About Silverback Security Academy
Silverback Security Academy was created to provide career development opportunities and flexible career pathways for people working in or intending to work in the security industry, an industry which is rapidly moving towards professionalising its workforce at all levels.
Silverback facilitators and associates have extensive operational experience across the security industry and bring expert knowledge, backed by academic qualifications, to the delivery of its courses in security management.
Silverback is aware that applicants for its courses are likely to be mature adults. Its approach to teaching and learning is therefore based on in depth experience of supporting people returning to learning, helping them to reflect on their own experience and transform that experience into learning.
Silverback is proud to have gained recognition for its courses by two universities, (University of Portsmouth and Buckinghamshire New University), specialising in security. Our successful participants who have earned 240 credits from the Certificate and Diploma courses have gained final degree year places at both universities.
Learning in the Round
The Learning in the Round approach was developed over the last 20 years, as a response to the particular challenges and opportunities presented by working with mature adults undertaking work-based programmes of learning and development.
Participants, supported by the Facilitator and the Specialist, are encouraged critically to reflect on work-based topics, issues and dilemmas and to share their opinions, approaches and solutions with others in a supportive and productive environment.
Learning in the Round takes learning out of the classroom, using real-life situations, simulations and scenarios drawn directly from the participants’ workplaces. Practical knowledge and understanding are the foundation from which ideas and concepts emerge and can be used productively to promote understanding and learning. Workshops are highly interactive and participants will be expected to engage in a range of activities, including:
- Presentations
- Case Studies
- Problem-based and Table-top Exercises
- Exercises, Simulations and Site Visits
Meet Our Team
The Associates

Toby is an entrepreneur and investor in disruptive technologies most notably in the media, cellular and biotech sectors. His investments include the PIN number patent for every phone sold in the US and UK, Pay- As-You-Go scratch cards (also known as top-up cards used to pay for Wi-Fi, downloads, and call minutes), and a bacteriophage alternative to antibiotic-resistant superbug MRSA.
He is the owner and CEO of Sleepydog Ltd., best known for creating Buzz: The Music Quiz for Sony. It became SCEE's fastest selling original title in their history to reach $100 million in sales. It remains the world’s biggest music for video games license ever. Toby has an Honorary Doctorate in Technology from De Montfort University and is a Visiting Professor in new media research at two UK universities. He has also provided social media services to Thomson Reuters, the World Bank and the three main political parties in the UK.
Toby holds a commercial pilot’s licence and has fixed and rotary wing time. He is also a qualified drone pilot. He believes UAVs are the small difference that will make a big difference to aviation, logistics and SAR. Skylift UAV ltd was set up specifically to capitalise on those differences.