Security recruitment tech start-up Broadstone is among the first Manchester businesses to receive Northern Powerhouse Investment Funding.
The Broadstone Engage platform is an online recruitment marketplace for both jobseekers and employers in the private security industry.
Broadstone has received £200,000 from Maven, one of the UK’s most active SME investors, and the NPIF, which aims to enable dynamic regional SMEs with innovative products and services to access funding which will develop their business.
“We are proud to be the first Manchester-based business to receive this funding and have exciting plans ahead,” said former footballer Tom Pickersgill, director and founder at Broadstone.
“The private security industry is a £5 billion marketplace, with over 400,000 individuals working in the sector, but it has a high turnover rate which creates a constant recruitment challenge, not to mention vetting.
“Phase one will see us build a market leading platform, which is set for launch in February 2018. By 2020 we are aiming to attract over 60,000 individuals by working with some of the UK’s leading private security employers on the platform.
“We also hope to bring 50 full-time jobs to Manchester to help deliver this and are currently focusing on growth of our product teams.
“Accessing investment can be complex, but Maven was extremely supportive throughout. The investment community is extremely excited about marketplace models and Maven recognised our unique offering and approach to the private security industry, sharing our vision for introducing change and innovation to this very bespoke market.
“Our excellent business partnerships, expertise and understanding of the market and ability to access key industry influencers also made our proposition an extremely compelling one.”
Broadstone Engage’s platform enables security companies and jobseekers to seamlessly match, communicate and transact.
Businesses benefit from a cost-effective, on-demand workforce and compliant vetting, while individuals can gain access to the best security jobs in the UK with ease – promoting jobs which have the benefit of flexible working and better pay rates.
James Darlington, investment manager at Maven, said: “We are delighted to support Broadstone as it seeks to expand its presence in the market.
“Broadstone’s unique service offering to the private security market is something that excites us and we are optimistic about its uptake by companies and users alike.
“We are also extremely pleased to be backing the management team which is capable of capitalising on the opportunity and driving the business forward.”