Winning category: Company of the Year (over 50 employees)
Brief description of business:
Thales is a multi-national company working in transport, defence, space aerospace and security. Since its inception in Wales in 2019 Thales has developed a ‘tech’ ecosystem in Ebbw Vale focussing on cyber securing, helping companies and organisations become and remain cyber secure and resilient. As well as the services it offers, its Education and Outreach programme supports local students to discover cyber and develop their skills, helping to increase local jobs.
Why they deserved to win their category:
Since the company established its base in Ebbw Vale, Thales has developed into a fully equipped technology campus. As well as its cyber security capabilities it has developed additional projects including ‘ResilientWorks’ which is co-funded by Welsh Government and supported by Cardiff University and focuses on electric and autonomous vehicles and the energy infrastructure that supports them. Thales South Wales is home to state-of-the-art equipment including the Thales Cyber Range and are at the forefront of technology and innovation having led a number of exciting R&D projects.
The company continues to collaborate and share knowledge with the aim of being a key part of the technology infrastructure in Wales. Its free one-day training courses continue to be popular with local stakeholders helping them to become resilient and secure in their day-to-day online processes.
Additionally, Thales prides itself on encouraging Women in STEM and supports ‘CyberFirst Girls,’ ‘Women in Cyber’ and ‘Women in Engineering.’ Its female staff are strong advocates for encouraging more women and girls into STEM and regularly join discussion panels and events.
How does the individual, business, or organisation further the STEM sector in Wales?
Thales aims to be a key part of the STEM ecosystem in South Wales. As well as being sponsor of this years’ Wales Tech Week, International Vice President Gareth Williams sits on the Board of ‘Technology Connected’ and is also a Board Member of ICS COI (Industrial Control Systems Community of Interest). In addition, Business Lead Leanne Connor sits on the Board of Wales Cyber Resilience Centre and its Business and Portfolio Leads are both advisors to the new Cyber Innovation Hub.
The ‘ResilientWorks’ project aligns with the Welsh Government’s strategy to help Wales to become a ‘tech nation’ and are a founding partner in Cyber College Cymru which is a 2 year BTEC developed by industry leaders to help students develop the cyber skills employers are looking for.
Thales’s business team delivers talks to schools, students and STEM organisations educating them on innovation in cyber security and has supported a number of schools to achieve ‘CyberFirst’ accreditation.
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