Holovis ranks number 1 on Midlands Tech 50 innovation ranking

Midlands’ most innovative technology firm for 2020 has been awarded to Holovis after securing backing from both a high-profile judging panel and readers of BusinessCloud. 

Headquartered in Hinckley, Leicestershire, Holovis designs immersive and mixed reality solutions for entertainment venues and enterprise clients. 

Specialists in systems integration, complex AV, creative design and turnkey solutions, its recent projects include work with LEGOLAND New York, Universal Studios, Alton Towers and the Royal Liver Building, as well as a myriad of large-scale projects in China, Japan and the Middle East. 

The company also developed an app called Crowd Solo, which helped theme parks and visitor attractions open safely in the wake of COVID-19. 

Holovis is about to open an office in Abu Dhabi to add to additional innovation centres in London, Manchester, Orlando and Shanghai. 

“We are delighted any time our team’s work is recognised with an award,” said Holovis CEO Stuart Hetherington. 

“But it means even more in a year like 2020, where all businesses have faced so many challenges. We’ve done massive installation work in China remotely, and also a lot of design work for clients. The whole team has really stepped up.” 

Holovis led the way in BusinessCloud’s regional ranking, which compares companies of all sizes creating innovative technology.   

The top 10 featured four companies based in Birmingham, with two from Leicestershire, two from Lincoln and one apiece from Tamworth and Derby.   

Birmingham had the highest number of companies in the top 50 ranking, with 18, ahead of Nottingham (11), Leicestershire (7), Staffordshire (5) and Lincoln (3). The West Midlands contributed more than half of the top 50. 

Holovis topped the ranking ahead of Birmingham’s Adapttech, which is developing prosthetics technology which includes 3D scanning, a wearable device and app. The top two were both new entrants for 2020. 

Tamworth company Enlighten, which develops e-learning solutions and augmented reality for mental health, was third after topping the ranking in 2019.  

Digital pay-as-you-go life insurance provider DeadHappy (Leicester) and coding bootcamp School of Code (Birmingham) rounded out the top five. 

The judging panel was comprised of:   

• Naomi Nash, entrepreneur engagement manager (Midlands), Tech Nation 
• Anita Bhalla OBE, chair, Creative City Partnership 
• Lewis Stringer, MEIF senior relationship manager (East and South-East Midlands), British Business Bank 
• Nicola Wright, senior business development manager, West Midlands Growth Company 
• Iain Mansell, deputy director, Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands 
• Jonathan Symcox, editor, BusinessCloud