Led · Debt Financing · Jan 2017

Gaist operates HighwayView, capturing and analyzing continuous, high-definition imagery about road conditions and the highways network. Its imagery offers 900 times the detail of Google Maps and the company has collected more than 1.5 billion megabytes of imagery over the past 10 years, including the entire classified road network in England. Gaist applies machine learning, smart algorithms and AI to analyze roadscape information across the UK and has developed IP-rich proprietary software. The software can be integrated into asset management systems used by highways network operators, local authorities, mapping companies, major utilities and other blue-chip firms. The company intends to use a recent £2.7m growth investment to accelerate its roadscape information and machine learning research within HighwayView. It also plans to expand its teams to support customer growth across multiple sectors and countries. Gaist Holdings provides specialised highways data analysis, video surveys and novel software development to public and private sector clients across the UK. The company is based in InfoLab21 on the Lancaster University campus and was established following a 2016 management buyout of Gaist Solutions Limited and Gaist Technologies Limited. Led by Managing Director Steve Birdsall, Gaist manages contracts across a range of public and private sector organisations. The firm has been involved in several projects, including coordinating planning and logistics for the first stage of the Tour de France in Yorkshire in 2014. Gaist received a £200,000 loan to expand its fleet of specialist vehicles and to invest in research and development. The expansion and R&D investment are expected to create a further 15 jobs for the region.

Led · Equity · Jun 2014

Global Renewables operates the Lancashire Waste Recycling plant in Fleetwood, converting waste destined for landfill into fuel for manufacturing plants and power stations. Led by managing director Paul Mellor, the company produces fuel currently sold mainly to Hanson Cement in Clitheroe. The business secured a £300k investment from Lancashire’s Rosebud Finance (managed by Enterprise Ventures) to install additional processing features, improve efficiency and create 10 new jobs. The Lancashire facility is a £6m plant opened in 2013 by engineer Jim Entwisle and Mellor and has already created 15 jobs. Owners plan to open four further plants around the UK and expand their customer base to other industrial users and energy-from-waste plants.