Yes, you can shape UK cyber policy, even from the outside. Here’s how people get in. Government working groups in the UK might seem closed-off, formal rooms filled with civil servants, consultants, and institutional insiders. But increasingly, government departments are seeking outside voices: founders, engineers, researchers, and community leaders who bring real-world experience. Whether you’re trying to influence cyber skills policy, secure-by-design standards, or public-sector procurement, joining the right working group can amplify your voice and build visibility for your organisation or sector. This article breaks down how non-civil servants are contributing to cyber and tech policy via working groups, what types exist, and how you can get involved.
Contents
1. What Counts as a ‘Working Group’?
In UK cyber and tech policy, a “working group” can mean:
- Policy advisory boards (e.g. DSIT, NCSC, UKCSC)
- Technical standards groups (e.g. IET, BSI, NCSC Assurance groups)
- Skills and education panels (e.g. UKCSC, CIISec, BCS, TechUK)
- Regional or sector taskforces (e.g. WM CWG, CyberWomen@Birmingham, Tech North East)
They exist to shape guidance, frameworks, funding design, national strategies, and even procurement recommendations.
2. Who Gets Invited?
You don’t need a title like “Director” or “Professor”. Influence tends to come from:
- Subject matter credibility (especially if niche, e.g. ICS, neurodiversity, zero trust)
- A track record of delivery or convening (e.g. running an accelerator or community)
- Participation in public consultations or thought leadership
- Introductions from existing group members or convenors
3. Key Organisations Running Influential Working Groups
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
- Cyber and Digital Skills Working Groups
- R&D / Commercialisation Roundtables
- Public-private taskforces for schemes like Cyber Runway, Cyber Local
How to join:
- Apply to open consultations
- Engage DSIT-funded programmes like CyberASAP
- Be referred by programme delivery partners (Plexal, UKC3, IAWM)
UK Cyber Security Council (UKCSC)
- Career and Qualifications Working Groups
- Chartership and Standards development
- Community engagement for new frameworks
How to join:
- Express interest via the UKCSC website
- Be active in a recognised membership body (CIISec, IET, BCS, ISC2)
TechUK
- Open to members
- Working groups in AI, cyber, skills, procurement, and data ethics
- Frequent interaction with DSIT, NCSC, Home Office, and MoD
How to join:
- Via company membership
- Most groups have a mailing list + working calls
- Great for SMEs and vendors looking to shape standards
IET, CIISec, and BCS Panels
- Shape technical policy, skills, and industry guidance
- Influence routes into school and early-career pathways
- Some are invite-only, others open through application or contribution
4. Regional and Sector-Led Working Groups
Often overlooked, but critical for influencing where funding flows.
Examples include:
- West Midlands Cyber Working Group (WM CWG) – Skills, investment, inclusion
- ScotlandIS / NI Cyber / Cyber Wales – Cluster-led input into DSIT and UKC3
- CyberWomen@Birmingham – Influences local programmes and national diversity strategy
- Police-led cyber groups – Often open to SME engagement
How to join:
- Be active in regional events
- Volunteer to speak or mentor
- Follow cluster convenors and respond to calls for input
5. Contribution > Credentials
Working groups need people who turn up, not people with perfect CVs. You’ll build credibility by:
- Showing up consistently
- Taking notes, sharing summaries
- Suggesting practical improvements to draft policies or programmes
- Inviting underrepresented voices into the room
6. Routes In (Without a Badge)
- Apply to public calls for evidence
- Attend fringe events during major policy announcements
- Co-author blogs or feedback with existing members
- Offer expertise (e.g. skills mapping, technical standards, SME pain points)
- Ask convenors directly, “Is there a working group I can contribute to?”
7. Why It’s Worth It
- Early access to policy direction and funding strategy
- Build reputation as a trusted voice
- Shape systems that affect hiring, regulation, and market access
- Connect to decision-makers and collaborators outside your existing network
Final Thoughts
Working groups are not off-limits. In fact, many are actively seeking outsiders, especially those with lived experience, regional perspective, or practical delivery expertise.
You don’t need a badge. You need to show up, speak clearly, and stay involved.
In UK cyber and tech policy, access is built through contribution.
References
- Inside the UK Cyber Ecosystem: A Strategic Guide in 26 Parts
- The Insider’s Guide to Influencing Senior Tech and Cybersecurity Leaders in the UK
- How to Join a Government Working Group (Without Being a Civil Servant)
- The Quiet Power Players of UK Cybersecurity: Who Really Shapes the Agenda?
- Cyber Across UK Government: Departments, Programmes, and Policy Players