We are delighted to welcome John Pennick of Berkeley Insurance Group as a Community Ambassador at the East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre.

Berkeley Insurance Group are one of the UK’s largest independent Chartered Insurance Brokers, advising businesses of all sizes across a wide range of industry sectors.

They work closely with clients to develop cyber resilience by considering operational, regulatory and legal matters. They are recognised experts in the specialised area of cyber insurance and in 2019 they were awarded ‘Cyber Broker of the Year’ by Insurance Age magazine.

Berkeley’s cyber advice is led by John Pennick, Financial Risks Director. As a market leader in cyber insurance, John was asked to be a founding member and Chairman of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association’s Cyber focus group.

This committee represents the interests of the UK’s insurance brokers and is in contact with various Government departments, National Cyber Security Centre, and other parties interested in the cyber resilience of UK businesses.

On the topic of the risks and threats that businesses face, and their partnership with the EMCRC, John said:

"The events of recent years have highlighted how reliant almost all businesses are on a computer network and its data to operate. At the same time, cyber-crime has grown substantially to the point where ransomware now has the potential to bring a business to its knees.

As a result, we have seen cyber risk develop from a niche concern for the IT department, to a major, board-level, operational, regulatory and legal consideration.

Many businesses have struggled to find the right guidance to make this transition. The East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre plays an important role in helping businesses develop essential cyber resilience and Berkeley Insurance Group is pleased to add its experience and expertise in this field."

Colin Ellis, Managing Director of the EMCRC, said:

"Our Community Ambassadors recognise the important role that cyber resilience plays in maintaining business continuity.

Berkeley are award-winning insurance brokers. John Pennick, their cyber liability lead, is a subject matter expert and is committed to helping businesses overcome the challenges that cybercrime poses.

Cyber cover is proving harder to obtain for businesses, but it is essential. Understanding the insurance landscape to obtain a comprehensive and affordable policy is therefore an absolute necessity for any SME.

I am therefore delighted that Berkeley have taken up the mantle of EMCRC Community Ambassador, as this will allow our community members to learn about their services via our website.

We look forward to working together with both Berkeley and John in the future."

What is a Community Ambassador?

Community Ambassadors are local companies who understand the importance of cyber resilience and want to spread the knowledge, both within their own customers and supply chains and wherever relevant.

​Our Community Ambassadors support the EMCRC through raising awareness of our aims and objectives and directing their customers and supply chains to take advantage to the EMCRC's free membership and affordable services.

Berkeley Insurance Group are a great addition to the EMCRC's Community Ambassador group, and it shows our ambition as a Centre that we wish to partner with outstanding businesses and organisations.

But our ambition doesn’t end there. We’re seeking the support of other distinguished businesses and motivational business leaders by joining us, not just as Community Ambassadors, but as Community Members, Friends of the Centre or Board members. We now have the scope for businesses to partner with us on various levels of affiliation.

If you would like to support our work and join our community, or feel you can bring equal skill, vision and ingenuity to the Centre in other areas, then please contact us via our website or contact Colin Ellis via his LinkedIn account.

Reporting

Report all Fraud and Cybercrime to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or online. Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. Report SMS scams by forwarding the original message to 7726 (spells SPAM on the keypad).