Cityforum

What Cityforum does

Cityforum is a UK-based public policy research and events organisation founded in 1990 by Marc Lee. It curates invitation-only round table debates and produces bespoke research and advisory for senior public officials, industry leaders, and academics across policy domains including national security, cyber, policing, counter-economic crime, health, and social care. Discussions are held under the Chatham House Rule, and the firm publishes reports, podcasts, and briefings rather than commercialising a software or technology platform. The company is headquartered in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, with approximately 20 employees.

Cityforum operates three revenue streams: corporate sponsorship of named round table series (for example, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence as principal sponsor of Intelligent Defence), delegate fees for invite-only events, and bespoke research and advisory contracts for public and private sector clients. Its editorial group and senior associates include former officials from the NSA, Metropolitan Police, RAF, and US Army, providing the talent base that distinguishes the firm from generalist conference operators. The customer base spans UK policing bodies (NPCC, Police Foundation, HMICFRS, Police ICT Company), central government departments, and major private sector firms including Palantir, AWS, PwC, BT, IBM, Salesforce, and the London Stock Exchange Group.

The firm is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, or external investment. Its scale is modest (around 20 staff) and operationally UK-anchored, though the associate network includes international former officials. The death of founder Marc Lee in January 2025 is the most significant organisational event, and the 2026 programme — which introduces a Health of the Nation forum and several new round table series — is the principal forward-looking indicator of strategic direction.

Name

Cityforum

Legal name

Cityforum Limited

Website

https://cityforum.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cityforum is a UK public policy research and events firm founded in 1990 that runs Chatham House Rule round table debates and bespoke advisory for government, policing, defence, and corporate clients across security, cyber, economic crime, and health policy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Research and Events

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Government & Public Sector Congress & Summit Planning (THAHACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics) (MPAGAGAM), Government, Defense & Public Safety Shows Organizers (THAHABAO)

Keywords

• Public policy research
• Policy round tables
• Government advisory services
• Defence policy forums
• Public sector consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Shepton Mallet

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Sponsorship: Private sector organizations sponsor Cityforum events to position themselves as thought leaders and gain access to senior policymakers in a secure, neutral environment. Sponsorship packages are available at various levels including discounted rates for SMEs.
2. Delegate Tickets: Industry places at events can be purchased by private sector delegates. Individual private sector organizations have the opportunity to participate as delegates for specific events.
3. Bespoke Research and Advisory Services: Cityforum undertakes independent reviews, evaluations, and advisory work for official bodies, corporates and charities. Provides guidance on policy, strategy, procedures, efficiency and communications, and independent research on markets and public policy developments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cityforum devises and hosts specialised round table events on public policy themes — including defence, security, cyber, policing, CNI, energy, health, social care, economic crime, and privacy — operating under Chatham House Rule to enable candid dialogue among policymakers, the private sector, and academia. The organisation also undertakes bespoke research and advisory work for official bodies, corporates, and charities, providing independent reviews, evaluations, and guidance on policy, strategy, procedures, and efficiency. Its commercial model combines event sponsorship packages, paid delegate tickets, and fee-based research/advisory engagements.

Product overview

Cityforum is a public policy research and events organization (not a software product company) that provides a platform for high-level debate on public policy issues. The organization operates a single unified service model comprising: (1) Events & Round Tables — specialized forums on defence, security, cyber, policing, economic crime, health, and social care themes, held under Chatham House Rule; (2) Research & Advisory — bespoke research, independent evaluations, and guidance for public and private sector clients; (3) Publications — reports and summaries from events distributed to stakeholders; and (4) Sponsorship — opportunities for private sector participation. There is no software product, platform architecture, or digital product offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Events & Round Tables

Quantifiable outcome

• Events bring together senior leaders for candid dialogues unequalled anywhere in the world
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Police FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityforum joins forces with The Police Foundation in preparing annual Police Reform discussions. Collaboration focuses on structures, leadership and the National Police Service. This partnership combines Cityforum's event facilitation expertise with The Police Foundation's policing policy research capabilities.
• National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) Digital Public Contact teamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityforum collaborates with the NPCC Digital Public Contact team to develop the agenda for the annual Transforming Police Public Contact event. This is the 7th year of this series in 2027, indicating a long-standing partnership.
• NPCC DDaT Coordination CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityforum works with the NPCC DDaT Coordination Committee on agenda development for the annual Digital Policing Summit.
• Wilton ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityforum collaborated with Wilton Park on a Cyber Security event focused on 'Political Challenges'. Wilton Park is a UK-based organization that creates spaces for policy discussions.
• PwCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPwC hosts Cityforum events including the 2026 Intelligent Defence and Smart Power round table. Hosting of events provides PwC with thought leadership positioning alongside senior government and private sector audiences.
• Virgin Media O2minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVirgin Media O2 hosted the 2026 Transforming Public Safety event at their London venue.
• London Stock ExchangeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLondon Stock Exchange hosted the Safeguarding the Nation - Private Security in Policing event in April 2026.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAWS hosts the annual Digital Forensics Summit at their London corporate office location.
• BT (British Telecom)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBT hosts multiple Cityforum events including the Digital Policing Summit, Health of the Nation, Transforming Police Public Contact, and Digital Policing Summit at their One Braham venue. BT also appears as a supporting organization for defence events.
• PlexalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlexal at Here East hosted multiple Cyber Security and Criminal Justice events.
• IBM LondonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIBM London hosted multiple Intelligent Defence and Smart Power round tables.
• AdventFSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdventFS sponsored the 2026 Transforming Public Safety event focused on whole system reform to deliver safer streets.
• PalantirminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPalantir sponsored the 2026 Transforming Public Safety event, contributing to discussions on public safety reform.
• SelectaDNAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSelectaDNA sponsored the 2026 Transforming Public Safety event.
• BAE Systems Digital IntelligencecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBAE Systems Digital Intelligence served as Principal Sponsor for the 2026 Intelligent Defence and Smart Power event. Co-sponsors included Cohort, Gartner, and KBR.
• CohortminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCohort co-sponsored the 2026 Intelligent Defence and Smart Power event.
• GartnerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGartner co-sponsored the 2026 Intelligent Defence and Smart Power event.
• KBRminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKBR co-sponsored the 2026 Intelligent Defence and Smart Power event.
• The National Preparedness CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for the 2026 Intelligent Defence and Smart Power event.
• Dell TechnologiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting organization for the 2026 Intelligent Defence and Smart Power event.
• Defence EyeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting organization for the 2026 Intelligent Defence and Smart Power event. Defence Eye is edited by Cityforum Associate Tim Ripley.
• Team Defence InformationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting organization for the 2026 Intelligent Defence and Smart Power event.
• techUKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting organization for the 2026 Intelligent Defence and Smart Power event.
• City Security CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsored the Safeguarding the Nation - Private Security in Policing event.
• MS WebbminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored the Safeguarding the Nation - Private Security in Policing event.
• Magnet ForensicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for the 2026 Digital Forensics Summit.
• IntaForensicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for the 2026 Digital Forensics Summit.
• Z/Yen GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Organisation for the 2026 Economic Crime Summit.
• InvestigominorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue host for 2026 Transforming Police Public Contact event.
• Simmons & Simmons LLPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue host for 2024 Economic Crime Summit.
• SalesforceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue host for Police Public Contact events at Salesforce Tower.
• IET London: Savoy PlaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue host for Private Security Sector in an Age of Threat event.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): One of the world's most prominent international affairs think tanks, convening major policy debates under Chatham House Rule (the rule itself is named after this institution). Overlaps with Cityforum on defence, security, cyber and economic policy events, but operates at far greater scale and brand recognition globally.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): Global defence and security think tank that convenes high-level policy discussions including the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue. Comparable to Cityforum in facilitating senior defence/security dialogues, but with a global remit, larger staff, and a more institutionalised publication programme.
• Royal United Services Institute (RUSI): The world's oldest defence and security think tank, headquartered in London. RUSI runs major policy events and convenes senior government, military and industry leaders on defence and security — overlapping with Cityforum's Intelligent Defence, Cyber Security and policing themes but operating at significantly greater scale.

Emerging players

• Policy Exchange: UK-based centre-right think tank producing research across policing, justice, defence and security themes — overlapping with Cityforum's UK policy remit but more research-and-publication focused versus Cityforum's event-facilitation core.
• Henry Jackson Society: UK-based foreign policy and national security think tank that runs public events, publishes research, and engages with defence and security policy communities. Partial overlap with Cityforum's defence and security policy themes but with a stronger advocacy/policy stance.

Direct peers

• The Police Foundation: The UK's only independent think tank focused exclusively on policing policy. Cityforum partners with The Police Foundation on annual Police Reform discussions, and they share a customer base of UK policing bodies (HMIC, NPCC, Police Forces).
• Wilton Park: UK government-affiliated organisation that runs policy dialogues on international affairs, security and economics, often under Chatham House Rule. Wilton Park is the closest direct peer to Cityforum and has even co-hosted events with Cityforum (Cyber Security).
• Aspen Institute UK: UK arm of the Aspen Institute running policy roundtables and seminars for senior leaders on societal, economic and security issues. Comparable format (small, invitation-only policy dialogues) and similar audience of senior policymakers and business leaders.
• Ditchley Foundation: UK-based charity that hosts high-level international policy conferences under Chatham House Rule, focused on defence, security, foreign policy and international relations. Direct peer in format and audience to Cityforum, though with a stronger international/policy focus than Cityforum's policing and digital-public-service emphasis.

Others

• Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Major US bipartisan policy research organisation focused on defence, security and international policy, hosting high-level convenings. Adjacent comparator in terms of public-private defence/security dialogue, though geographically US-focused rather than UK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cityforumpolicy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cityforum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Cityforum