Influencing senior leaders in cybersecurity and technology is no small task, especially in the UK, where credibility, networks, and standards carry immense weight. Whether you’re a startup founder, a scale-up CISO, or a policy influencer, knowing where the key conversations happen (and who shapes them) can make the difference between being heard and being ignored.
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Exactly sixteen years on from my 2009 article on the UK’s economic imbalance, I reflect on how services continue to dominate GDP, while manufacturing still punches above its weight in R&D. I was right about the R&D gap — but missed the rise of intangible capital and startup-led innovation. Cybersecurity emerged as both a strategic asset and an innovation driver. Government efforts have been patchy, and real balance remains elusive. The future lies in resilience, not symmetry.
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In the West Midlands, the definitions and boundaries of Cyber, Digital, and Tech are more than just academic semantics; they influence policy, investment decisions, and how the region positions itself on the national and global stage. While the rest of the UK and many parts of the world have moved towards recognising cyber as a distinct and critical sector, in the West Midlands, it still largely sits within the broader digital and technology categories.
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