South West Cyber Security Cluster
South West Cyber Security Cluster is a volunteer-led not-for-profit community organization based in Exeter, England, that provides free cybersecurity networking, education, mentorship, and SME-protection resources to professionals, students, veterans, and schools across the South West of England.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersExeter, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What South West Cyber Security Cluster does
South West Cyber Security Cluster (SWCSC) is a volunteer-led not-for-profit community organization (England & Wales company number 10554560) founded in 2016 and headquartered at Exeter Science Park. Its mission is to cultivate a thriving cyber community across the South West of England (Dorset, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, and Wiltshire) by connecting cyber security professionals, small and medium enterprises, university students, military veterans, and schools through free education, networking, and resources. The organization is a regional node in the UKC3 national cyber cluster network and is supported by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
SWCSC does not develop or sell commercial technology products. Its "offerings" are community programmes: monthly networking meetups hosted on Eventbrite, an annual Secure South West conference, a YouTube channel publishing meetup recordings, an email newsletter, social channels on LinkedIn and X, an ESG content track, and a Discord community launching in April 2025. Skill-development initiatives include the Cyber 4 Good undergraduate mentoring programme (with the Universities of Bournemouth, Exeter, and Plymouth), the CyberFirst Schools consortium (with CyNam, Tech Spark, and Raytheon), the Cyber Futures programme, and the Cyber Career Jumpstart programme (with SaluteMyJob and IBM). The Small Business Cybersecurity Toolkit (PDF) and a Video Conferencing Comparison Tool (CSV) are free informational downloads rather than software products.
The revenue model is sponsorship and grant funding rather than commercial sales. Named corporate sponsors include PA Consulting, C3IA, Safe Space One, Juberi, and Cyber Badger; institutional support comes from DSIT, UKC3, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), and the three regional universities. All services are provided free of charge. The organization is led by a volunteer Steering Group chaired by Tim Parker (appointed November 2023), with Anthony Odhams (Administration/Director), Geoff Revill (Events), Peter Jones (Co-founder), and Chelsea Eaton (Marketing) as named members, and it was a 2017 Cyber Security Awards "Not for Profit" finalist.
South West Cyber Security Cluster firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- South West Cyber Security Cluster
- Legal name
- South West Cyber Security Cluster
- Website
- https://southwestcsc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- South West Cyber Security Cluster is a volunteer-led not-for-profit community organization based in Exeter, England, that provides free cybersecurity networking, education, mentorship, and SME-protection resources to professionals, students, veterans, and schools across the South West of England.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
South West Cyber Security Cluster industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cybersecurity Community and Education Services
- NAICS
- Business Associations (81391)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Privacy, Data Protection & Cyber Governance (GRC) (BPAHAFAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cybersecurity Learning Platforms (EDAFANAF), Security Awareness & Phishing Simulation Managed Services (BPAEADAK)
Keywords
Where South West Cyber Security Cluster is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Exeter
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
South West Cyber Security Cluster business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Sponsorship and Grants: The not-for-profit organization is funded through sponsors (PA Consulting, C3IA, Safe Space One, Juberi, Cyber Badger) and supported by government bodies including the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and UKC3.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
South West Cyber Security Cluster product offering
Product offeringCore offering
South West Cyber Security Cluster is a not-for-profit community organization that cultivates the South West UK cyber ecosystem by hosting monthly networking meetups, an annual Secure South West conference, and free cybersecurity educational resources. It supports SMEs with cybersecurity guidance, runs mentorship programs (Cyber 4 Good, CyberFirst, Cyber Futures, Cyber Career Jumpstart), and provides downloadable tools such as a Small Business Cybersecurity Toolkit. All activities and resources are provided free of charge, funded by sponsors and government grants.
Product overview
South West Cyber Security Cluster is a not-for-profit community organization, not a product company. It does not offer a commercial product or software platform. Its activities include providing cybersecurity resources and guidance, organizing community events (monthly meetups, annual Secure South West conferences), managing mentorship programs (Cyber 4 Good Mentoring for undergraduates), running skills development initiatives (CyberFirst, Cyber Futures, Cyber Career Jumpstart), and offering downloadable resources such as a Small Business Cybersecurity Toolkit (PDF) and a Video Conferencing Comparison Tool (CSV spreadsheet). These are informational resources and community programs, not commercial product offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Monthly Networking Meetups Regular monthly networking meetings featuring industry expert speakers, hosted on Eventbrite for the South West cyber professional community. Open to cyber professionals, students, and SMEs seeking knowledge sharing and community connection.
- Secure South West Annual Conference Annual flagship cybersecurity event bringing together experts from across the UK to discuss trending cybersecurity topics. Hosted in partnership with academic institutions including the University of Exeter.
- Discord Community Platform Online community platform for South West cyber professionals enabling networking, job sharing, and event discussions. Free to join, with notifications available via the website.
- Email Newsletter Regular free email newsletter providing cyber security news, tips, and event updates across the South West region.
- Small Business Cybersecurity Toolkit Free downloadable PDF resource providing practical cybersecurity guidance for small and medium businesses, covering threat types including DDoS, phishing, ransomware, email hack, mobile malware, PBX fraud, website hack, and fake Microsoft support calls.
- Cyber 4 Good Mentoring Programme Mentoring programme pairing cyber security undergraduates at the Universities of Bournemouth, Exeter, and Plymouth with industry mentors for career guidance and industry connections.
- CyberFirst Schools Programme Initiative supporting South West schools and colleges with cyber security education curriculum, teacher training, and student engagement, delivered in partnership with CyNam, Tech Spark, and Raytheon.
- Cyber Career Jumpstart Programme Programme supporting military veterans, reservists, and spouses to transition into cyber security careers, delivered in partnership with Salute My Job and IBM.
Companies that use South West Cyber Security Cluster
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
South West Cyber Security Cluster technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
South West Cyber Security Cluster partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered major sponsor, sponsor, core government supporter, core, core academic partner, academic partner, event partner, regional partner, core partner, programme partner, professional body partner, partner, research partner, initiative partner, business partner and core government partner.
- PA Consultingmajor sponsorMajor sponsor of Secure South West events. PA Consulting is a global innovation and transformation consultancy.
- C3IAsponsorSponsor of Secure South West events and supporter of South West cyber community initiatives.
- Safe Space OnesponsorSponsor and co-founded by Geoff Revill who serves on the SWCSC steering group.
- Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT)core government supporterGovernment department providing support and funding for the UKC3 network of regional cyber clusters including SWCSC.
- UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration (UKC3)coreNational coordination body for regional cyber clusters, coordinating the network of regional clusters that SWCSC is part of.
- University of Exetercore academic partnerHost venue for Secure South West 16 and key academic partner in the South West cyber ecosystem.
- University of Plymouthacademic partnerAcademic institution partner for cyber education initiatives including Cyber Futures programme and Secure South West events.
- University of Bournemouthacademic partnerPartner university supporting the Cyber 4 Good mentoring programme for undergraduates.
- BSides Exeterevent partnerCommunity-driven cybersecurity conference in Exeter. SWCSC supports and promotes the first BSIDES event in the deep southwest.
- Tech South Westregional partnerRegional technology community organization supporting the South West tech ecosystem.
- Cyber Resilience Centre (SWCRC)core partnerPolice-led organization part of national network providing cybersecurity support to SMEs and third sector in the South West.
- Salute My Jobprogramme partnerSocial enterprise partner for Cyber Career Jumpstart programme helping military veterans transition into cybersecurity roles in collaboration with IBM.
- Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec)professional body partnerProfessional membership body for information security professionals. Peter Jones chairs the South West branch of CIISec.
- Global Cyber AlliancepartnerInternational organization working to reduce cyber risk through collaborative action.
- Cyber-SHIP Labresearch partnerResearch lab at University of Plymouth focused on cybersecurity research and education.
- TechCornwallregional partnerTechnology community organization in Cornwall supporting the local tech ecosystem.
- Tech4Good South Westregional partnerRegional organization promoting technology for social good in the South West.
- SW Ladies of Cyberinitiative partnerInitiative supporting women in cybersecurity careers in the South West region.
- Bar AssociatespartnerProfessional services partner supporting the South West cyber community.
- Federation of Small Businessesbusiness partnerFSB represents small businesses who are target beneficiaries of SWCSC cybersecurity guidance.
- IBMprogramme partnerCorporate partner collaborating on the Cyber Career Jumpstart programme with SaluteMyJob to train ex-military personnel for cyber roles.
- National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)core government partnerPart of GCHQ, provides CyberFirst programmes, guidance, and supports cyber clusters across the UK.
- CyNamregional partnerGloucestershire cybersecurity community organization, part of the CyberFirst Schools delivery consortium for South West.
- Tech Sparkregional partnerTechnology education initiative, part of the CyberFirst Schools delivery consortium for South West.
- Raytheonregional partnerDefense contractor, part of the CyberFirst Schools delivery consortium for South West.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
South West Cyber Security Cluster competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CyNam: Gloucestershire-based cybersecurity community organisation and fellow UKC3 cluster. Directly comparable: runs monthly meetups, supports CyberFirst Schools delivery, and provides a community platform for cyber professionals in its region — the same operating model SWCSC uses in the South West.
- BSides Exeter: Community-driven cybersecurity conference in Exeter, partnered with SWCSC. Comparable as a peer grassroots cyber community event series operating in the same geography and targeting overlapping cyber professionals.
- Cyber Wales: Welsh regional cyber cluster organisation operating as a community hub for cyber businesses and professionals. Comparable as a fellow UKC3-affiliated regional cluster running meetups, events, and skills programmes, providing a useful size and model benchmark.
- South West Cyber Resilience Centre (SWCRC): Police-led regional organisation providing cybersecurity support to SMEs and the third sector in the South West. Comparable: shares SWCSC's geography, SME target audience, and mission of improving regional cyber resilience, with overlapping programmes and government backing.
Regional players
- ScotlandIS Cyber: Scottish cyber cluster/trade body running community, skills, and networking programmes for cyber professionals and businesses in Scotland. Comparable as a regional cluster model for the cyber community, providing structural comparison to SWCSC's operating approach.
- Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales: Police-led regional organisation providing affordable cybersecurity services and guidance to SMEs and charities in Wales. Comparable as a public-sector-backed regional cyber resilience organisation with similar mission and target audience to SWCSC, though serving a different UK region.
- Tech South West: Regional technology community organisation supporting the broader South West tech ecosystem. Comparable as a regional membership/community organisation operating in the same geography, with adjacent (rather than direct) cyber relevance.
Broad incumbents
- UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration (UKC3): National coordinating body for the network of regional cyber clusters of which SWCSC is a member. Directly comparable as the umbrella organisation governing SWCSC's role, funding line (via DSIT), and strategic positioning within the UK regional cyber ecosystem.
- Global Cyber Alliance: International not-for-profit focused on reducing cyber risk through collaborative action, listed as a SWCSC partner. Comparable as a non-profit, community-driven cyber safety organisation operating programmes to improve cyber hygiene among SMEs and individuals.
- Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec): Professional membership body for information security professionals, with SWCSC co-founder Peter Jones chairing its South West branch. Comparable: provides professional community, networking, and career-development infrastructure for cyber professionals, operating at national scale versus SWCSC's regional scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
South West Cyber Security Cluster social profiles
Digital presenceSouth West Cyber Security Cluster financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
South West Cyber Security Cluster leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
South West Cyber Security Cluster funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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South West Cyber Security Cluster M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about South West Cyber Security Cluster
What does South West Cyber Security Cluster do?
South West Cyber Security Cluster is a not-for-profit community organization that cultivates the South West UK cyber ecosystem by hosting monthly networking meetups, an annual Secure South West conference, and free cybersecurity educational resources. It supports SMEs with cybersecurity guidance, runs mentorship programs (Cyber 4 Good, CyberFirst, Cyber Futures, Cyber Career Jumpstart), and provides downloadable tools such as a Small Business Cybersecurity Toolkit. All activities and resources are provided free of charge, funded by sponsors and government grants.
Is South West Cyber Security Cluster a public or private company?
South West Cyber Security Cluster is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was South West Cyber Security Cluster founded?
South West Cyber Security Cluster was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is South West Cyber Security Cluster based?
South West Cyber Security Cluster is headquartered in Exeter, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does South West Cyber Security Cluster make money?
One revenue line is on record: sponsorship and Grants.
Who are South West Cyber Security Cluster's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CyNam, BSides Exeter, Cyber Wales and South West Cyber Resilience Centre (SWCRC). Regional players are ScotlandIS Cyber, Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales and Tech South West. Broad incumbents are UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration (UKC3), Global Cyber Alliance and Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec).
Does South West Cyber Security Cluster have an API?
No public API is recorded for South West Cyber Security Cluster.
What industry is South West Cyber Security Cluster in?
South West Cyber Security Cluster's product category is Cybersecurity Community and Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAFAF, Privacy, Data Protection & Cyber Governance (GRC), with a secondary code of EDAFANAF, Cybersecurity Learning Platforms. Its NAICS code is 81391 and its SIC code is 8600.