Wimborne businesses have been given advice on combating cyber crime.

As part of an ongoing support package from Wimborne BID, Neil Sinclair from the Police Digital Security Centre spoke in a virtual meeting about the latest challenges in cybercrime, and gave 10 top tips on how to protect business from cyber criminals.

Chairman of Wimborne BID, Martin Pate, said, “As a solicitor, I have acted for clients who have suffered substantial financial loss due to cybercrime, and it was really important to give our levy payers the tools to recognise and protect themselves from online threats.”

The workshop was part of a weekly series of networking, engagement and training opportunities provided virtually by Wimborne BID.

BID manager, Tammy Sleet said that the sessions started as a response to the November lockdown. She said, “Some businesses felt really isolated, so we decided to get together for an informal virtual chat once a week. That gave us the ear of businesses to consult on ideas we want to implement, and to get speakers in to provide advice and training.”

As a result of the meetings, businesses have been able to speak to local authority representatives, the local MP, and have training on mental health first aid, and cybercrime. They have also been consulted on summer and Christmas plans for 2021, and been given vital information about local and national issues. Future sessions focus on reducing plastics, dementia awareness and social media training.

“Businesses can put forward subjects they’d like to speak about and we’ll find someone to talk about it” said Tammy. “Sometimes we’ll invite someone because I’ve been asked a question that I can’t answer.”

And it’s not just Wimborne BID levy payers that can benefit.

“We sometimes open the meeting to other local BIDs if appropriate,” said Tammy, “There are currently seven BIDs in Dorset, and we work together regionally on a number of issues, including crime reduction and tourism. We recently got funding from Dorset LEP for five Dorset towns to benefit from the ShopAppy E-Commerce platform.”

Wimborne BID recently won a third five-year term in a ballot of levy-paying businesses.

Neil Sinclair said, “My mission is to help small businesses to be digitally aware and safe online. Working with the BID is a very effective way to spread the message and keep it at the forefront of business owners’ plans.”