Experiencing a Cyber Attack? Get Help now.
About
The Cyber Resilience Centre for the East Midlands
The Cyber Resilience Centre for the East Midlands helps small and medium-sized businesses, charities, and public sector organisations improve their cyber security. Our services are led by UK policing and delivered in partnership with regional universities.
The Cyber Resilience Centre for the East Midlands is part of the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group (NCRCG), a not-for-profit organisation supported by the Home Office, policing and Ambassador partners.
Integral to NCRCG’S reach are nine regional Cyber Resilience Centres (CRCs). The CRC network was established to strengthen the cyber resilience and security of SMOs.
The Cyber Resilience Centre for the East Midlands, along with cyber resilience centres across England and Wales, provides cyber security guidance and practical support to help businesses strengthen their defences against cyber threats. Our services are backed by UK policing and delivered in partnership with trusted regional universities.
Our team of Experts
Colin Ellis
Managing Director
East Midlands CRC
Colin started his career on Fleet Street at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP working in information management, before deciding on a career change in 2001 when he joined the metropolitan police. Colin has spent the majority of his policing career since working as a Detective within the CID, Specialist Units and on the National Cyber Crime Unit within the National Crime Agency.
Since 2019, Colin has been seconded to the East Midlands Regional Cyber Crime Unit overseeing serious cyber, fraud and dark web investigations. Whilst now focusing on the Cyber Resilience Centre, Colin remains Senior Investigating Officer for several complex cyber, fraud and money laundering investigations.
Colin has benefited from training in a variety of cyber-related disciplines including Cyber Incident Response, Digital forensics and Cyber Crime management. He is also an Accredited Counter Fraud Manager certified by the Counter Fraud Professional Accreditation Board.
Colin has strong links to the East Midlands, he lives in the region and studied at both Leicester University and then Loughborough University where he completed a MSc. in Information Technology.
Colin Ellis
Managing Director
East Midlands CRC
Andy Maddison
Business Engagement Manager
In September 2024, the team at the East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre expanded further with the arrival of Andy Maddison, who joins us as a Business Engagement Manager.
Andy joined the EMCRC after working in the private IT sector for the last 25+ years. Starting as an engineer, then moving to technical account management, he has a solid background in many aspects of IT for businesses of all sizes and has been technically qualified for a number of key software and hardware providers.
This background knowledge gives Andy a great base of understanding on how a business can use its IT, what risks there are and how to better protect your systems and data both physically and virtually. He is also ILM 3 qualified in Management and Leadership.
Outside of work, Andy is the Chairman of a homeless charity in Grantham and has been involved with them for the last 14 years. When not working for the charity, he is a keen walker and mountain biker as well as enjoying time at the gym, reading and gaming.
Andy Maddison
Business Engagement Manager
Phil Viles
Digital Media and Communications Officer
Phil joined the EMCRC in May 2021 and became the second Digital Media and Communications Officer alongside Daniella Quill, and who, like Dani, is responsible for producing content on behalf of the centre and its internal and external partners.
Phil was previously employed by Derbyshire Constabulary in the role of Digital Communications and Development Officer. This role focused on digital solutions for the force, including training police officers and staff as admins for Twitter accounts, managing the force’s social media estate and developing and maintaining the force website.
Phil has worked in a digital sphere since 2000, joining Northcliffe Media and managing the online versions of regional newspapers. He has also worked in the role as Social Media Manager twice for the University of Derby and for a Derby-based horticultural PR company.
Outside of work, Phil enjoys both watching and playing football and is a huge music fan. His love of music led him to become a reviewer for the Nottingham Post whilst also running his own music review website.
Phil Viles
Digital Media and Communications Officer
Vicki Walker
Community Outreach Lead
Vicki joined the EMCRC in June 2024 as Community Outreach Lead. She has a strong background in sales and delivering excellent customer service, and is primarily from a construction material background.
Outside of work, Vicki is passionate about health, wellbeing and fitness. So much so, that she is also a qualified Gym Instructor and has diplomas in Health and Wellness.
Vicki Walker
Community Outreach Lead
CYBER ATTACKS ARE RISING. STAY RESILIENT.
Join The Cyber Resilience Centre for the East Midlands for trusted, police-led cyber security consulting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Join The Cyber Resilience Centre for the East Midlands for free and receive expert guidance from cyber security professionals. We offer free practical guidance and cyber security resources to boost your cyber awareness, and local threat updates to keep your organisation safe.
We provide a range of free expert guidance and resources, and government funded cyber security services to our members. Joining The Cyber Resilience Centre for the East Midlands unlocks access to fully funded security awareness training and access to a range of Cyber PATH services.
Our cyber security services and guidance are delivered by either cyber professionals from the police force or university students from the Cyber PATH programme who have gone through a rigorous vetting process and are fully backed by cyber practitioners and police officers.
Our cyber security services are designed to help organisations of all sizes, operating in all sectors, with a particular focus on SMEs in the East Midlands of England.
Complete the membership sign up formf to become a member of The Cyber Resilience Centre for East Midlands. Boost your company’s cyber resilience today.
When you become a member of The Cyber Resilience Centre for the East Midlands, you will have access to a free cyber security consultation with our team to assess your organisation’s current cyber resilience.
Cyber Essentials is a UK government backed certification that helps organisations protect themselves against common cyber threats. The CRC East Midlands can help your business become Cyber Essentials certified.
The most common cyber threats faced in the East Midlands region are phishing attacks, malware and ransomware attacks, and social engineering. Through our free membership, you’ll receive expert guidance, helpful resources, and fully funded services that will help you and your staff identify, report and prevent the most common cyber threats targeting the East Midlands region.
