Mobile GIS Services (MGISS), a geospatial firm that provides software for mapping the location of pipelines and infrastructure for utility companies, has secured £600,000 in funding from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance. The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, managed by Mercia, oversees NPIF. MGISS uses mapping technologies and satellite data to help companies identify potential risks and hazards, such as work being performed close to power lines or underground cables, and to plan new projects. The investment will be used to create a more powerful system that MGISS is developing with the European Space Agency. The new system will use high-resolution satellite images to provide global utility firms with an encompassing view of key locations, reducing or removing the requirement for helicopter flyovers and minimising carbon emissions.
MGISS has reported over three years of growth during which annual recurring revenue has risen by over 300%. The Liverpool-based company has 14 employees and with the secured funding, expects to generate 11 new jobs in the year ahead. MGISS’s client base includes Northumbrian Water Group, Wales and West Utilities, Galliford Try, and the National Trust. The systems it produces are used in the monitoring of conservation work, and for mapping heritage sites and infrastructure.
Initially, CEO Mike Darracott started a consultancy business backed by another of Mercia’s funds, the North West Fund for Venture Capital. MGISS’s pivot from being a consultancy to a software business that addressed the main concerns of utility providers impressed Rob Hornby of Mercia who is glad to support the development of their new solution that he expects to have a massive global market.
The funding will also support MGISS in proactively identifying and managing potential hazards to reduce downtime, regulatory fines, and environmental impact. Keira Shepperson, Director at British Business Bank, said that investment in technology is crucial for developing innovation and excellence across the North. The work of MGISS has global reach, specifically with the collaboration of the European Space Agency, beyond merely the Liverpool base, showcasing the extensive geographic coverage of NPIF, the British Business Bank, and Mercia.