanBEE Cyber programme.
• SagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrior partnership with Sage, the global enterprise software company headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne. Sage supports the North East cyber ecosystem through CyberNorth.
• Grainger HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner hosting CyberLabs, the North East's dedicated hub for cyber, AI, data, and tech innovation. Located in Newcastle upon Tyne.
• RTC NorthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner working with CyberNorth to deliver the CyberFirst programme in the North East.
• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner represented on the CyberNorth Awards judging panel.
• Newcastle UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner and ACE-CSR (Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research). Offers BSc in Computer Science (Cyber Security) and NCSC-certified MSc in Cyber Security.
• Northumbria UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner and ACE-CSR. Offers BSc (Hons) in Networks and Cyber Security and NCSC-certified online MSc in Cyber Security.
• Durham UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the CyberNorth ecosystem.
• Barclays Eagle LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-located at CyberLabs, providing shared innovation environment for cyber, AI, and tech startups in the North East.
• Northstar VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-located at CyberLabs, providing venture capital and support for innovation ecosystem.
• CGI GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner represented on CyberNorth Awards judging panel.
• National Cyber AwardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCyberNorth is supporting the National Cyber Awards 2026 to encourage regional talent to seek national recognition. Nominations close 5th June 2026.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• TechUK: UK technology trade association representing hundreds of tech companies across sectors including cyber. Comparable to CyberNorth as a membership/advocacy body, but operates nationally with a broader tech remit rather than focusing on a regional cyber cluster.
• UK Cyber Security Council: National chartered body for the cyber profession, setting standards, professional registration and career pathways. Comparable to CyberNorth's skills-development mission (CyberFirst, PlanBEE) and awards programme, but operating at UK-wide rather than regional cluster level.

Direct peers

• Digital Catapult: UK-wide innovation network that runs accelerator programs, physical labs and ecosystem events for deep tech including cyber/AI. Closely comparable to CyberNorth's combination of innovation hub (CyberLabs), skills programs and ecosystem convening role, but at UK rather than regional scale.

Regional players

• Plexal: London-based innovation centre and cyber accelerator operated from the Here East campus. Comparable as a cyber-focused innovation hub offering co-location, corporate partnerships and a startup community, but anchored in London rather than North East England.
• ScotlandIS: Trade body for Scotland's tech sector including a dedicated cyber cluster. Comparable to CyberNorth as a regional technology/cyber membership organisation running events, skills programs and advocacy, but focused on Scotland rather than the North East.
• Opportunity North East: Private-sector led economic development body operating across Aberdeen, the North East of Scotland and the Tay Cities. Comparable to CyberNorth as a regional cluster organisation convening business, academia and public sector around sector growth, but covering broader industries rather than cyber specifically.

Others

• (ISC)²: Global non-profit membership association for cybersecurity professionals, offering certifications (CISSP, CCSP), training and member networking. Comparable to the membership/skills/credentialing dimension of CyberNorth's portfolio, but global rather than regional.
• ISACA: Global professional association for IT governance, risk, cyber security and audit practitioners. Comparable to CyberNorth's skills-development and community-networking role for cyber professionals, but operating globally rather than as a UK regional cluster.
• CSIS (Cyber Security Information Sharing Partnership): NCSC-run UK-wide community for organisations to share cyber threat information. Comparable to CyberNorth as a government-anchored community/ecosystem body, but focused on threat intelligence sharing rather than skills and innovation convening.
• SANS Institute: Global cyber security training and certification organisation. Comparable to the PlanBEE Cyber apprenticeship and CyberFirst delivery elements of CyberNorth's portfolio, but operates as a commercial training provider rather than a regional cluster body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/north_biz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cybernorth-uk

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CyberNorth