Golden Valley was showcased once again at Cyber UK last week, as HBD and Cheltenham Borough Council joined industry leaders at the UK government’s flagship cyber security event.
Golden Valley is a purpose-built cyber and technology campus adjacent to GCHQ in Cheltenham. The £1bn development will drive national security and defence innovation, enabling growth across a nationally significant ecosystem. With its unique combination of location, partners and ambition, it will become a global cluster for innovation, driving collaboration and investment from across the world.
The delegation used the event to reinforce Golden Valley’s growing role as a nationally significant development, while also announcing the formation of a new Golden Valley Advisory Board.
The newly formed Golden Valley Advisory Board will provide independent strategic advice and constructive challenge on the direction and evolution of the development. It will play a key role in aligning local delivery with national priorities, particularly across cyber security, trusted technology, digital infrastructure, skills and economic resilience.
The Advisory Board is formed of key project stakeholders. Extended to add independent expert advisors, it includes Dame Clare Marchant DBE, Vice Chancellor and CEO of the University of Gloucestershire; Professor Phil Budden, former British diplomat, member of the MIT Management School faculty and Visiting Professor at Loughborough University London; and Marcus Willett CB OBE, Senior Advisor at the International Institute for Strategic Studies and former Deputy Head of GCHQ.
The group will seek to strengthen collaboration across government, industry and academia, help broker high-value relationships, and support Golden Valley’s positioning for national and international audiences. Members will act as ambassadors within their respective networks, while advising on potential partners and occupiers to ensure alignment with the scheme’s long-term vision. This includes supporting Golden Valley’s ambition to attract global occupiers, investors and talent, reinforcing its role on the international stage.
Hamer Boot, Interim Managing Director at HBD, said: “The appointment of the Advisory Board marks a an important shift for Golden Valley as we move into the delivery phase of the project. Bringing together such experienced and respected individuals will ensure Golden Valley continues to align with national priorities, attract the right partners and deliver long-term impact at both a regional and national level, while supporting our ambition to position Golden Valley as a globally recognised centre for cyber and advanced technologies.”
Gareth Edmundson, Chief Executive at Cheltenham Borough Council, said: “Cyber UK provides an invaluable platform to strengthen relationships across government, industry and academia, all of which are essential to the success of Golden Valley. We are delighted to announce the formation of the Advisory Board, whose expertise will help guide the project as it progresses. Their insight will be instrumental in ensuring Golden Valley delivers on its ambition to be a world-class hub for cyber, innovation and economic growth.”
The Golden Valley team met with Anne Keast Butler, Director of GCHQ, and Dan George, Chief Scientific Adviser for National Security, and co-hosted a networking drinks reception with CyNam. The event brought together key partners and experts from across the cyber and technology sector, while supporting ongoing engagement with industry and reinforcing Golden Valley’s role at the heart of Gloucestershire’s thriving cyber ecosystem.
Hosted by the National Cyber Security Centre, the annual event brings together government, industry and academia to address the challenges and opportunities in the cyber sector. Attendance at this year’s event reflects Golden Valley’s continued commitment to building strong partnerships and maintaining its position at the forefront of the UK’s security ecosystem. It also provides a platform to showcase Golden Valley to global audiences and strengthen its role within the international cyber landscape.
This years’ CyberUK reinforced the urgency of strengthening UK sovereign capability as national security and defence missions continue to converge. Golden Valley is ideally placed to support this as part of an ecosystem with real legacy, maturity and credibility, shaped over decades.
With its unique combination of location, partners and ambition, Golden Valley is set to become a globally significant cluster for innovation, driving collaboration and investment from across the world. Future‑proofed for an evolving world, Golden Valley is a pioneering mix of flexible and secure space creating innovation at scale. It brings together advanced infrastructure and specialised hubs co‑created with industry and academia, all purpose‑built for market‑leading and globally ambitious companies.
