Cyber security centre hits a new high with topping out milestone

August 10, 2020

Work on the £9 million Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security in Hereford has hit new heights by reaching another milestone.

Building contractor, Speller Metcalfe, has now reached the highest point of the new building, based on Skylon Park, Hereford Enterprise Zone, and a virtual topping out ceremony filmed by partners has marked the occasion.
The new building is a joint venture between the University of Wolverhampton and Herefordshire Council, part-funded by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Despite work temporarily halted on the site due to pandemic lockdown restrictions in March, Speller Metcalfe carried out a phased return recently with a reduced workforce, in line with revised protocols and protective measures enabling progress.
The new building, designed by Birmingham based Associated Architects, has generated 80% spend locally within 30 miles of the project which includes subcontractors Folbig Fabrications, Hereford Asbestos Services, Herefordshire Council Building Control and Quickskip, based close to the site at Rotherwas.
Councillor David Hitchiner, Leader of Herefordshire Council, said: “In this time of crisis it’s good to be able to recognise the continued development of the Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security, developing a world-class facility focused on cyber security, an area where there is already considerable interest and expertise. The Centre will retain skills in the County as well as attracting highly skilled people to live and work here. We know both will be key in the County’s economic recovery in the months and years ahead.”

Andrew Manning-Cox, Chair of Hereford Enterprise Zone, Skylon Park and a non-executive director of the Marches LEP, said: “I am delighted to be taking part in the virtual topping out ceremony. This project marks the culmination of a huge amount of effort and is the product of coordinated funding support from a number of partners. In today’s society we can see how vital it is that businesses have security of their IT and information, all the more important with the ability to work remotely and from different locations around the world. This underlines the relevance and importance of having a new Cyber Centre in Herefordshire.”
Professor Geoff Layer, Vice Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “Together with our partners I’m delighted that this new building will soon be open. It’s a magnificent new Centre that brings to Hereford a brand new research and innovation, training and incubation start-up that focuses on how we can develop the skills of the future with the research and innovation that many of our companies need. This is a major innovation in the area and one that will firmly put Hereford on the map in terms of cyber security.”
The 2,000 square metre building will provide significant resources for research and development across three cyber laboratories, advanced training facilities as part of the University’s Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute and additional business space for up to 16 cyber companies.
The centre, which secured £2.82m of funding via the Marches LEP’s Growth Deal with Government in 2017, is part of the new Cyber Quarter at Skylon Park, already home to numerous defence and security sector businesses.
The new centre incorporates a full height glass atrium to provide a dual break-out space and function hall, alongside the main three storey building that houses business suites, innovation rooms, IT workshops and a ‘Cyber Range’ – a cutting edge facility that will defend against the global rise of hacking.
The Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security will be open late 2020.

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The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.

The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.

The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.

We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.

The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.

The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk

For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk

For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk

The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com

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