Flexible worker recruitment platform Redwigwam has secured the backing of NPIF – Maven Equity Finance to support expansion its expansion.
Redwigwam was founded four years ago by serial entrepreneur Lorna Davidson, who had previously founded and sold Tactical Solutions, one of the UK’s leading field sales and marketing companies, for £29million.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, it reports the number of workers on its database surge to over 130,000 and the number of hirers increase by almost 400 to over 3,500 since the lockdown began at the end of March.
The firm’s AI-powered tech platform uses algorithms to match workers and employers within minutes for short-term or ad-hoc opportunities.
The undisclosed investment from NPIF allows Redwigwam to strengthen its senior management team.
Steve Harris joins as Managing Director with responsibility for tech and operations, having recently sold his own IT company Polymorph, while Dawn Paine becomes Marketing Director.
Dawn has previously held several senior marketing roles including Marketing Director at Nintendo UK and Vice President Marketing at Universal Pictures.
The pair join CEO Lorna Davidson, Sales Director Catherine Parkin and Finance Director David Hassall.
The funding will also enable the business to invest further in its proprietary tech platform and its marketing and advertising campaigns.
Davidson said: “We are delighted to have Maven on board to help us fuel the next chapter of our growth.
“We have seen through Covid-19 that the world of working has changed forever and the demand for flexible working, enabling businesses to scale up and down during times of volatility, has never been more important.
“Flexible working is now an integral part of workforce planning – over 5 million talented people already choose to work this way, a number that will rise exponentially as the full implications of the pandemic become clear.
“A growing number of people want to work differently, on their own terms. We are seeing this in the huge surge in demand on our platform.”
Alex Rothwell, Investment Manager with Maven, said: “We’re delighted to support Redwigwam as they continue to grow. The business has fantastic potential and continues to thrive through their ability to innovate and serve new markets.
“Lorna and the team are highly experienced and dedicated and we look forward to working with them going forward.”
Redwigwam’s army of flexible workers cover a diverse range of skills and roles including sales, construction, book-keeping, secretarial and admin, web development and social media, events, hospitality, field marketing, care, cleaning, mystery shopping, games development, project management, drivers, bid writers, sous chefs, florists, teachers, researchers and HR executives.