Ten jobs to be created following Midlands Engine funding boost

Leicester-based Navitas Digital Safety has been awarded £745,000 of equity investment from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF).

Foresight Group, one of three equity fund managers working with the MEIF, made the investment that will allow the firm to roll out its automated health and safety technology to food and hospitality outlets across the UK.

Navitas provides handheld devices that work with accompanying software to monitor appliances, check food temperatures and feed data to a cloud-based programme. A response to outdated paper-bound procedures and the introduction of tighter legislation around food safety, the digitalised system allows brands to avoid food safety issues and wastage that historically may have caused reputational damage.

Navitas says it plans to use the finance to bring its manufacturing in-house. By producing its unique hardware – smart probes, hubs and pods – in the UK, the firm says it will control its supply chain, allowing it to keep pace with the growing demand for new approaches to food safety.

Navitas group CEO Ben Gardner said: “We are a young, dynamic company, yet it can be difficult to source funds to support rapid growth. This injection of capital will allow us to realise our expansion plans by investing in manufacturing and R&D. By also strengthening our talented sales force we can ensure that Navitas’ technology is rolled-out to huge UK brands and international markets.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for Navitas and we’re delighted to be leading the way for many small businesses with big ambitions across the Midlands.”

The investment will also allow the firm to take on 10 new staff, increasing its headcount to 33 employees and building its sales team.

Ray Harris, Midlands Engine Investment Fund principal at Foresight, said: “A company that could be instrumental to the digitisation of an entire industry should not be held back by lack of funding. Alongside the investment, we worked with the firm to appoint a new Chairman, Bryan Taylor. Bryan has 20 years of experience with venture-backed SME businesses mentoring executive teams through periods of sustained growth.

“Navitas perfectly represents the type of business the MEIF would like to back: a young, innovative organisation that needs a financial push to help realise its full potential.”