It’s that time of year again when we have the chance to look back and reflect on all the successes we have achieved over the last 12 months.

2024 has been a great year for accomplishments across the board for the WCRC team, from reaching the 3,000-membership mark, launching impactful sector-specific campaigns, running productive and motivational events, and being awarded 'Highly Commended' in the Organised Crime category for the second year in a row at the Safer Communities Awards, are just a few highlights from this year.

Director of the WCRC, Paul Peters says: “We have been continuing to make really strong inroads within the country’s business community, providing ongoing support and guidance in the fight against cybercrime. Yet, it’s thanks to the partnerships we have developed with Welsh organisations through our Community Ambassador programme as well as working in collaboration with the Welsh Government on significant campaigns that has allowed us to continue our strong progress.

“Having accomplished so much in 2024, we’re now looking ahead to 2025 with huge positivity and the progress the WCRC will continue to make in helping Welsh businesses bolster their cyber security posture.

Here is a snapshot of the standout moments from this year:

The Welsh Government funded, in partnership with the WCRC, a dedicated social care sector initiative which concluded this spring. As a result of this six-month campaign, 2500 licenses for cyber security training distributed across over 270 organisations and care homes throughout Wales. The project was led by PCSO Chris Rees and who was awarded the CoLP Commissioners Choice award at the National Cyber Awards for his work within the community.

• We have delivered a number of ‘Incident Response’ events, which has seen the centre work with partners including Bridewell, Thales, Capital Law, ICO, Thomas Carroll, Cyber Innovation Hub and policing. These events have been created to allow non tech decision makers to understand how a cyber incident unfolds and looking at the key issues, from a response, legal, regulatory and insurance perspective. 

• The centre has now passed the 3000th membership mark, with 95% of WCRC members being charities, sole traders, micro-businesses, and SMEs, covering a wide range of sectors and geographically spread throughout Wales.

• The WCRC’s ongoing community engagement outreach days, led by its Head of Cyber and Innovation, Paul Hall where we have been joined by volunteers and Cyber Essentials Partners, has continued to be hugely worthwhile initiative. It has allowed us to speak to so many Welsh business communities directly giving us a much better understanding of the current cyber security landscape.

• Director, Paul Peters had the honour of appearing as part of a panel on the keynote stage at this year’s Infosec 2024 – an international event that brings together the brightest minds in cybersecurity.

• The WCRC’s CyberPATH programme continues to thrive, delivering training to many different Welsh organisations.

  
  

• Here at the centre we love a personal success story, and thanks to the work experience the CyberPATH programme offers students, WCRC’s Client Relations Advisor, Morgan Bromhamm has now gone on to secure full-time employment in a junior management role with a Welsh car leasing organisation.

• And finally, the WCRC was presented with the Highly Commended awards for Crime Prevention at this year’s Safer Communities Awards 2024. This is a great achievement for the centre to be recognised for the second year in a row and is demonstrative of all the hard work the team delivers across the Welsh business community to help prevent cybercrime.  

For more information on our services, training programmes and membership options the get in touch at enquiries@wcrcentre.co.uk