HOT Networking: Cyber Crime – How Protected is Your Business?

HOT Networking takes place on the second Wednesday of every month, from 8am – 10am, at the Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre, Halifax.

Designed to be relaxed, friendly, and genuinely useful, HOT Networking allows time to connect with other professionals while also enjoying insightful talks that can positively impact the way you work and grow your business. The event is hosted by local Calderdale charity Halifax Opportunities Trust, in partnership with Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and AD:Venture.

Emma Davies brings nearly 22 years of policing experience to her role as West Yorkshire Police’s Cyber Protect Officer. Her career has spanned a wide range of roles from front-line response duties, surveillance, control room command, safeguarding high-risk domestic abuse victims, and training the next generation of officers. In July, Emma made the leap into cyber crime prevention, driven by the growing impact of online threats on individuals and businesses. Today, she works across West Yorkshire delivering practical, jargon-free training to small and medium-sized businesses, helping them build resilience against cyber attacks. With a strong safeguarding background and a passion for community engagement, Emma champions a “bottom-up” approach to cyber security, tackling the human element first, because statistics show that human error is the leading cause of cyber breaches. Her mission is simple: empower people with the knowledge to stay safe online.

Event agenda:

8am – 8.30am – Registration and light refreshments
8am – 9am – Welcome and 60 Second Pitches
9am – 9.30am – Guest speaker: Emma Davies, West Yorkshire Police’s Cyber Protect Officer
9.30am – 10am – Open networking

Free on-site parking is available, and attendees are welcome to stay on after the session and work from the co-working space free of charge.

Complimentary hot drinks, water, fresh fruit and pastries are served at each session.

Speakers are announced up to a month in advance, so be sure to check the event page regularly for the latest updates. Details of upcoming events will be released once the current month’s session has taken place. If you’re interested in presenting at a future HOT Networking event, we’d love to hear from you — please get in touch.