Cheltenham: cyber, storytelling, and the Golden Valley.

On 12 February, together with attendees from across Cheltenham’s local government, planning, property development and cyber security sectors - including Max Wilkinson MP - we set out to answer that question. 

There was consensus from the outset that Cheltenham’s cultural heritage (think Regency architecture, music, literature and a thriving horse-racing scene) makes for a happy, if somewhat surprising, union with global cyber hub. But it’s this heritage and culture, together with the town’s easy access to major conurbations north and south that makes it such an attractive proposition for global investors and world-class talent. 

We have work to do though, in better articulating this unique combination of assets and really selling the wider population on what cyber security is, why it matters, and why it matters in this setting. 

We need a clear and compelling narrative that people from all walks of life can get behind. A story that casts Golden Valley at the forefront of national security and community resilience; brought to life by the juxtaposition of espionage and Regency romanticism.

This story must be owned and championed, both locally and nationally, to support inward investment from Europe and North America. And of course, as with any good story, it must have people at its heart. 

Skills, we agreed, will be a critical enabler of cyber growth, with global investors placing significant emphasis on the strength of the skills pipeline. 

If the Golden Valley is going to fly – and we really believe it can – then it needs to attract not just tech firms but satellite campuses, cross-university collaborations and world class academics. And we need to find the main characters early, with schools outreach playing a central role in creating a place where careers can grow and flourish. 

Golden Valley is the sequel. The next chapter in Cheltenham’s history. But it will only work if we consider what’s gone before and make it part of the story, not surplus to it. 

Here, we have an existing town and county that locals care deeply about, and that attracts almost ritual revisits from tourists each year. To succeed, we need to bring these people along with us, capturing imaginations, and building advocates for what the Golden Valley can deliver for us all. 

This is not a gated, closed development for West Cheltenham, but an opportunity for the entire county - from the town centre coffee shop that can expand and grow its trade, to the disillusioned young person who can see a clear future and opportunity right here in their hometown.

All that glitters may not be gold, but the future of Golden Valley – and the county - is certainly bright. With the right support, and unity of purpose, this investment and development could prove transformational for Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and the future of cyber security and international defence worldwide.

We all have a role to play in realising that vision, and we’re excited to see where this story takes us next.