Lloyds Banking Group named as national ambassador to boost cyber resilience for UK SMEs

As part of its new role, LBG will launch a dedicated campaign through its community of Relationship Managers

Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) has been named a National Ambassador of the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group (NCRCG), intensifying its commitment to enhancing cybersecurity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country.

LBG is the UK’s largest digital bank, serving 27 million customers and 2.2 million shareholders.

Leveraging its network and expertise, the Group will collaborate with other prominent NCRCG Ambassador partners such as Nationwide, NatWest, Microsoft, Aviva, Mastercard, ISC2, Akamai, and HP to help bolster the cyber defences of SMEs – a sector which is often vulnerable due to limited resources and awareness but which employs most people in the UK.

The NCRCG, founded in 2021 through a collaboration between the Home Office, police forces, academia, and industry stakeholders, aims to lead the UK's effort in raising cyber resilience among SMEs.

At its heart is a network of nine regional Cyber Resilience Centres (CRCs), which provide affordable, high-quality cybersecurity advice tailored to SMEs.

These centres engage students from 22 universities in the Cyber Path programme, guided by experts, offering practical services such as webinars, podcasts, security awareness training, and security policy reviews.

To date, the NCRCG reports that approximately 21,500 SMEs have registered with its services, attracting some 500 new sign-ups monthly.

Notably, around 85% of these SMEs actively engage in Cyber Path initiatives, with 91% having fewer than 50 employees – the segment hardest to reach with effective cybersecurity messaging, but arguably in greatest need.

As part of its ambassador role, Lloyds Banking Group is set to launch a dedicated campaign through its community of Relationship Managers. This initiative will raise awareness of the CRCs' support offerings and promote cyber resilience as a critical priority for LBG's SME customers.

"Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, yet they often face disproportionate risks from cyber threats," said Paul Kempster, Managing Director of Commercial Banking Coverage at LBG.

"By becoming a National Ambassador for the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group, Lloyds Banking Group is stepping up to ensure SMEs have access to the tools, training, and trusted guidance they need to build stronger cyber defences."

Matt Rowe, Chief Security Officer at LBG, added, "We're proud to join NCRCG as a National Ambassador and help strengthen cyber resilience among SMEs, who are vital to the UK economy."

"Through our partnership and longstanding involvement with the CRC network, we'll help build a more informed and proactive approach to cyber resilience across our SME customer base to protect themselves and their customers in an increasingly digital world."

Last month, the UK and Ireland arm of beauty giant L’Oréal, worth several billion pounds, was named as an NCRCG National Ambassador to promote cyber resilience best practice among SMEs, with a particular focus on its vast customer base of small, independent beauty and hairdressing salons.