Newcastle health and safety software firm nabs £500k investment

The Newcastle-based company behind a new health and safety software platform has secured a six-figure investment.

Notify Technology will use the £500k boost from the North East Venture Fund (NEVF) to ramp up sales and marketing, attract new customers and create jobs over the next five years.

The firm’s platform enables organisations to manage worker health and safety, allowing employees to record accidents and near-misses on a mobile device, and managers to track outcomes, actions and trends.

Notify was founded in May 2017 by Duncan Davies, former director at IT services provider TSG, and Andy Dumbell, former chief exec of tech firm ControlF1.

Its software is already used by a number of large businesses, among them builders’ merchant Travis Perkins plc, German engineering giant Thyssenkrupp, property company Bournville Village Trust, entertainment venue Alexandra Palace and production complex Pinewood Studios.

CEO Duncan Davies said: “Notify aims to create a safety revolution. In most cases, incidents happen well beyond the reach of a desk-bound computer, and reporting risks is still a manual process.

“Notify makes risk reporting and identification simple and efficient. The data can then be used to identify where risks are highest so people and organisations can be better forewarned.”

He added: “This investment is crucial in allowing us to get our message out, within the UK and globally, and to push forward with our technology roadmap to help make workers safer and healthier wherever they are in the world.”

The NEVF is run by Mercia Fund Managers and supported by the European Regional Development Fund. It invests up to £1m in firms based across Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear.

Mercia investment manager Jan Oosthuizen commented: “Duncan and Andy have brought a fresh approach to the field of health and safety.

“Notify allows organisations to streamline their processes and create a cultural change in their approach to health and safety; making it easier to comply with new regulations which take a risk-based approach.”

Jan continued: “Ultimately, it will help to reduce the enormous human and financial cost of accidents at work and to save lives.”

Law firm Muckle LLP advised Mercia Fund Managers on the deal. Ward Hadaway acted for Notify.