HS2 selects FYLD for Innovation Accelerator programme set to improve rail health & safety productivity and carbon reductions

FYLD is honoured to have been chosen by HS2 to join the latest cohort of its highly coveted Innovation Accelerator programme.

Following a competitive selection process, only five companies were chosen, consisting of the UK’s leading tech start-ups. They will work together to develop new thinking, technology and processes to help HS2 improve site safety and security, as well as cut carbon from the railway.

The accelerator kicked-off on 11 July and over the next four months, the companies will collaborate to deploy their solutions and enable HS2 delivery partners to utilise digital technologies to drive efficiencies with the specific aim of ensuring the railway is designed and built to the highest health, safety and security standards. In addition, they will look at the management of construction site operations to help reduce carbon emissions.

HS2 Ltd Innovation Manager, Rob Cairns said: “With the third cohort intake we focused on reaching a diverse range of businesses who we believe can bring fresh thinking and a new perspective to our mission of reducing HS2’s carbon footprint and improving the health and safety of our teams as well as the security of our worksites.”

FYLD has been chosen to take part in the programme as a result of its powerful technology that has been proven to empower field workers and managers to make more informed assessments and decisions that ensure safety, productivity and quality. The platform is underpinned by artificial intelligence (AI), natural language processing and machine learning, and has proven to deliver a 20% reduction in incidents and injuries.

In addition, the safety features of FYLD including high-risk job alerts and proactive fatigue management, will add a new level of attention to safety. By arming field workers and businesses with these data-driven actionable insights, they can deliver safer, more productive, and environmentally friendly operations.

Shelley Copsey, CEO of FYLD, commented: “It is an honour to be chosen to take part in HS2’s successful Innovation Accelerator programme. Field workers in many sectors, and especially rail, are hampered by risk assessment tools that are not fit-for-purpose. FYLD’s smart, AI-driven technology makes paper-based methods redundant, identifies risk before it poses harm, and helps to prioritise tasks which enhances safety, productivity, sustainability, and quality.

“We are confident that as the UK accelerates the progress of one of the most exciting transport projects in Europe, our technology will have a transformative impact on field workers and rail businesses alike. We’re looking forward to collaborating with both HS2 Ltd and the other cohorts as part of this programme as we make an impact through increased efficiencies, improved health and safety, and lowering its carbon footprint.”

Since HS2 Ltd launched its Innovation Accelerator a year ago, two small cohorts of tech start-ups and SMEs have used the four months of the programme to develop and deploy their technologies in paid trials while receiving commercial advice and technical support. The initiative has led to the majority of participants going on to be successful by delivering proof of concepts with HS2 supply chain companies and joint ventures.

This latest news follows recent success for FYLD. In July 2021, FYLD was awarded the Silver accolade in the Best New Business category at the UK Business Awards 2021.