2025
Scenario Theme: Maritime Ports
In the fictional scenario, teams were tasked with advising local government on how to respond to an a potential cyber incident affecting UK ports.
Applications.
In the inaugural Cyber Leaders Challenge, 65 teams representing 44 universities from across the UK were selected to compete in the three Regional Qualifiers.
We are committed to creating an inclusive cyber industry. To this end, here are a few statistics from our 2025 DEI Report:
45% of competitors identify as female;
49% of competitors are from a minority ethnicity;
13% of competitors are neurodivergent.
Regional Qualifiers.
Scenario Stage 1 was released to teams in January. Across several artefacts, it alluded to a fictional vulnerability affecting UK ports.
Teams were tasked with advising local government on how to respond to this potential cyber incident. They presented their Briefing to a panel of expert judges, consisting of cyber professionals from across government & industry.
Taking place in Cheltenham, Manchester & online, the top 17 teams progressed to the National Finals.
Meet the National Finalists.
South Regional Qualifier


Team BU | Bournemouth University
Cybersauri | University of Warwick
Port Patrol | University of Birmingham; Aston University; University of Bristol
Cantalia | Anglia Ruskin University
Kernal Panic Crew | Imperial College London; University of Birmingham




North Regional Qualifier
Digital Atlas | University of Portsmouth
Ctrl Alt Elite | Imperial College London; University of Edinburgh; University of Glasgow; Royal Holloway, University of London
Cy-borough | Loughborough University
No Man's LAN | University of Manchester
The Fighting Mongooses | Coventry University
Innovate2Elevate | University of Birmingham
Holloway Phish and Chips | Royal Holloway, University of London
Error 503 | Dundee & Angus College
SecCy_W0rm$ | University College London
bl00msbury_blizz4rd | University College London
Edinburgh Napier Cyber Team | Edinburgh Napier University
Guardians of the Grid | University of Oxford; University of Leeds; University of Southampton; University of Portsmouth
Virtual Regional Qualifier
The National Finals.
Taking place over two days at the iconic BT Tower in London, finalist teams were tasked with responding to an escalation of the cyber incident affecting UK ports.
In three with with increasing time pressure, the teams were whittled down to crown the first UK Cyber Leaders Challenge champions.
The three finalist teams had just 15-minutes to analyse new updates to the scenario & formulate their 10-minute verbal Briefing before delivering it to a panel of VIP Judges.
Congratulations to the
Grand Final teams!
1st
bl00msbury_blizz4rd
University College London
3rd
Port Patrol
Aston University & University of Birmingham
2nd
Cy-borough
Loughborough University
The national cyber emergency competition for UK university students.
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