Notify secures £1.5M to advance AI-powered safety tech

Newcastle-based Notify has secured £1.5 million in fresh investment to enhance its AI-driven workplace safety platform. The funding round, announced on March 5, 2025, confirms the growing investor interest in AI’s potential to transform safety management, with Notify emerging as one of key players in this evolving market projected to reach $30.4 billion by 2028.

The latest funding round was backed by Calculus Capital, the North East Venture Fund (supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Mercia Ventures), and private investors. This infusion brings Notify’s total capital raised to over £7 million.

CEO Duncan Davies expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I’m delighted we’ve been able to raise additional capital from long-term investors to support our latest innovations and to continue our growth trajectory. Thousands of organizations are recognizing the value of looking after the health, safety, and well-being of their workforce, and Notify is now perfectly placed to deliver software that drives employee engagement and productivity.”

Richard Moore of Calculus Capital echoed this sentiment: “We are excited to support Notify as it continues to develop its customer-led Health and Safety software, at the forefront of innovation in this space.”

Notify’s software, used by more than 250,000 users worldwide, including McDonald’s, Siemens, Wickes, and Travis Perkins, enables businesses to digitally track incidents, conduct risk assessments, and analyze safety data.

With AI integration, the platform aims to predict workplace hazards, analyze safety trends, and provide real-time risk assessments, transitioning safety management from a reactive to a proactive discipline.

Market analysts highlight the potential of AI-driven safety tech, citing an estimated $30.4 billion global market size by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 12.8%.

Regulatory pressures and increasing corporate focus on employee well-being are fueling this surge, positioning AI as a game-changer in workplace safety.

Founded in 2017 by Duncan Davies and Andy Dumbell, Notify has expanded steadily, with a 47% rise in annual recurring revenue (ARR) over the past 18 months.

The company, now employing 27 staff in central Newcastle, plans to use the new funds to accelerate AI feature development and expand its market reach.

Natalia Blagburn of Mercia Ventures highlighted Notify’s potential impact: “Incorporating AI will make it even more powerful, transforming safety management from a reactive to a proactive process and helping businesses prevent accidents rather than just respond to them.”

As Notify continues its expansion, the firm is poised to set new industry standards, reinforcing the role of AI in creating safer workplaces worldwide. With its ambitious goal of making a billion workers safer, Notify is not just securing funding but shaping the future of workplace safety.

Recent surveys reveal that over one-third of business leaders anticipate workplace safety becoming more difficult to maintain due to worsening employee mental health, talent shortages, and the rapid adoption of new technologies.

Against this backdrop, AI is emerging as a critical tool, not just for mitigating risks but for redefining how safety is prioritized in high-stakes environments like construction, manufacturing, and logistics.

Workplace safety concerns are escalating globally. A 2023 report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlighted that stress-related absences have risen by 18% in sectors reliant on manual labor, with overwork and inadequate mental health support cited as primary drivers. In construction, a sector where injuries and fatalities remain stubbornly high, the stakes are particularly dire.

AI’s ability to analyze vast datasets is transforming safety planning. Algorithms predict equipment failures, material shortages, and even ergonomic risks by analyzing patterns in worker movements. For example, AI-powered “digital twins” of construction sites simulate weather, foot traffic, and structural stressors to identify hazards weeks in advance.

Despite its promise, AI adoption isn’t without pitfalls. High upfront costs, employee skepticism, and the risk of over-reliance on technology loom large. Privacy concerns also persist: Wearables and surveillance systems generate sensitive data, raising questions about misuse.

As AI becomes more sophisticated, its role in workplace safety will only expand. Autonomous bulldozers, AI-guided exoskeletons, and even “smart” hardhats with collision-avoidance sensors are already in development.

By 2030, experts predict that AI-driven safety systems could reduce workplace injuries by up to 50% in high-risk industries.