SBRC appoints renowned entrepreneur Paul Atkinson as chair

The Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) has named prolific entrepreneur and angel investor Paul Atkinson as its new chair.

The SBRC says Mr Atkinson joins as it 'seeks to further highlight and support Scottish businesses through tumultuous times'. Picture: contributed.

Mr Atkinson – a founding partner of Par Equity and non-executive chairman of recruitment specialist Taranata Group – joins the SBRC as it “seeks to further highlight and support Scottish businesses through tumultuous times”.

He will work closely with the SBRC’s board and chief executive Jude McCorry to stress the value of the organisation to Scottish businesses. The SBRC says it aims to “become the catalyst that makes Scotland one of the safest and most resilient places to live, work, and do business, both on and offline”.

The appointment comes after Ciaran Martin, founding chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, part of GCHQ), joined its board to strengthen its strategic cyber relationships across the UK.

Regarding Mr Atkinson’s appointment, Jude McCorry said: “Over the last 12 months, the SBRC has launched many training programmes and initiatives to not only increase knowledge about cyber resilience, but to support overall business resilience in Scotland as we all battle the effects of the pandemic.

"Throughout this, Paul has been heavily involved with the SBRC, particularly in steering the hugely successful Scottish Business Cares initiative. He not only brings significant experience as a chair but as one of Scotland’s most successful entrepreneurs, he has a passion for technology which will support the SBRC as it further evolves.”

Mr Atkinson said: “Jude and the wider team have transformed the SBRC over the last year and its success is testament to the incredible effort which has been put in. In parallel, we have also seen more organisations fall victim to cyber attacks, highlighting the fact that no business can afford to rest on their laurels when it comes to IT Security.

"Given the many issues the business community continues to face, it is more important than ever that they are equipped to approach the ongoing challenge of cyber resilience.”

What is now the SBRC was founded in 1996 and it is funded by a range of private and public partners including the police, Scottish Government, Association of Scottish Clearing Banks, the drinks industry, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and a wide range of business investors and members across Scotland.

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