As the new year begins, the West Midlands Cyber Hub is delivering an ambitious programme of practical, community-driven cyber events from January to March… with more already in development. This programme is focused on building cyber capability, confidence, and collaboration across the West Midlands, supporting organisations, practitioners, and the wider regional economy.
Welcome to the West Midlands Cyber Hub 2026 Q1 Schedule
Yes… We brought presents!
If you’re looking for signs that the West Midlands cyber ecosystem is accelerating, collaborating, and genuinely getting things done, consider this your proof. As we head into 2026, the West Midlands Cyber Hub (WMCH) has confirmed an ambitious programme of events running from January through March, and this is just what’s scheduled so far.
More sessions, more collaborations, and more opportunities are already in the pipeline. This isn’t simply activity for activity’s sake. It’s practical, grounded, community-driven cyber support, designed to build capability, confidence, and connection across the region.
So, Happy New Year. Here’s what’s coming.
Contents
Quick Update
Before we launch into the schedule of events and the programmes that wrap them it’s good to have a quick catch up on where we are.
Psssttt: A Note On Where This Update Lives
This update is currently hosted here rather than on the West Midlands Cyber Hub website. The Hub is still early in its journey, and we’re in the process of building out a dedicated space for news and updates.
In the meantime, this felt too important not to share. As the current lead for the West Midlands Cyber Hub, I’m using this space to make sure people can see what’s happening, what’s coming next, and how quickly momentum is building.
Early Momentum At The Hub
Since opening, we’ve also welcomed over 300 visitors through the doors… an early signal that the demand for a physical, collaborative cyber hub in the West Midlands is very real.
Within one month of opening, the West Midlands Cyber Hub has already welcomed three tenant organisations into the space: Cybercy, Orbital, and CyberQ Group.
We’re incredibly grateful to them for backing the Hub early, believing in what we’re building, and helping bring the space to life from day one. Their presence matters… not just to us, but to the wider ecosystem we’re building together.
We’re also thankful to David Bleakman at Barclays Eagle Labs, who quite literally said “build it and they will come”. They were 100% right and their confidence and support helped make this possible.
And a personal thank you to Bruce Gregory at Hub 8, who gave us one of the best pieces of advice we received early on: build the community first.
This early activity builds on the findings of the Hub’s Pre-Consultation Report (PDF download available), which helped shape the space, programme, and partnerships now being delivered in practice.
Guests and Conversations So Far
Alongside events and tenancy, we’ve been fortunate to welcome a wide range of visitors, partners, and guests into the Hub already.
These include UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL), who generously opened the WM Cyber Hub, representatives from regional policing, including the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) and the cyber fraud teams, and colleagues from central and regional government, including DSIT, the Office of Investment, and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). Sessions from the clusters and innovation teams in the Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands (IAWM), and TechWM are due to kick off their new Cyber SIG (Special Interest Group) here too.
We’ve also had valuable engagement from the West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC), and a number of thoughtful conversations around major regional delivery challenges, including infrastructure and platform adoption, that underline just how important a trusted, neutral convening space like the Hub can be.
A particular thank you as well to BrumSec Connect, whose members have been regular faces on site, and to Mark Avery from Cyber Chain Alliance, whose engagement has been hugely valued.
And finally, a very big thank you to everyone at Millennium Point. The team, the facilities, and the support have been exceptional… and the space has already proven its value as a home for the Hub and the community around it.
Building Community First
When people feel welcome, supported, and connected, they naturally want to spend time together, collaborate, and make use of the space. The Hub is designed around that idea… creating an environment where relationships come first, and everything else flows from there.
This approach shapes how we think about events, tenancy, partnerships, and growth. The goal isn’t to extract value from a community… it’s to enable one, and let opportunity emerge naturally from it.
A Programme Built for Practitioners, Leaders, and Learners
Over the next three months, WMCH will host a mix of hands-on training, practitioner briefings, strategic discussions, cyber clinics, and community events.
The focus is simple: help organisations and individuals understand cyber risk, build resilience, and apply what they learn in the real world.
You’ll see sessions covering:
- Core cyber fundamentals for today’s digital workplace
- GDPR and data protection, demystified and made practical
- Cyber Essentials as a foundation, not a tick-box
- AI, digital twins, and emerging cyber risk
- Cyber resilience and trust in increasingly connected environments
- Open cyber clinics and drop-in days for SMEs and founders
Alongside this are advisory meetings and social moments… because strong cyber ecosystems are built on relationships as much as technology.
January: Setting the Tone for 2026
January opens with a strong emphasis on education and accessibility.
The first event of the year, Cyber 101: Core knowledge for today’s digital workplace, kicks things off on 13 January, providing a practical baseline for professionals, leaders, and organisations navigating digital risk.
We also start the year with a New Year Pizza & Pint social… a relaxed opportunity to reconnect, welcome new faces, and begin 2026 in good company. These socials are intended to repeat irregularly on a semi-monthly basis, reflecting the community-led nature of the Hub.
Alongside larger events, the programme also includes a number of SME cyber clinics, delivered collaboratively with regional partners including universities, industry, and our friends at the Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands (WM CRC).
February: Momentum, Scale, and Collaboration
February is when the programme really opens up.
The West Midlands Cyber Festival and BrumSec events draw larger audiences into the Hub, creating space for regional collaboration and knowledge sharing on a larger scale.
Alongside this are multiple Cyber Clinics and WMCRC Drop-In Days, giving SMEs and organisations the chance to ask questions, test assumptions, and receive tailored guidance, whether they’re just starting out or dealing with complex challenges.
This blend of big-room energy and small-room support is deliberate, and it’s one of WMCH’s core strengths.
March: What Comes Next
March continues the theme of practical resilience, with sessions focused on moving beyond threat awareness towards trust, confidence, and sustainable cyber practices.
You’ll notice fewer events listed at this stage… not because momentum is slowing, but because more announcements are coming.
Beyond March, WMCH is actively building additional activity around:
- Innovation and applied research
- Funding and investment readiness
- Support for start-ups, scale-ups, and spin-outs
We’re working with partners including Plexal, Barclays Eagle Labs, Innovate UK, and Cyber ASAP, and we’re exploring opportunities to host youth and early-talent cyber initiatives, including potential CyberFirst-style activity.
From March onwards, we’re also looking forward to developing a series of events with colleagues from the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), focused on cyber crime, threat awareness, and how organisations can better understand and respond to the realities of cyber-enabled crime.
These sessions will be designed to be informative, accessible, and practical, helping businesses and practitioners understand the evolving threat landscape and how law enforcement, industry, and the wider ecosystem work together.
I’m so excited!
Full Event List: January–March 2026
Confirmed and proposed events SO FAR!
January 2026
- Cyber 101: Core knowledge for today’s digital workplace
- 13 January (13:00–16:00)
- Delivered by: University of Wolverhampton (Zeeshan Perez)
- For: SMEs, non-technical staff, leaders, career switchers
- New Year Pizza & Pint Social
- 15 January (15:00–18:00)
- Delivered by: West Midlands Cyber Hub
- For: Cyber community members, partners, newcomers
- AI, Digital Twins, and Cyber Risk: What Practitioners Need to Know (and Do) Now
- 21 January (13:00–17:00)
- Delivered by: Aston University (Gosia Dzierdzikowska)
- For: Practitioners, risk professionals, technical leaders
- Demystifying GDPR: Principles, Roles and Key Articles
- 22 January (09:00–12:00)
- Delivered by: University of Wolverhampton (Zeeshan Perez)
- For: SMEs, data owners, compliance leads
- WMCH Advisory Board Meeting
- 26 January (10:00–13:00)
- Delivered by: West Midlands Cyber Hub
- For: Advisory board members (closed session)
- Cyber Clinic
- 29 January (09:00–12:00)
- Delivered by: WMCRC & University of Wolverhampton
- For: SMEs and organisations with live cyber challenges
February 2026
- Building Resilience into your Supply Chain
- 4 February (10:00–15:00)
- Delivered by: Midlands Cyber on behalf of the West Midlands Cyber Festival
- For: Regional cyber community, SMEs, practitioners, policymakers
- BrumSec Community Event
- 4 February (18:00–22:00)
- Delivered by: Marston Search
- For: Cyber professionals and security leaders
- Cyber Essentials: A Practical Guide to Foundational Security
- 9 February (15:00–17:00)
- Delivered by: University of Wolverhampton
- For: SMEs and organisations beginning their cyber journey
- WM CRC Drop-In Day
- 17 February (14:00–16:00)
- Delivered by: WMCRC
- For: SMEs seeking informal advice and guidance
- Keeping Data Safe in an Era of Constant Cyber Threats
- 18 February (09:30–12:30)
- Delivered by: University of Wolverhampton
- For: Business leaders, data owners, practitioners
- Cyber Clinic
- 23 February (09:00–12:00)
- Delivered by: WMCRC & University of Wolverhampton
- For: SMEs and growing organisations
- WM CRC Drop-In Day (20 places)
- 24 February (09:00–12:00)
- Delivered by: WMCRC
- For: SMEs and public/private sector organisations
- WM CRC Drop-In Day (10 places)
- 24 February (14:00–16:00)
- Delivered by: WMCRC
- For: SMEs and public/private sector organisations
- Innovation Cyber Talk (Title TBC)
- 26 February (14:00–20:00)
- Delivered by: Plexal
- For: Practitioners, innovators, ecosystem partners
March 2026
- From Threats to Trust: Harnessing AI for Cyber Resilience in a Connected World
- 18 March (13:00–17:00)
- Delivered by: University of Wolverhampton
- For: Cyber professionals, business leaders, resilience stakeholders
- Cyber Clinic
- 30 March (15:00–19:00)
- Delivered by: WMCRC & University of Wolverhampton
- For: SMEs and organisations with specific cyber challenges
Inspiring The Next Generation
Looking ahead to the next quarter, a major focus for the Hub will be getting young people into technology, cyber, and STEM pathways.
The long-term strength of the region’s cyber ecosystem depends on the talent we nurture today. That means engaging school-age learners, demystifying technology, and showing that careers in cyber and tech are open, accessible, and exciting.
We’re looking forward to building this work with partners including BMet and the School of Coding and AI, and to creating opportunities that inspire curiosity, confidence, and ambition in the next generation.
Pizza & Pint Social: Access Update
Our New Year Pizza & Pint social was initially listed as members-only. That was a mistake.
The event is open to everyone, and this will be corrected on the listing tomorrow. The Hub is about openness, accessibility, and community… and our socials should reflect that.
There have also been some dangerous suggestions about running a Dungeons & Dragons night at the Hub… possibly on a Thursday. No promises yet… but if you know, you know. Time to dust off Keep on the Borderlands or maybe even Temple of Elemental Evil.
Get Involved
Whether you’re a business leader, practitioner, policymaker, founder, student, or simply trying to make sense of an increasingly complex cyber landscape, there’s something here for you.
More events will be announced soon.
Watch this space… or better yet, come and be part of it.
References
- WM Cyber Hub website
- WM Cyber Hub LinkedIn site
- WM Cyber Hub Eventbrite site
- Cyber 101: Core knowledge for today’s digital workplace (13th Jan. 2026)
- Pizza and Pint Social