The northwest of England is the chosen location for a government-backed initiative to secure critical infrastructure and the green economy.
The 10 North West SMEs which have joined the region’s Cyber Runway: NW Net Zero programme were chosen to help secure organisations in critical national infrastructure (CNI) sectors, such as aerospace, data and energy.
The initiative is partly in response to the rapid adoption of AI which has seen data centres experiencing heightened demand, with energy consumption up 2.2% globally in 2024.
Innovations in EVs and renewable energy help counter environmental impacts, but emerging technologies also present new security challenges. The National Cyber Security Centre has also reported a significant rise in high-level cyber incidents.
NW Net Zero aims to:
Help SMEs understand the cyber challenges faced by industry stakeholders to co-create security solutions.
Help SMEs and industry link up to cultivate a thriving regional ecosystem, build cyber awareness in CNI and lower procurement barriers.
Strengthen the security of technologies linked to the green economy by accelerating cyber businesses through collaboration with net zero leaders.
The programme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, delivered by Plexal1 and supported by Lancaster University.
Diane Gilbert, Plexal, said: “The North West has been making strides towards clean industrial growth through clusters such as Net Zero North West. The region is also home to a large cyber cluster that includes organisations such as the National Cyber Force, further validating why the market is the ideal location for NW Net Zero.
“Cyber will play an essential enabling role in securing the emerging green economy. Energy security is critical for the UK’s national security and long-term resilience, as highlighted in the National Security Strategy 2025 and focusing on the intersection of cyber security and net zero will contribute to the UK’s long-term energy security.
Plexal is an innovation and growth company helping to strengthen the UK’s technology capabilities through collaboration.
Teams in London, Manchester and Cheltenham work closely with government, industry, startups and academia to drive economic growth and reinforce national security.
Partners include: the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the National Cyber Security Centre, Lancashire Cyber Partnership, Airbus, Amazon, Barclays Eagle Labs, Google Cloud, TfL, The Alan Turing Institute and the University of Oxford.
“Working with various North West partners to develop a trusted ecosystem, we’re determined to create adoption pathways between SMEs and critical industry that reinforce the Cyber Growth Action Plan to grow a thriving cyber sector that enables the UK to be the safest country online.”
The cohort includes:
APH10, in Altrincham, develops SBOMLens – a platform that helps software teams identify and prioritise vulnerabilities using Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) data. Its mission is to reduce risk and improve security through transparency and smarter vulnerability management.
CYBIONE, in Bury, helps businesses reduce their vulnerability to cyber criminals by building affordable, effective security technologies and processes. Its mission is to make cyber protection accessible for SMEs, enabling them to demonstrate resilience to larger corporates and public sector clients.
DebtZer0, in Stockport, is transforming personal finance with smart tools to help individuals clear debt faster and build lasting financial freedom. Their platform combines behavioural insights and AI-driven strategies to make debt management simple, empowering users to take control of their future.
Digital Transit, of Lancaster, is driving innovation in sustainable transport and smart mobility solutions. Its technology integrates data analytics and low-carbon strategies to help cities and businesses transition to greener, more efficient transport systems.
Ghost Shift, in Manchester, is a cyber intelligence company specialising in covert online operations and cognitive effects. Its next-generation platform blends behavioural science and AI-driven tradecraft to deliver actionable insights and shape adversary behaviour at scale.
Illicit Labs, in Manchester, is pioneering insider threat management with a predictive, preventative approach. Its platform combines governance, risk and oversight with AI-driven tools to help organisations detect and mitigate human and agentic AI risks before they escalate.
Origin Matters, in Manchester, is building trust and transparency into AI decisions. Its platform combines blockchain and advanced cryptography to deliver privacy-preserving, verifiable assurance for AI systems.
PurpleWASP, in Manchester, is redefining governance, risk and compliance for modern businesses. Its intuitive platform blends automation with accessibility, making enterprise-grade policy management and risk oversight simple, fast and affordable for organisations of all sizes.
Reliable Insights, of Lancaster, delivers incisive analysis and actionable intelligence to help decision-makers navigate emerging technologies with confidence. Combining methodological rigour and client-focused collaboration, it turns complex challenges into clear, outcome-driven strategies.
YUDU, in Clitheroe, is a pioneer in secure digital publishing and resilience technology. Its flagship Sentinel platform empowers organisations to maintain critical communication and access vital documents during cyber incidents or major disruptions.
