The UK government has launched a new Cyber Growth Action Plan, backed by up to £16 million in fresh investment, aimed at accelerating innovation, creating high-quality jobs,
and strengthening the country’s cybersecurity.
Announced as part of the government’s wider Plan for Change, the initiative targets growth in the UK’s cyber security industry—which is already worth £13.2 billion annually and supports over 67,000 jobs.
Roadmap for a thriving cyber industry
The Cyber Growth Action Plan will serve as a strategic blueprint for the sector’s development. Led by independent experts from the University of Bristol and Imperial College London’s Centre for Sectoral Economic Performance, the plan will assess the UK’s cyber strengths and recommend actions to unlock further growth. Final recommendations are expected later this summer.
New funding to fuel innovation
The government has committed up to £16 million in new funding across two key initiatives:
£10 million for CyberASAP (Academic Startups Accelerator Programme) over four years, helping university research translate into commercial ventures. The programme has already launched 34 spin-out companies, securing £43 million in investment, and now aims to create 25 more by 2030, attracting an additional £30 million.
£6 million for cyber startups and SMEs through expanded support from the Cyber Runway accelerator, enabling them to scale up, access global markets, and reinforce the UK’s cyber innovation ecosystem.
Strengthening public sector cybersecurity
In response to escalating cyber threats, the government is also expanding its advisory support. A refreshed Government Cyber Advisory Board—featuring leaders from BAE Systems, Microsoft, Google DeepMind, AWS, and Santander—will guide efforts to reinforce cybersecurity across public services. This aligns with the Cyber Security Strategy, ensuring that government services are built on secure digital foundations.
Ministerial support
Cyber Security Minister Feryal Clark said:
Cyber security is essential to our economic strength and national resilience. Today’s announcement is backed by investment showing we’re serious about making the UK a global leader in cyber innovation and protection.
Through our Plan for Change, we’re backing the sector to create high-quality jobs through the Cyber Growth Action Plan and ensuring our public services are built on secure foundations with the expert support of the Government Cyber Advisory Board.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden said:
Today’s investment will help to turn innovative ideas into successful businesses up and down the country, and the new research will support our mission to grow the economy.
Recent cyber attacks show just how important it is we foster the development of the sector - delivering the double dividend of high paying jobs as well as strengthening the country’s cyber security.
Future focus: AI, Quantum, and supply chain security
The Action Plan’s research will explore trends and growth opportunities in areas such as AI, quantum computing, and supply chain resilience. It will also support the development of protective services like encryption and digital monitoring.
This work will help inform the upcoming National Cyber Strategy and play a key role in the government's future Industrial Strategy—positioning the cyber sector as a foundation for broader national growth.
Legislative changes ahead
A new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, expected in Parliament later this year, will strengthen protections for critical infrastructure and IT service providers. The government plans to enhance cyber defences for key sectors, including hospitals and energy providers, to secure public services and drive long-term resilience. Photo by jaydeep_, Wikimedia commons.