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In 2022, in partnership with HSBC UK, WIRED Consulting set out to build a community of innovative, fast-growth scale-ups that are pushing boundaries and solving the social, economic and environmental issues of our time. We call them the WIRED Trailblazers. These are the businesses that are not only surviving but thriving when the odds are stacked against them.
Looking to scale your business? Welcome to the WIRED Trailblazers knowledge hub - an essential source of information and inspiration for mid-sized businesses to fuel your growth.
Who Are The WIRED Trailblazers?
Explore The UK’s Innovation Hotspots
Why Has London Become The UK’s ‘Tech for Good’ Capital?
The UK’s financial engine room shows it’s possible to succeed commercially while being a force for good.
Why Is Manchester The UK's Top Regional 'Tech City'?
Manchester has reclaimed its historical status as a cradle of innovation, and it’s not all down to investment…
Why Is The West Midlands Producing So Many Successful Scaleups?
From strong business networks to an enviable location, the West Midland’s entrepreneurial scene has plenty going for it – but is its secret ingredient a certain state of mind?
How The UK’s South West Became A ‘Deep Tech’ Powerhouse
The region is called ‘Silicon Gorge’ for good reason – and that reputation didn’t emerge by chance…
Why The Scottish Scale-up Scene Is Booming
The business environment north of the border has more in common with Silicon Valley than you might think…
Meet the 2022 WIRED Trailblazers
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The North West
The West Midlands
The South West
Scotland
Northern Ireland
London & The South East
Click on the map to learn more about some of the Trailblazing businesses in each region. For the full list, scroll down.
Meet Some Of The UK's Outstanding Trailblazers
Elvie
Elvie is a London-based technology company empowering women through technology. With solutions for every stage of a woman’s life, it's on a mission to tackle taboos in women’s health, from breastfeeding to pelvic floor training. Its products have proved game-changers - catalysing its growth across ten new markets, rapid sales growth in the US and securing its leading position in the fast-growing femtech sector. These include the Elvie Trainer award-winning wearable electric breast pump, Elvie Pump, Elvie Curve, and Elvie Catch, as well as new addition to the breastfeeding range, Elvie Stride. In 2021, its investment had reached £70m, helping the company to become a platform for women’s health needs globally.
For the full list, scroll down.
@elvie
Carbon Clean
Carbon Clean is a global point source carbon capture solutions company that is focused on hard-to-abate industries such as cement, steel, refineries and energy from waste. With its ground-breaking fully modular technology, the company is aiming to become the world’s leading provider of carbon capture solutions for heavy industry, which accounts for around 30% of global emissions. As of October 2022, it has removed over 1.7 million metric tonnes of carbon from 49 plants across the globe. Earlier this year, Carbon Clean raised a record $150m Series C funding, the largest ever for a point source carbon capture company, and it is now rapidly building capacity to deliver the scale and pace of carbon capture deployment that is necessary to deliver global net-zero targets.
@carbonsolu
Onto
Onto is helping thousands make the switch to electric vehicles. In 2018, its co-founders Rob Jolly and Dannan O’Meachair created a solution to the challenge of converting people to drive electric. For a flat monthly fee, its customers can subscribe to their all-inclusive service to get the latest electric cars with insurance, servicing, breakdown cover, and free public charging. It has seen impressive growth - with more than 6,000 active subscribers, 160 employees, and annual growth of over 550%. Having just secured $60m in funding, it is now considered Europe’s largest electric car subscription service.
@DriveOnto
Immersive Labs
Immersive Labs is the leader in people-centric cyber resilience and an inspiring example of cybersecurity innovation. Founded in 2017 by former GCHQ trainer James Hadley, it provides realistic simulations and hands-on cybersecurity labs that help organisations continuously assess, build, and prove their cyber resilience. Its core product evaluates individual and team capabilities and decision-making against the latest threats and allows organisations to measure their cyber readiness compared to industry benchmarks, building team capabilities and demonstrating risk reduction and compliance with data-backed evidence. Working with over 100 global organisations including UK National Health Service and Pfizer, it now has over 300 staff, with joint operations HQs in Bristol and Boston.
@immersivelabs
Space Forge
Wales-based Space Forge is on a mission to lead the clean industrial revolution by harnessing the power of space. Its ForgeStar™ platform is designed for a range of experiments and manufacturing processes to create materials off-Earth that when used back on our planet can significantly improve our quality of life, reduce our burden on the environment and unlock new markets. It is a pioneering example of a company leading the push towards a space-based economy, by allowing industries around the world to leverage the benefits of microgravity.
@Space_Forge
Intelligent Growth Solutions
IGS is a multi-award-winning global agritech innovator delivering vertical farming technology to farmers and growers across the world. It blends engineering, crop science and agronomy to build the best infrastructure to allow its customers to grow nutritious, sustainable, safe food - as well as trees and flowers - profitably. Since being founded in 2013 by a farmer and an engineer, it has grown to a team of nearly 200, received 22 patents, and expanded into North America, Asia Pacific and Europe. At the heart of the business is a commitment to build a more sustainable future for agriculture from radically reducing water usage in its farming practices, to supporting the next generation through accessing work opportunities.
@IntelligentGS
Sourceful
Sourceful is making global supply chains more sustainable. As leaders in the fast-growing GreenTech industry, its data-driven platform helps businesses accurately identify and slash the carbon footprint in their packaging and across the supply chain. Founded in 2020 by Wing Chan and Sharon Chan, it was created to re-imagine the relationship between supply chain, business growth and our planet’s wellbeing. Since then it has grown fivefold, received a large investment from the backers of Just Eat and Deliveroo, and now has over 100 suppliers on its platform. Its executive team comprises over 50% women and 85% from under-represented minority backgrounds.
@sourceful
TextHelp
Texthelp is on a mission to help everyone to understand and be understood. For 20 years it has created technologies that help people read, write and research with confidence. It was founded by Martin McKay after seeing his father struggling to communicate following a severe stroke. At that time, there wasn’t much in the way of assistive technology, so Martin decided to create his own. Working alongside technology partners like Google and Microsoft, its products have changed the lives of millions. With over 5 global offices and 50+ million users, it is well on its way to achieving its vision of advancing the literacy of 1 billion people by 2030.
texthelp.com
@texthelp
Cera | @cera_care ceracare.co.uk
A care platform transforming healthcare at home
Improbable | @Improbableio improbable.io
A pioneer in building and connecting virtual worlds
Navenio | @navenioltd navenio.com
A software company poised to revolutionise workplace efficiency
OLIO | @OLIO_ex olioex.com
A revolutionary app reducing food waste globally
Elvie | @elvie elvie.com
A femtech company positively disrupting women’s health
Carbon Clean | @carbonsolu carbonclean.com
A leading provider of cost-effective carbon capture solutions for heavy industry
Numan | @getnuman numan.com
A health app tackling stigma in men's health
Faculty AI | @faculty_ai faculty.ai
Artificial Intelligence company helping to solve the world's biggest problems
Huma | @HumaForHealth huma.com
A healthtech company pioneering digital-first care and research
Paddle | @paddleHQ paddle.com
A tech unicorn helping thousands of software businesses to scale
Zencargo | @zencargo zencargo.com
A digital-first logistics provider building resilient supply chains
Tractable | @tractable_ai tractable.ai
A leader in using AI for accident and disaster recovery
ZOE | @join_zoe joinzoe.com
A personalised nutrition company disrupting the nutrition industry
Lyst | @Lyst lyst.co.uk
A shopping app trusted by over 200 million fashion fans
Blis | @blisglobal blis.com
An ad-tech company enabling a privacy-first advertising industry
Aurora Energy Research | @AuroraER_Oxford auroraer.com
A power market analytics company helping to achieve net-zero
CTS | @cloudsols cts.co
A fast-growing tech firm transforming businesses through Google Cloud
Love Energy Savings | @LoveEnergyUK loveenergysavings.com
A utilities marketplace helping people save money on their bills
Ripe Thinking | @RipeInsurance ripethinking.co.uk
An InsurTech firm disrupting the future of insurance
Orka Technology Group | @orka_tech orka.group
A leading WorkerTech firm providing solutions for hourly-paid workers
PHMG | @phmgfoundation phmg.com
The world’s leading subscription-based audio branding platform
MAPD Group | @MAPDGroup mapdgroup.com
Powering legal businesses focused on sustainability, balance and kindness
Me Litigation Funding @ME Litigation Funding mefunding.co.uk
A Fintech accelerating access to justice through litigation funding
Sorted | @SortedOfficial sorted.com
A fast-growing software company transforming retail delivery experience
One + all | @Oneand_All oneandall.co.uk
An employee-owned schoolwear manufacturer challenging business standards
Peak | @Peak_HQ peak.ai
A platform putting AI at the heart of businesses
SmartKem | @SmartKemTRUFLEX smartkem.com
A semiconductor supplier enabling the next generation of low-cost displays
Sourceful | @sourceful sourceful.com
An end-to-end partner for more sustainable packaging
Aptus Ltd | @AptusUtilities aptusutilities.co.uk
A multi-utility connections provider powering the construction industry
Kagool | @teamkagool kagool.com
Data experts, delivering IT transformations globally
Lontra | @LontraUK lontra.co.uk
An engineering firm disrupting manufacturing processes through tech
Metrasens | @metrasens metrasens.com
A world leader in advanced magnetic detection technologies
Aceleron Energy | @aceleronenergy aceleronenergy.com
A pioneer in developing sustainable lithium-ion batteries
QuestGates | @QuestGates questgates.co.uk
A trailblazer in the claims handling industry
Voxpopme | @voxpopme voxpopme.com
A pioneer in video analytics for research
Onto | @DriveOnto on.to
A leading subscription service platform for electric cars
CrowdProperty | @CrowdPropertyUK crowdproperty.com
A game-changer in property development finance
Clearabee | @clearabee clearabee.co.uk
A waste management company driving sustainability across the sector
Littlefish | @littlefishuk littlefish.co.uk
A disrupter in the IT managed services market
Petalite | @petalite petalite.co.uk
An electric vehicle charging company reinventing the industry
Energym | @energym.io energym.io
A smart-tech fitness business converting human energy into power
Nourished | @get_nourished get-nourished.com
A world-leading personalised nutrition company using 3D printing technology
Fortress Safety | @fortress-interlocks-uk-ltd fortress-safety.com
A global business manufacturing industrial automation safety equipment
Grainger and Worrall | @GraingerWorrall gwcast.com
A manufacturing business powering the future of transportation
Precision Resourcing Group @precision_resource_group precisionresourcegroup.co.uk
A group of specialist firms providing bespoke staffing solutions
Bladeroom Group Ltd | @BladeRoom bladeroom.com
A pioneering company delivering mission-critical modular facilities
Huboo | @huboofulfilment huboo.com
A West Country firm disrupting the future of eCommerce delivery
Finisterre | @finisterre finisterre.com
A Cornish B-Corp creating high-quality sustainable outdoor gear
Space Forge | @Space_Forge spaceforge.com
A manufacturing company harnessing the power of space
Immersive Labs | @immersivelabs immersivelabs.com
A leader in delivering cyber skills and guarding against threats
Truespeed | @theTRUESPEED truespeed.com
A broadband provider levelling up the South West's connectivity
Aardman | @aardman aardman.com
A world-renowned and much-loved animation studio
RipJar | @ripjar ripjar.com
A software company tackling financial and cyber crime with AI
Limbs & Things | @LimbsandThings1 limbsandthings.com
A leading healthcare simulation manufacturer improving patient outcomes
Ecologi | @Ecologi_hq ecologi.com
An innovative platform helping to fund climate action projects
Ultraleap | @ultraleap ultraleap.com
The world leader in interface technologies
Rovco | @RovcoSubsea rovco.com
A subsea tech company revolutionising the offshore wind sector
Netomnia | @netomnia netomnia.com
Accelerating the UK’s transition to fibre
XMOS | @xmos xmos.ai
An AI company developing enhanced computation for smart products
Appsbroker | @Appsbroker appsbroker.com
The Swindon-based software services provider expanding across Europe
Snappy Group | @SnappyShopperUK snappyshopper.co.uk
An on-demand grocery provider taking on dark stores
Intelligent Growth Solutions | @IntelligentGS intelligentgrowthsolutions.com
A global agritech innovator delivering more sustainable food systems
Zonal | @ZonalUK zonal.co.uk
A family-owned business powering UK hospitality with cutting-edge tech
Rooser | @rooser rooser.eu
A smart trading platform helping to eliminate seafood waste
pureLiFi | @pureLiFi purelifi.com
A leader in enabling communication of data through light
Sunamp | @SunampLtd sunamp.com
A thermal storage technology company making the world more sustainable
Orbital Marine Power | @Orbitalmarine orbitalmarine.com
A pioneering clean energy company harnessing energy from the tides
Cullen Eco-Friendly Packaging @CullenPackaging cullen.co.uk
Europe's largest combined corrugate and moulded fibre packaging manufacturer
Axis Studios | @axisstudiosgrp axisstudiosgroup.com
An award-winning animation studio combining art with tech
ENOUGH (trading as 3f Bio) @enough_abunda enough-food.com
A leader in developing sustainable protein meeting future food needs
Quorum Cyber | @quorumcyber quorumcyber.com
A cyber company protecting organisations from rapidly evolving cyber-attacks
M Squared Lasers | @M2Lasers m2lasers.com
A laser tech company helping to enable new scientific breakthroughs
Skyrora | @Skyrora_Ltd skyrora.com
A British rocket company leading the UK space sector
Core Asset Consulting | @CoreAssetUK core-asset.co.uk
A female-led recruitment firm enabling Scotland’s finance sector to thrive
Inoapps | @inoapps inoapps.com
A global Oracle expert delivering change through cloud computing
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sourceful.com
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carbonclean.com
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UK's Innovation Hotspots
WIRED Trailblazers
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Practical advice and guidance for your scale-up journey from entrepreneurs, experts and business leaders.
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How To Guides
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How To Build A Tough Team For Tough Times
Three strategies from the 2022 WIRED Trailblazers
Riding The Rollercoaster Of Entrepreneurship
Six lessons on building resilience from the 2022 WIRED Trailblazers
Are you a small business looking to grow? Visit the SME Hub for insights and advice from some of UK’s most inspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders, developed exclusively for the small business community.
Scale-Up Insights for SMEs
EXPLORE INSIGHTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
How To Build A More Sustainable Business
Four strategies for engaging with sustainability
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How AI Can Supercharge Your Scale-up
Five ideas from trailblazing business leaders on how to embrace AI
How To Think Like A WIRED Trailblazer
Five essential principles for scaling your business
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Looking to scale your business? Welcome to the WIRED Trailblazers knowledge hub - an essential source of information and inspiration to fuel your growth.
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Click below to explore the hub
Practical advice and guidance for your scale-up journey from entrepreneurs, experts and business leaders
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Are you a small business looking to grow? Visit the SME Hub for insights and advice from some of UKs most inspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders, developed exclusively for the small business community.
EXPLORE INSIGHTS FOR SME’s
SCALE
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BUILD RESILIENCE
LEVEL-UP IN A DOWNTURN
GET TO GRIPS WITH AI
How to get to grips with AI
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How to become a more sustainable business
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In 2022, in partnership with HSBC UK, WIRED Consulting set out to build a community of innovative, fast-growth scale-ups that are pushing boundaries and solving the social, economic and environmental issues of our time. We call them the WIRED Trailblazers. These are the businesses that are not only surviving but thriving when the odds are stacked against them. So what are their real stories – the highs, the lows – and what have they learned? Read on for their advice and insights.
Looking to scale your business? Welcome to the scale-up knowledge hub - an essential source of information and inspiration for start-ups, established corporates, and everything in between.
How To Get To Grips With AI
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