Start-up businesses find out why and how they should keep their data safe
According to research by the government’s Cyber Streetwise campaign, a quarter of UK small and medium businesses think cyber security is too expensive to implement and 22% admit they do not know where to start. Venturefest Oxford aims to tackle this lack of knowledge with two practical sessions at its premier business networking event on Wednesday 29 June at King’s Centre in Osney Mead.
Cyber security is one of the key themes of over 20 interactive sessions at Venturefest Oxford next week and two dedicated sessions (
am or
pm), supported by
The Oxford Trust, will be led by
Oscar O’Connor, Lead Assessor for the Cyber Security Challenge UK. O’Connor will focus particularly on businesses involved in innovation, explaining the importance of cyber security and suggesting practical steps that can be taken to protect digital data and keep ahead of online threats.
In its 18th year, Venturefest Oxford offers a bigger and better programme than ever before to stimulate innovation, support entrepreneurship and broker investment. To highlight the exciting offer, a new website with a refreshed design was launched earlier this year and later joined by a bespoke networking system which allows attendees to pre-book meetings with other delegates, exhibitors, experts and speakers. The system, developed by
Event Connections, also allows visitors to browse the free sessions on cyber security, funding, business skills, soft skills, and recruitment and build a preferred itinerary for the day.
Lynn Shepherd, Executive Chair at Venturefest Oxford says,
Using digital technologies is becoming second nature to us and Venturefest Oxford embraced this by upgrading our website and providing a unique registration and networking system. However, I believe we all need to be aware of the potential risks in the online world and know how to minimise them. We have recently experienced a cyber-attack ourselves, which proved to me that this is something entrepreneurs should not underestimate. We are very pleased to be able to offer sessions focused on cyber security to delegates at this year’s Venturefest as part of our rich programme.
Tickets to Venturefest Oxford cost £30 if booked before 28 June and then £40 at the door on 29 June. The price includes entrance to all sessions (including the Breakfast session), exhibition and networking areas, refreshments throughout the day (including lunch), and evening drinks reception. Student entry is free of charge – valid ID will be required.
For full details of the Venturefest Oxford 2016 programme or to book tickets visit
www.venturefestoxford.com.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
For further information, images, or to arrange interviews contact: Susannah Penn or Jane Bevan at Firebird PR on 01235 835297 / 07977 459547 or via email to
[email protected] or
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NOTES TO EDITORS
- Venturefest is a gateway for entrepreneurs and innovators to connect with investors and advisors at all stages of the business life cycle. Venturefest Oxford’s mission is to provide a platform to support the innovation eco system in Oxfordshire, offering new and growing businesses, investors and innovators connections to support, services and opportunities
- Venturefest Oxford is now in its 18th year. Venturefest Oxford has gone from strength to strength, with Yorkshire and Bristol using the model to establish sister events. Venturefest and Innovate UK, formerly the Technology Strategy Board are now rolling out annual events across the entire UK as part of a national Venturefest Network, supported by KTN – The Knowledge Transfer Network.
- The Board of Venturefest Oxford includes key local organisations such as the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, The University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford Innovation and The Oxford Trust as well as key local Angel and VC organisations and tech-based business representatives.
