The number of dedicated online safety tech firms in the UK has doubled in the last five years and investment has increased more than eight-fold in 2019, in a record year for the sector. UK providers currently hold around 25% of the global market share.

There are now almost two thousand people working in more than 70 companies across the UK, including in London, Leeds, Cambridge and Edinburgh.

These figures are released as the government launches a the Safety Tech Innovation Network, a new collaboration forum for safety tech providers and a scheme to boost exports

Minister for digital and culture, Caroline Dinenage, said: "We are all spending more time online during the pandemic and this new report shows the value the safety tech sector could add as we look to power growth out of it.

"Its innovative products, many of which are developed in towns and cities across the country, are being used globally to help companies make their online platforms safer.

"The government is leading the world, developing online harms laws and it’s great to see our brilliant British tech industry is part of the solution."

In 2019, the sector generated £226m in annual revenues, and has grown at around 35% a year since 2016. Some of the most established companies (those earning in excess of £5m) have grown at rates of up to 90% a year.


Forgotten your login for the digital edition of CIR Magazine, or not received your print copy? Request support.

Share Story: