Golden Valley launches new cyber skills initiative at House of Commons event

Adam Brady, Max Wilkinson MP, Matt Bellshaw, Dame Clare Marchant

Golden Valley, the landmark £1bn development in Gloucestershire, has launched a brand-new Skills Hub at a House of Commons reception.

Golden Valley is a flagship innovation and technology project in Cheltenham adjacent to GCHQ, the UK’s intelligence, security and cyber agency. The development will strengthen the UK’s leadership in cyber, AI, quantum technologies and secure communications, supporting national security, economic resilience and industry expansion.

The Skills Hub is a brand new network created by HBD, Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucestershire County Council, Gloucestershire College, University of Gloucestershire and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The initiative will create a pipeline for the creation of vital digital and cyber skills that will cement Gloucestershire’s position as the capital of the UK’s security industry and provide careers and training opportunities for exciting new talent.

Its first creation is a groundbreaking new app called FutureCraft, developed by cloud provider, AWS and the Skills Hub partners. The app identifies young people with natural cyber and digital ability and requires players to solve a number of challenges and puzzles designed to test pattern spotting, problem solving and analytical thinking. Currently in early- stage development, the app will eventually be rolled out to schools and colleges via the Gloucestershire Careers Hub. Those achieving top scores will be offered one-to-one support in accessing training pathways that will best nurture their talent.

The reception was hosted by MP for Cheltenham, Max Wilkinson.

Max spoke about the need to ensure that there is a pipeline of new talent coming through, which has been missing in Cheltenham, and the goal to see people growing up, completing their education and securing jobs in the region. He highlighted Gloucestershire College for the role it is playing in building a digital skills pipeline, along with the University of Gloucestershire which is working hard to align itself with the digital industry.

Speaking on the evening, Max Wilkinson said: “To make sure that we have a talent pipeline, we need to ensure that the education system is working well. One of the things that's been missing in Cheltenham for a long time is that pipeline of people coming through, perhaps growing up and then completing education in Cheltenham and getting jobs in the region.

“Putting that together is something that we're starting to do. Gloucestershire College is performing a key role and the University has repointed itself away from some of the more traditional courses, towards this key opportunity. I'm extremely proud of the work that's going on at the University, at the College, and that Cheltenham Borough Council is doing.”

Ed Hutchinson, Managing Director of HBD, said: “Golden Valley will play an important role in nurturing the skills we need to strengthen the UK’s capabilities and leadership in emerging technologies such as cyber security and AI. The new Skills Hub will play a key role in delivering our objectives, helping to ensure that we are creating and attracting the best talent to join the UK’s growing national security and defence sector.”

Cllr Rowena Hay, Leader at Cheltenham Borough Council, said: ‘’This brand new Skills Hub will provide a strong network for vital career development and opportunity.  I am thrilled that, as part of a strong partnership, we are delivering such an important and innovative scheme.’’

Dame Clare Marchant, DBE, Vice Chancellor of University of Gloucestershire, said: “We are proud to be at the heart of this exciting and transformational initiative, which is key to unlocking the globally significant opportunity that Golden Valley offers. As the connected university, we are dedicated to equipping the region with the right mix of skills to drive the jobs, growth and innovation that will secure Golden Valley’s place on the world stage.

“FutureCraft will be at leading edge of identifying top talent, which can then be supported into pathways for success – be they academic or vocational - by the range of partners involved.”

John Davies, Managing Director UK, Germany & International Organisations, Worldwide Public Sector at Amazon Web Services, said: “Organisations across the UK need access to a pipeline of digital talent to take full advantage of the cloud. At AWS we are committed to addressing the UK’s digital skills gap by investing in skills, training, and support programmes. We are delighted to partner on the Skills Hub initiative and look forward to helping the next generation of talent in the Gloucestershire region kickstart a career in cybersecurity, quantum computing, and AI.”

The Skills Hub partners continue to invest in various initiatives around the development of digital skills. University of Gloucestershire opened FuturePark in 2024, a centre of excellence for cyber and digital, and hosted its second Cyber and Digital launchpad earlier this year, working with local firms to offer degree apprenticeships to talented young people.

Developer HBD has secured outline planning consent for circa 1 million sq ft of prime commercial space at Golden Valley, including IDEA, the new 160,000sq ft National Cyber Innovation Centre referred to in the government’s 10-year Modern Industrial Strategy, as well as 576 residential units of various tenures, supporting Cheltenham’s housing needs.

Once complete the 200-ha scheme will eventually provide around 2,500 new homes and 1.25million sq ft of commercial space, while supporting the creation of almost 12,000 jobs.