Starting 10 years ago as a relatively small community of GCHQ and provider tech specialists, CyNam is now probably the most established, biggest and best cyber tech community in the UK, with 7,000 individual members.
Indeed, it’s much more than that.
We recently spoke to Hollie Wakefield, General Manager. She is part of a six-person team who co-ordinate numerous popular events across the year, along with their development and support initiatives for local businesses, teachers, students, investors and the wider community.
The team are supported by five directors including founder Chris Dunning-Walton and a number of specialist consultants from disciplines that range from finance to marketing. (The Chamber’s Cyber Executive, Rob Stemp was one of the early founders and maintains a strong relationship with the community.)
They describe themselves as: “Cheltenham’s hub for cyber security and technology, serving as the go-to destination for connecting diverse minds and enabling secure innovation and growth for professionals and businesses operating in these sectors”
With a high concentration of cyber businesses in Cheltenham already (11 times the national average and the highest outside London), they play a key role in nurturing a cyber ecosystem with the right investment, blend of skills and types of businesses to drive really significant growth for Cheltenham and the surrounding area.
For example CyNam have been terrific ambassadors for Golden Valley, which is a hugely important project for the town. They have also recently launched an investor engagement project because despite the strength of the cyber and security technology sectors here, the area has only attracted a very small proportion of the available investment compared to London. The potential is huge, but there is hard work ahead.
Their mentor programme helps individuals relatively new to the tech sector or wanting a change in direction. This free service pairs them to experienced specialists who can provide guidance not only with technical but also “soft” skills like teamwork, people management and leadership.
Support for local businesses and education aside, CyNam recognise they have an important place in the community, supporting the town’s unique combination of technology, rich heritage and culture. For example, they are long term supporters of Cheltenham Science Festival and Cheltenham Literature Festival.
CyNam is funded by a combination of Government grants, and private sector sponsors and it’s free to join. We would encourageChamber Members to sign up, not only to participate in this growth area but also to understand their own cyber security needs better.
“At CyNam, we believe that collaboration is the key to solving complex challenges and driving meaningful growth. Our community is open to everyone—whether you’re in cyber, technology, education, finance, or any other sector—because the power of innovation comes from diverse minds working together. Partnerships with organisations like the Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce are essential in bridging industries, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities that benefit the wider economy.”
The Chamber has already worked with Cynam in creating “bootcamps” to boost cyber skills among students at some local schools and aims to work more closely together in future. Our events newsletters include links to their events which include training and topics useful to any kind of business. As well as cyber security, these have included insights into the world of angel investing, improving SEO performance and the art and science of branding.
