Holistic IT Wins Member Innovation Award at Network Group Gala 2026

Holistic IT, a Doncaster-based managed IT and cyber security provider, has won the Member Innovation Award at the Network Group Gala 2026, held in Glasgow on Thursday.(23 April 2026)

The award recognises Holistic IT’s work on the Doncaster Cyber Readiness Programme, a structured cyber security education programme designed to help small and medium-sized businesses build practical understanding, confidence, and long-term resilience around Cyber Essentials.

Unlike traditional certification-led approaches, the programme focuses on the individual people within each business. Its aim is not simply to help organisations answer assessment questions, but to help internal team members understand why cyber security controls matter, how they apply in day-to-day operations, and how they can be maintained over time.

The programme was developed in partnership with Doncaster Council’s Advance Employment Hub and is built around a blend of group learning, one-to-one workshops, practical resources, and guided Cyber Essentials support.

Participants receive structured support across the five Cyber Essentials control areas, along with templates, draft policies, asset register guidance, action plans, and follow-up sessions designed to turn certification into practical capability.

Patrick Louis-Jean, Technical Manager at Holistic IT, said: “We’re incredibly proud to receive this award, especially as the Network Group Awards are judged by peers and industry experts who understand the challenges businesses and IT providers face every day.

"What makes the Doncaster Cyber Readiness Programme special is its focus on people. Cyber Essentials is a strong framework, but the real value comes when individuals understand what the controls mean, why they matter, and how to apply them within their own business.

This programme is about more than certification. It’s about knowledge transfer, confidence, and helping businesses build internal cyber champions.”

The first cohort of the programme includes 10 organisations, with early progress already showing strong engagement and practical impact. The programme is designed to support businesses through Cyber Essentials while also helping them build a deeper awareness of cyber risk, supplier expectations, and the importance of resilient internal processes.

A participant from a local engineering firm described the programme as changing the way they view cyber security, highlighting that the business now treats cyber as a core part of how it operates.

The award submission highlighted the programme’s wider aim of strengthening Doncaster’s business community and supply chain by embedding cyber awareness at an individual level. With further cohorts planned, Holistic IT intends to continue expanding the programme and supporting more SMEs across the region.

Luke Shepherd, Managing Director at Holistic IT, added: “This award is a brilliant recognition of the team’s hard work and the thinking behind the programme. Doncaster has a strong industrial and business heritage, and as the region continues to grow digitally, cyber resilience has to grow with it.

"We’re proud to play a part in helping local businesses become more confident, more informed, and better prepared.”

The Network Group Member Innovation Award recognises members who have developed new, practical, and impactful ways of delivering value within the IT channel and wider business community.