HEREFORD'S new £9 million state-of-the art cyber security centre has been officially opened today.

The centre Skylon Park in Rotherwas should provide significant resources for research and development across three cyber laboratories, advanced training facilities as part of the University's Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute.

Chiefs have also said there will also be space for up to 16 cyber firms at the Midlands Centre for Cyber Security in Hereford's Enterprise Zone.

Hereford Times: Building work at the new Midlands Centre for Cyber Security in Hereford has finished

Hereford Times: Building work at the new Midlands Centre for Cyber Security in Hereford has finished

Hereford Times: Building work at the new Midlands Centre for Cyber Security in Hereford has finished

The centre is a joint venture between the University of Wolverhampton and Herefordshire Council and part-funded by the Government's Local Growth Fund, via the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Local firms including Hereford Asbestos Services and Quickskip have helped contractor Speller Metcalfe with the building.

Professor Prashant Pillai from the University of Wolverhampton, Herefordshire Council leader David Hitchiner and Marches Local Enterprise chief executive Mandy Thorn were all in attendance at the official opening on Monday morning.

They were joined by representatives from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the National Cyber Security Centre who all gave speeches.

Councillor David Hitchiner, leader of Herefordshire Council, said in December 2020 when building work was completed: "The centre is a key investment to support the creation of high-income, knowledge-based jobs in the county.

"We are already home to a highly regarded cyber economy, and the knowledge, expertise and opportunities that the centre brings will help to establish Herefordshire as one of the capitals of the cyber security sector."

Hereford Times: Building work at the new Midlands Centre for Cyber Security in Hereford has finished

Hereford Times: Building work at the new Midlands Centre for Cyber Security in Hereford has finished

Hereford Times: Building work at the new Midlands Centre for Cyber Security in Hereford has finished

Enterprise Zone Chairman, Andrew Manning Cox, said at the same time: "This is a trail-blazing project which will boost investment on Skylon Park while supporting businesses to protect themselves from hacking and data disruption.

"The expertise and specialist focus of the centre will be part of a wider, growing campus of cyber sector companies based within the Cyber Quarter on Skylon Park."

Hereford Times: Building work at the new Midlands Centre for Cyber Security in Hereford has finished

Hereford Times: Building work at the new Midlands Centre for Cyber Security in Hereford has finished

Hereford Times: Building work at the new Midlands Centre for Cyber Security in Hereford has finished

Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton, also said in December: "We've seen from the success of our recent Cyber Fringe Festival that there's an ever-growing appetite to ensure that cyber research and skills are a priority for businesses across the globe.

"The University will provide significant resources for research and development through our Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute (WCRI) which is developing and leading an International Cyber Knowledge Hub to tackle threats in cyberspace.

"Focus will be on providing expertise in relation to security for critical national infrastructure – particularly in terms of healthcare, transport and our physical environment including power grids, water networks and the nuclear industry.

"The shared facilities will also allow private sector businesses to benefit from the university's networks and expertise as well as make use of the centre's specialist training rooms and laboratory spaces."