CYBER and Fraud Centre Scotland has confirmed it has transitioned from a not-for-profit organisation to a cyber social enterprise.
The organisation is the first of its kind in Scotland, and they have stated that it “will align itself with the values of other organisations that are already committed to making a difference, whilst setting a clear example for others to follow”.
Under the centre’s new structure, any profits made through professional services, such as testing, cyber MOT, and executive education programmes, will be reinvested in causes that align with its existing values and culture.
Jude McCorry, CEO of Cyber and Fraud Centre, said: “Since its inception, the core belief of Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland remains the same – to be a socially driven organisation delivering accessible, affordable and relevant cyber and fraud services.
“That’s why we’ve made the step change to become Scotland’s only cyber social enterprise.
“I am very proud of all the work we do with every member of the team and the trusted partners that we collaborate with.
“We could not achieve all this on our own and are very lucky to work with like-minded people who share and support our vision, with more exciting collaborative projects coming in the future.
“Our dedicated team protects organisations nationally with our offering on professional services, skills and community building.
“By reinvesting in our cyber and fraud community, we ensure that all private, public and third sector organisations we work with have access to our people and resources to stay secure.”
Over the last three years, the Centre has achieved success in several areas, for example:
- Through its cyber incident response line, it received approximately 800 calls from businesses and helps organisations such as Arnold Clark, Western Isles Council, Scullion Law, and SEPA recover from significant cyber-attacks.
- Handled over £30m in fraud-related calls, successfully stopping or returning over £13m to the client.
- Setting up the Cyber and Fraud Hub charity in 2024 to look after individuals who have fallen victim to cyber and fraud crimes.
- Working with girls of school age to break down stereotypes in the sector and encourage them to aspire to a career in tech, as well as sponsoring the Cyber First Girls competition.
Paul Atkinson, chairman of the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland, said: “Becoming a social enterprise represents a natural step in the evolution of the support the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland provides and reflects a broader vision of combining purpose and profit to benefit the wider community.
“Now, as a member of Social Enterprise Scotland, this new mission-led approach ensures that our work benefits both our clients and society as a whole.
“A good example is our work with Street Soccer Scotland, where the team has supported fundraising efforts and helped to strengthen the charity’s cyber posture, giving them a secure base to grow and continue to help those who need it most.”
Any organisation that is a victim of cyber or fraud crime can call the Centre’s Incident response helpline for free at 0800 1670 623 for confidential advice and support on the next steps.
