Bob’s Business to get contest boost

the past three years and now has 26 full-time members of staff.

Clients for its animated cyber security training modules ranges from SMEs to the likes of retailer J D Williams and the Co-op Group as well as Government agencies.

An estimated 500,000 people have now taken the online courses offered by Bob’s Business, which currently has 36 modules available online teaching employees how to keep information systems secure and to be on guard against the whole gamut of threats, including phishing attacks.

Despite the success of the business, which was formed in 2005 and began employing full-time staff in 2012, Melanie said she was still alert to opportunities that could provide an extra fillip.

Melanie, who delivered a threeminute presentation to the Pitch@ Palace judges, said: “We have managed to grow very organically so we did not get to the next stage of Pitch@Palace because we were asking for money,” said Melanie.

“They all said on the judging panel that they felt they could help grow the business.”

Melanie, who worked for the Huddersfield-based Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce before launching her cyber security enterprise, found out about the Huddersfield round of Pitch@Palace by a circular at the university’s 3M Buckley Innovation Centre.

So who is Bob? He is a symbolic “everyman” figure who pops up in the company’s animations.

“Everybody can relate to him because everybody goes through the pain that Bob goes through.

“They understand it and face the same risks, regardless of what type of industry they are in,” said Melanie, adding that the figure of Bob is based on one of the first security professionals she worked with.

Melanie’s background was in hospitality and tourism, but when she moved into project management she was asked by her boss to take charge of an information security project – introducing her to the topic that would be the basis of her own business.

About 90% of security breaches are down to human error. Melanie said Bob’s Business tried to minimise the risk by reinforcing precautionary behaviour, but putting over the message in an entertaining way without instilling a fear factor.

The significance of cyber security has burgeoned massively since she started out in 2005, with more and more competitors entering the field.

One of the ways that Melanie aims to stay ahead of the curve is by commissioning research, including a planned project with the University of Huddersfield that will look at the criminal psychology behind phishing. IRKLEES and Calderdale law firm Wilkinson Woodward has appointed Holmfirth-based family lawyer and mediator Mark Green to the team.

Mark (pictured), who lives in Holmbridge, has more than two decades of experience in handling all aspects of relationship breakdown including finance, property and arrangements for children.

He studied law in Leeds in the 1980s before becoming an articled clerk with Holmfirth-based Heap, Marshall and Heeley.

Mark qualified as a solicitor in 1987 and has specialised in family law for the past 25 years.

A trained collaborative solicitor and an accredited family mediator, he will be based at Wilkinson Woodward’s offices in King Street, Brighouse.

Maureen Cawthorn, managing director of the law firm, which also has offices in Huddersfield and Halifax, said: “Wilkinson Woodward continues to attract legal professionals of the highest calibre and we’re delighted to welcome Mark Green to our growing team.

“His appointment forms part of our continuing plans to expand in Kirklees and Calderdale.”