2025

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