Business & Technology
Cyber Scheme launches company accreditation programme
The Cyber Scheme has launched an Accredited Company Programme for organisations that deliver cyber security services. It is aimed at companies of all sizes in the UK market.
The programme assesses organisations on the professional competence of their workforce and links company accreditation to standards set by the UK Cyber Security Council for Chartered Cyber Security Professionals.
Accredited companies will be recognised for verified skills, continuous professional development and service standards. Participants will also be able to access procurement frameworks that require a professionalised cyber workforce.
The accreditation covers specific disciplines rather than providing a single general approval. Companies listed on a planned Accredited Company Register will be recognised in areas including security testing, operational technology, incident response, secure operations, cyber security management, and governance and risk.
The move expands The Cyber Scheme’s role beyond individual certification into organisational assessment. The group already assesses and recommends people for professional titles from Associate to Chartered level across several specialisms, and says it accounts for more than half of all registered professionals through its work as a Licenced Body for the UK Cyber Security Council.
Zeshan Sattar, Director of The Cyber Scheme, said the new model is intended to link the standing of a cyber security provider to the credentials of the staff delivering the work. “Our accreditation programme is built on the principle that trustworthy services come from proven professional competence,” Sattar said.
“The programme assures a company’s services by confirming its workforce capability aligns with the UK Cyber Security Council’s Chartered Cyber Security Professional standards.”
“Professionalisation doesn’t stop with individuals. Skills, standards and continuous development must be embedded within the organisations delivering these services.”
Procurement access
For cyber security consultancies and specialist providers, one of the most immediate commercial effects may come through procurement. Accredited companies will gain visibility in regulated frameworks and routes into domestic and international work, while also improving their ability to recruit and retain professionally registered staff.
This emphasis on frameworks reflects a wider shift in the sector, as public and regulated buyers increasingly ask suppliers to show evidence of recognised qualifications and independently verified standards. By focusing on workforce competence, the programme seeks to create a company-level marker that buyers can use alongside individual certifications.
Jordan Glover, Director of JAG Secure, said the structure addresses a long-standing issue in the market. “The Cyber Scheme’s Accredited Company Programme is something our industry has genuinely needed. It shifts responsibility beyond the individual, tying a company’s credibility directly to the verified competence of the people working within.”
“What’s great is the specialism-based recognition. Companies are accredited for what they actually deliver, whether that’s security testing, incident response, or governance and risk management, rather than receiving a blanket stamp of approval. For a specialist firm like ours, that distinction matters. This is a commitment to quality, transparency and the long-term professionalisation of cyber security.”
Industry context
The Cyber Scheme describes itself as an accreditation body for technical cyber security organisations and professionals, with certifications aligned to standards used in government-backed schemes including CHECK, Cyber Essentials Plus and Cyber Advisor. It says its Cyber Scheme Team Member qualification has become a baseline requirement for technical assurance roles in parts of government and industry.
The new company programme builds on that position by applying professional standards at organisational level. Rather than relying solely on the credentials of individual consultants, the model seeks to show whether a business has embedded training, development and recognised skills across the team delivering services.
Supporters argue that this distinction matters in specialist fields, where firms may be known for one area of work but not others. A register that identifies accredited disciplines could allow buyers to distinguish between providers on a narrower basis than broad cyber security branding.
Paul Toye, Managing Director of Cyber Guarded, said that could give clients greater confidence in the services they buy.
“The programme fills a critical gap by linking professional competence with organisational credibility, giving UK businesses confidence that the advice and services they receive come from trusted, independently verified professionals operating within their recognised specialisms.”
Sattar said the programme is intended to be more than a symbolic label for participating firms.
“Our Accredited Company Programme isn’t just another badge. It’s a strategic advantage that builds trust and confidence, raises the bar and strengthens resilience across the sector.”
Residents living in the north Oxfordshire town voiced their woes on the social media community group ‘Bicester General Chat’.
While there was praise for some ‘great’ local Royal Mail posties, others weren’t so happy with the ‘useless’ service they were receiving.
The general consensus is that while post, including letters and parcels, are being delivered, residents receive them later than expected and/or all in one go.
Complaints were raised about post being delivered damaged, being ‘lost’ and others missing important hospital appointments.
Some said despite making complaints and escalating further, they do not receive an update.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We know how important it is for people to receive their post reliably, especially when it contains personal, financial or medical information.
“We take concerns about delays seriously and any customer experiencing a specific issue with their mail should contact our customer services team so it can be looked into.
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“Improving quality of service is our top priority. Nationally, around 92 per cent of letters are currently arriving on time and over 99 per cent within a week, but we know there is more to do to deliver the reliable service customers expect.
“That is why we are making changes through our new delivery model, backed by our improvement plan, to improve reliability for customers across the UK.”
A target of 93 per cent is set for the postal company to deliver first class mail to be received within one working day.
But in Oxfordshire, the Royal Mail is hitting just 67.2 per cent, Liberal Democrat Witney MP Charlie Maynard revealed earlier this year.
This is below the Royal Mail’s claim of delivering 76.3 per cent of first class mail within one day across the UK for the year to March 2025.
Mr Maynard said that in his Witney constituency, people are even missing medical appointments because of late postal deliveries.
In May, services in Bicester (OX25 – OX27) saw delays “temporarily” due to sick absence, resourcing or other “local factors”, the Royal Mail said.
A spokesman said at the time: “In those cases, we will rotate deliveries to minimise the delay to individual customers.
“We also provide targeted support to those offices to address their challenges and restore our service to the high standard our customers would normally receive.”
Last year, the Royal Mail was taken over by International Distribution Services by Czech billionaire businessman Daniel Kretinsky’s IP Group in a £3.6 billion deal.
SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO
News Editor
Sound Devices has introduced the Astral Mini Plus wireless transmitter pack as part of its Astral Wireless range.
Aimed at touring, live theatre and fixed-installation work, the device keeps the compact form factor of earlier Astral transmitters while adding longer battery life, a wider tuning range and water resistance.
Astral Mini Plus offers more than eight hours of battery life and a tuning range of 169-1525 MHz. It also carries an IP67 water-resistance rating, meaning it is designed to withstand dust and temporary immersion.
Alongside the hardware launch, Sound Devices has updated the broader Astral Wireless line with V8.30 firmware. The update adds SoundBase integration to AstralComm and introduces routing changes across the range.
According to Sound Devices, the SoundBase link is intended to give audio engineers a more direct way to monitor and adjust wireless devices during RF coordination. Functions include changing frequencies, renaming transmitters and keeping key operating information visible.
Broader range
The release expands a portfolio that Sound Devices markets to sound professionals working in film, television, live events, houses of worship and education. The company designs, assembles and supports its products from its headquarters in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, and offices in Madison, Wisconsin, and Rickmansworth, UK.
The new transmitter arrives as wireless audio suppliers continue to adapt products to shifting spectrum conditions and varied venue requirements. In that context, tuning flexibility and software control have become more prominent selling points for manufacturers serving touring crews, theatre operators and systems integrators.
Sound Devices said the new model was designed to improve usability and shorten setup times. It said the updated firmware is intended to simplify operation across the Astral range by giving engineers more flexible routing options.
Matt Anderson, Chief Executive Officer at Sound Devices, commented on the launch and the software update.
“Astral Wireless is the most full-featured wireless toolkit on the market, designed to meet the ever-changing needs of a rapidly evolving RF landscape,” said Matt Anderson, Chief Executive Officer at Sound Devices.
“The launch of Astral Mini Plus, along with continued firmware development and deeper software integrations, reflects our commitment to this constant evolution and our desire to provide high-quality solutions that reflect the day-to-day realities of the most demanding RF professionals,” Anderson said.
The launch reflects a wider trend in professional audio towards combining hardware improvements with deeper software integration.
As productions become more complex and spectrum management challenges increase, manufacturers are placing greater emphasis on tools that simplify wireless coordination and device monitoring. The addition of SoundBase integration is expected to appeal to engineers managing large-scale deployments where visibility and control are critical. Extended battery life and expanded tuning capabilities may also help reduce operational interruptions in demanding live and broadcast environments.
With the latest hardware and firmware updates, Sound Devices is continuing to position Astral Wireless as a comprehensive platform for professional RF applications.
Louisiana-born chicken brand Raising Cane’s is setting up shop on Coventry Street in the heart of London, between Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square.
Although no official opening date has been announced, branded hoardings have now appeared at the site, signalling that the long-awaited launch is edging closer.
The chain, loved by celebrities including Snoop Dogg, Post Malone and Halle Berry, opened its first store in 1996, and as it approaches 30 years in business, is coming to the UK for the first time.
US fast food chain Raising Cane’s set to open its first UK restaurant
The chain has already developed a UK-focused menu featuring both take-out and dine-in meal options, as well as customisable chicken finger combos.
Unlike many competitors, Raising Cane’s keeps its menu simple, offering chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, Texas toast, and its signature Cane’s Sauce.
The sauce, described by fans as “next level,” is a particular point of excitement among British diners, who have shared their enthusiasm online.
One food lover wrote: “Omg I absolutely love Raising Cane’s.”
Another said: “Had this in Vegas.
“It was so good.
“Definitely on a par with Slim Chickens imo.”
A third added: “The sauce is next level.
“I will travel just for that.”
The company is reportedly exploring additional central London locations, including Oxford Circus, Paddington, South Bank, and The Strand, as well as potential drive-thru sites across Greater London.
The London restaurant will be the starting point for the brand’s wider European rollout.
US fast food chain rivalling McDonald’s coming back to UK after 17 years
Raising Cane’s is the latest in a wave of US fast-food brands expanding into the UK market.
Recent arrivals include Popeyes, while Dave’s Hot Chicken and Chick-fil-A have also announced UK expansion plans.
Chili’s Grill & Bar is also looking to come back to the UK after more than 15 years, with hopes of eventually opening more than 100 restaurants across the country.
The chain originally arrived in Britain during the 1990s and operated restaurants in places including Cambridge, Reading and London’s Canary Wharf, but by 2009, every UK branch had closed.
Now, the company is making a fresh attempt at cracking the UK market, aiming to open a flagship restaurant within the next 12 to 18 months before it aims to roll out more sites, reports Need To Know.
Industry insiders say they believe the chain could open between 85 and 100 restaurants if successful, with potential locations including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, and Liverpool.
The Tex-Mex chain is well-known in the US for its burgers, ribs, fajitas, and margaritas.
What US restaurant or fast food chain would you most like to see come to the UK?
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