Made Smarter Yorkshire launches £400,000 cybersecurity initiative starting in September

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The UK government-backed "Made Smarter Yorkshire" programme has launched a new £400,000 cybersecurity initiative aimed at helping small and medium-sized manufacturers protect their people, systems, and operations. As factories become increasingly digitalised and interconnected, this pilot project, delivered in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, will cultivate "cybersecurity champions" within Yorkshire businesses, equipping employees with the skills and confidence to identify threats, encouraging safer working practices, and building stronger cyber defences.

The programme will launch in September, with manufacturers able to access four levels of fully funded support, ranging from basic cybersecurity awareness to the internationally recognised ISO 27001 certification. The Yorkshire pilot could also inform how cybersecurity support is delivered across England through the Made Smarter programme. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, is responsible for protecting the UK from cyber threats. It has warned of the growing risk facing the UK, with its latest annual data showing that the number of nationally significant cyber incidents has more than doubled.

Government research found that a single cyber attack costs UK businesses an average of £190,000, with annual economic losses reaching £14.7 billion. For manufacturers, the risks are particularly acute — digital technology now connects machinery, production systems, suppliers, and customers, meaning a cybersecurity incident can quickly escalate far beyond IT, halting production, delaying orders, and increasing costs. Human error remains the most common cause of security incidents, making awareness and safer working practices essential to protecting businesses.

Research by Make UK, the manufacturers' organisation, shows that nearly a third of manufacturers have experienced a serious cybersecurity incident in the past 12 months, either directly or through their supply chain. The research also identified affordability and a lack of awareness of existing support as the biggest barriers to improving cyber resilience, and called for more accessible support for SMEs, including integrating cyber resilience training into digital adoption programmes such as Made Smarter.

Jessica Armitage, Programme Lead for Made Smarter Yorkshire, said: "Cyber attacks are no longer something manufacturers can hope will happen to someone else. Digital technology is creating huge opportunities, but the more connected businesses become, the more important it is that cybersecurity develops alongside it. This is not just an IT issue. A single attack can stop production, delay orders, increase costs, and disrupt customers and suppliers. For smaller manufacturers, one of the biggest challenges can simply be knowing where to start. That's why we're offering fully funded support that is accessible to businesses at different stages. We want to help manufacturers take that first step, develop people who can champion cybersecurity within their business, and provide a pathway to ever-stronger resilience."

Dharmendra Shadija, Head of the Department of Computing and Digital Technologies at Sheffield Hallam University, added: "We are delighted to work with Made Smarter Yorkshire to help manufacturers build the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to protect their businesses. Our experts in cybersecurity, digital forensics, and organisational change will help businesses understand the risks they face and, just as importantly, develop people who can champion safer working practices and make cybersecurity awareness part of everyday working life."

The cybersecurity support will also connect manufacturers to the wider Made Smarter programme, including expert advice and consultancy, digital roadmaps, skills and leadership development, internships, and, where appropriate, funding for new technology.