The PropTech 50 celebrates the UK’s most innovative property technology companies, highlighting businesses that are transforming real estate, construction, and building management through technology. This year’s list was determined through a combination of reader votes and selections from an expert judging panel.

At Glider, we’re proud to be recognised in the top 5 and at the forefront of digital transformation for the built environment. Our intelligent information management software provides asset owners, operators and contractors with a single source of truth for building information. This ensures compliance, safety and efficiency throughout the entire asset lifecycle, helping our clients get more value from their buildings while future-proofing their operations.

“This year’s PropTech 50 showcases several companies driving the data revolution in the wider property sector,” said Jonathan Symcox, editor of BusinessCloud. “From construction to facilities management; software for landlords and tenants; tech to improve all areas of the home-buying process; and connected technologies around physical space, it is our pleasure to shine a light on 50 amazing innovators from all corners of the UK.”

BusinessCloud called on readers to vote from a shortlist of 114 companies over seven days. The final ranking combined these votes with the expertise of the judging panel, resulting in the top 50 most innovative PropTech businesses in the UK.

After being ranked at number 23 last year, this achievement reflects the continued dedication of the Glider team, the trust of our clients and our ongoing commitment to helping the built environment embrace smarter, data-driven ways of working.

Get in touch to discover more about how we are transforming asset information management.

Following Glider’s acquisition of EDocuments in 2024 and Sitedesk earlier this year, this marks a pivotal moment of growth and transformation. These acquisitions have positioned us as the go-to provider of asset information management and digital handover solutions for the built environment. We’re accelerating our mission to scale and innovate and with Jayne and Richard joining, we’re better positioned to achieve this.

A proven technology leader at the helm

Jayne Archbold brings over 30 years of leadership experience in international software businesses. She spent 18 years at Sage, culminating in her role as CEO of its mid-market European division. Since this she’s led global growth as CEO of Iptor/GENII and Chair at Notify Technology. Her track record in driving growth, scaling operations and building high-performance cultures makes her ideally placed to lead Glider into its next phase.

Jayne’s vision for Glider is clear: “Glider is uniquely positioned to set the standard for intelligent estate management. With an exceptional team, cutting-edge technology and a growing demand for smarter building information, we have a real opportunity to scale in the UK and globally. Our mission is to empower organisations to deliver exceptional value, efficiency and sustainability through complete asset intelligence. I’m delighted to join Glider at this exciting time and look forward to building on its strong foundations.”

A CRO with energy, experience and customer focus

Joining Jayne as Glider’s new Chief Revenue Officer is Richard Farnworth. With more than 20 years’ experience growing revenue at leading enterprise technology firms such as Oracle and Axway, Richard has previously worked alongside Jayne at Iptor/GENII, where he led global go-to-market strategy and customer success.

At Glider, Richard will focus on scaling the sales team by expanding into new markets and ensuring every client receives a first-class experience. His passion for collaboration and results-driven approach make him a perfect fit for Glider’s next phase of expansion.

Richard commented: “Glider provides building owners and operators with a unified, estate-wide platform that transforms fragmented asset data into actionable intelligence, enabling smarter decisions, regulatory confidence and sustainable operations for every property, old or new. The potential to create real, long-term value for our clients is immense. I’m excited to work alongside such a talented team to accelerate growth and help our customers unlock more value from their built assets.”

Leadership continuity

The founders of both Glider and EDocuments remain an integral part of the business and will play vital roles in shaping our future. Nick Hutchinson, Glider’s co-founder and outgoing CEO, will transition into a new role where he will continue to champion Glider’s vision advocating for smarter digital practices across the building lifecycle, Nick’s focus will be on supporting strategic customer relationships, driving future M&A opportunities and collaborating with Jayne to help shape Glider’s product strategy and innovation roadmap. This continuity ensures Glider’s core values, expertise and commitment to client success remain firmly embedded as the business scales.

“This is a transformational moment for Glider,” explains Nick. “Having guided Glider from start‑up to industry trailblazer, Jayne and Richard bring the experience, energy and vision to significantly scale the business and I’m excited to continue working alongside them and the rest of the team to help shape the future of digital building information.”

A bright future ahead

As we look ahead, we remain focused on empowering asset owners, contractors and building operators with accurate, structured and searchable building data ensuring compliance, performance and long-term value.

We’re excited for this new chapter and look forward to sharing more news about our successes in the future.

In 2005, Les Bowring joined EDocuments as a project manager. At the time, digital handover was in its infancy. Most clients still expected printed documents and hyperlinks in Word files were considered cutting-edge.

Fast forward two decades and Les has seen not just the evolution of handover, but the transformation of an industry and a business that he’s proud to still be a part of.

To mark Les’s 20th anniversary, he shares how the world of O&M manuals has changed, why digital transformation is about more than just tech and what’s kept him at the company through it all.

A very different beginning

After working in furniture manufacturing and quality control, a chance encounter in Chelmsford pointed him toward a small company called EDocuments.

“I remember thinking, what have I got to lose?” he says. “I met Jamie and Lester, got offered the job and I never looked back.”

His first role was technically “project manager,” but the title barely captured the scope of the role. Les was responsible for every part of the handover process: collecting documents from contractors, formatting them manually, hyperlinking Word documents and converting files to PDF.

“Back then most contractors considered that the bigger the manual, the better. If you had a hundred pages but only ten of them were useful, that was normal.”

From manual to meaningful

Today, the world of handover couldn’t be more different. Where once delivery was about volume and presentation, now it’s about structure, usability and data integrity. That shift hasn’t happened overnight, and Les has had a front-row seat for the evolution.

“A lot of what we did in the early days was just taking what the contractors gave us and making it look presentable. But there was no consistency or structure. The idea of aligning to asset data standards or thinking about how an FM team might use the information wasn’t on the radar back then.”

Technology played a huge role in changing this. The EDocuments platform has evolved over time to streamline tasks that used to take hours. Features like auto-indexing and searchable schedules cut down repetitive manual work and allowed the team to focus on quality, not just quantity.

And client expectations have changed too. “End users started to realise they didn’t just want a manual, they wanted information they could actually use,” Les explains. “They expected to be able to search, filter and find what they needed without trawling through a thousand-page PDF.”

Learning through experience

While technology has been a game-changer, Les believes it’s the people that make the real difference. That goes for the clients and the team.

“I’ve worked with schools, hospitals, councils and developers. Some are very forward-thinking, others are a bit stuck in their ways. But what’s interesting is how much people’s expectations have caught up. Once, a caretaker might have asked for a lever arch file to put on a shelf. Now, they expect digital access. It’s not futuristic anymore. It’s just normal.”

Les also credits the directors at EDocuments for fostering a culture where people feel supported and valued.

“I’ve never felt like just a number. I always felt trusted to get on with the job”, explains Les.

That trust goes both ways. Les has mentored dozens of team members over the years and taken pride in building strong working relationships. “One of my favourite analogies is that if you cut me open, it would say ‘EDocuments’ through the middle like a stick of rock,” he says with a smile.

Highlights from 20 years

When asked about standout projects, one of his favourites was the Mary Rose Museum, a complex and historically significant project that combined technical challenge with cultural heritage.

“I loved that job. The way they designed the floors to subtly guide visitors’ eye-lines to the artefacts, it was just clever. And then they asked us to rewrite technical manuals into plain English so the handyman could actually use them.”

What’s next for handover?

Looking ahead, Les sees continued evolution but also continuity. “The fundamentals are the same: get the right information to the right people at the right time. But now, that means giving them tools to manage and interact with the data, not just read it.”

Now EDocuments is part of Glider, Les sees even more opportunity. “We were already ahead of the curve,” he says. “Now with Glider, we’ve got even more capability, more investment, more integration.”

And as new generations of facilities managers and asset owners come through the ranks, people who’ve grown up using Google, apps and digital subscriptions, the demand for intelligent digital handover will only accelerate.

Why stay?

After 20 years, you’d think Les might be ready for something new. But he’s not going anywhere just yet.

“I’m still learning. I’m still solving problems and I’m still helping clients. That’s what keeps me going. Plus, I work with great people. I’ve learned just as much from my team as they have from me.”

“It’s not the most glamorous job in the world but it matters. And if you do it right, it makes a real difference.”

We’d like to thank Les for his incredible dedication, hard work and loyalty over the past 20 years. His passion, experience and team spirit continues to make a lasting impact on our business and on everyone who works with him.

If you’d like to find out more about working at Glider, take a look at our careers page.

Glider Technology is proud to announce the acquisition of Sitedesk, an innovative digital platform that empowers users to visualise and manage assets through intuitive 3D environments. This exciting development will see Sitedesk’s visualisation capabilities integrated into Glider’s intelligent information management platform. This will help estate operators further optimise maintenance, boost operational efficiency and enhance asset performance across their estates.

A new era of 3D asset visualisation and management

With more than a decade of experience, Sitedesk has built a reputation for enabling estate operators to digitally capture and manage their built environment. Whether it’s a single unit or a vast, federated estate, by combining reality capture, BIM data and 3D modelling, Sitedesk simplifies the creation of digital twins, making it easier to manage both new and legacy buildings.

By integrating Sitedesk’s technology into the Glider platform, our clients can expect even greater benefits, including:

• Richer visualisation of asset data
• Streamlined maintenance and operational workflows
• Improved decision-making with integrated, real-time information
• Futureproofed estate management through digital twin enablement

What this means for Glider clients

The addition of Sitedesk’s visualisation capabilities reinforces Glider’s commitment to driving innovation for estate owners and operators. Our intelligent platform will continue to support smarter, more proactive estate management and now, with even greater ability to interact with data in dynamic, visual environments.

Rapid growth for Glider

This announcement follows the recent acquisition of EDocuments, a move that strengthened our digital handover and operations documentation offering. Together, these strategic investments are helping Glider build the most comprehensive asset management ecosystem on the market. Read more about the EDocuments acquisition here.

The fit-out programme for HSBC’s new London headquarters is expected to complete in August 2026, ahead of HSBC’s relocation in 2027 from its long-standing base in Canary Wharf. The move represents a major milestone in the bank’s real estate strategy and commitment to creating a flexible, sustainable and future-focused workplace for its global operations.

By embedding digital best practices into the project from day one, Glider will help ensure that essential asset information is captured during the fit-out will enable a smooth transition into operations and support HSBC in managing their new space effectively from day one.

The services we are providing include:

• BIM management services
• O&M management
• Glider’s digital handover platform

A landmark project for the future of work

The 556,000-square-foot Panorama St Paul’s development will be a best-in-class workspace with industry-leading sustainability credentials. It will offer panoramic views over London, including nearby St Paul’s Cathedral and features enhanced wellness amenities and rooftop terraces.

This project reflects the growing demand for high-quality, ESG-led office space in the City, with HSBC’s lease marking one of the largest European lettings in recent years. With Glider’s support, Overbury will deliver a data-rich handover that aligns with HSBC’s long-term operational, sustainability and workplace goals.

We’re excited to be playing a role in shaping the future of such an iconic global brand and building.

Our development team has been busy working on another new product update for gliderbim®, which makes it easier for our Enterprise clients to locate vital information about their buildings and estates.

Until now, users could only search for information within individual asset or project workspaces. With Enterprise Search, users can now perform a comprehensive search across their entire AIM CDE. This brings new levels of efficiency and control to managing and accessing critical data across even the most complex estates.

Key features of Enterprise Search

Here are just a few ways the new Enterprise Search functionality can be used:

• Search across the entire AIM CDE – whether it’s to find a specific document or to retrieve files from multiple locations, users can now search across all workspaces within the AIM CDE.
• Search for files by title, metadata or location – Enterprise Search allows users to search based on key terms or phrases found in the title, file metadata or even the breadcrumb location of where the file is stored.
• Export search results – once the files have been identified, the search results can be exported for easier analysis, reporting or management.
• Advanced search with multiple terms – results can be refined even further with the option to include a second search term, giving more control over the search query.

Security is still a priority

We understand the critical importance of security when managing large and complex estates. That’s why Enterprise Search is not a default feature for all users. Only those with the appropriate access and user permissions will be able to perform these searches.

Included for all Enterprise clients

The best part? This new feature is available at no additional cost to all our Enterprise clients. It is included in existing gliderbim® licences, allowing users to take full advantage of this game-changing search capability without any additional cost.

Making it easier to manage complex estates

We know that managing complex estates means having the right data at your fingertips when you need it most. With Enterprise Search, users can find essential information more quickly and easily. Whether it’s for compliance, reporting or day-to-day management, this new functionality will help streamline operations and enhance decision-making.

Meeting the needs of our clients

We’re excited to continue evolving our software to better meet the needs of our clients. Enterprise Search follows hot on the heels of our File Viewer release, and is helping to further improve the user experience.

Get in touch if you’d like to find out more information about this latest release.

G Cloud 14 reappointment

In October, we were once again listed on the Crown Commercial Service’s G-Cloud 14 framework. This prestigious network allows us to deliver our digital solutions to public sector clients, reaffirming our commitment to driving digital transformation across the built environment. Being re-appointed to this framework is a testament to the trust and value our clients place in Glider’s solutions

Twelve award short listings and two big wins

This year we were shortlisted for twelve awards including categories for Building Awards, Building Innovation Awards, Construction News Awards and Digital Construction Awards. In November, our work on the iconic 22 Bishopsgate project earned us the ‘Collaboration Project of the Year’ award at the Construction Computing Awards. Then in December, at the UK PropTech Association Awards, we were honoured with a win in the ‘Digitally Enabled Spaces’ category. This was for our involvement in the MOJ’s HMP Five Wells digital twin with Kier and Future Decision, which highlights our commitment to driving innovation and excellence in PropTech

Revolutionising smart building integration

In February, Glider proudly collaborated with an esteemed consortium including others from ScanTech Digital, Kier and Hoare Lea, to release the RIBA Smart Building Overlay. This ground-breaking guidance was written to transform how smart building technology is integrated into construction projects, whether new builds, retrofits or refurbishments.

The overlay simplifies smart building terminology and demonstrates the benefits of early technology integration, providing architects, engineers, and developers with a clear pathway to harness cutting-edge solutions. As champions of digital innovation, Glider is honoured to have contributed to this vital resource.

To read more about the guidance read the article.

A new investment partner for growth

In March we introduced Cow Corner as Glider’s new investment partner. A private UK-based firm specialising in services and software businesses, Cow Corner was a natural fit for Glider’s next phase of growth.

The investment was the start of our exciting new growth phase and has allowed us to continue innovating and delivering exceptional value to our clients.

If you want a refresher, check out our blog post.

Doubling in size with the acquisition of EDocuments

The highlight of 2024 was, without a doubt, the acquisition of EDocuments in September. This move effectively doubled our size and capability, marking the beginning of a new era in digital information management. EDocuments, known for their industry-leading O&M manual solutions, brings decades of expertise and innovation to Glider. Together, we’re creating a seamless digital handover process, ensuring compliance, reducing complexity, and delivering better-managed buildings. Welcoming the EDocuments team has been a joy, and we’re excited for the future we’re building together.

Looking ahead to 2025

As we step into 2025, we remain focused on our mission to empower asset owners and construction professionals with the tools and insights they need to optimise building performance and value. With the integration of EDocuments and the industry’s continued recognition, we are poised to lead the charge in digital transformation across the built environment.

To all our clients, partners and colleagues, thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to an even more exciting and successful 2025!

The UK PropTech Association’s digitally enabled spaces award celebrates collaborations that bring innovative technology into physical spaces, transforming them into smart, connected and customer-centric environments. Glider’s award-winning submission was for the Ministry of Justice’s (MOJ) digital twin project at HMP Five Wells, which was delivered in partnership with Kier Construction and Future Decisions.

The project is the first of its kind in the UK public sector and showcases how digital twin technology can enhance energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and improve operational performance. From creating an asset information foundation through gliderbim® to implementing performance insights that optimise building operations, this initiative has set a benchmark for innovation in the public sector and beyond.

Real-world impact

HMP Five Wells serves as the UK’s first ‘smart’ prison. Our digital twin proof-of-value project has already demonstrated measurable benefits. These include:

• Energy savings of 20-40% during phase two
• Carbon reductions of 333 tCO2e across houseblocks
• Positive impacts on prisoner rehabilitation and behaviour through optimised environmental conditions

This project provides the MOJ with a scalable solution for their entire estate as well as other public sector facilities. With plans to twin additional sites like HMP Elmley, the potential for creating sustainable, efficient and connected spaces is enormous.

A milestone for Glider and PropTech

This win demonstrates Glider’s journey from construction technology (ConTech) to becoming a serious player in PropTech. As well as providing digital handover solutions during the construction phases, we are proud to support building owners and operators throughout the entire lifecycle of their assets.

A powerful partnership

This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible collaboration with Kier, the MOJ and Future Decisions. We’re excited to continue innovating and sharing our learnings to drive industry-wide transformation.

Here’s to building smarter, more connected spaces for today and the future!

Photo: Lucas Cusack (Glider) and James Franklin (Kier) collecting the UKPA award for Digitally Enabled Spaces on 28 November 2024.

Want to learn more?

You can read more about this project in our HMP Five Well case study.

Get in touch with our team to find out more about our approach to digital twin enablement services.

For the first round, we turned the spotlight on our product and development teams. After eight weeks of voting, we’re thrilled to announce that Ziggy Raugas, Principal Software Engineer, has been chosen as the winner!

Why Ziggy stood out

Ziggy joined Glider in 2020 and has been an integral part of the development team. Here’s what some of his colleagues had to say about him:

• “Ziggy is always ready to lend a hand, never shying away from any task, no matter how big or small. It’s a fantastic quality to have.”
• “He [Ziggy] knows almost everything, is always available to help and completes tasks quickly.”
• “Ziggy has shown remarkable drive and commitment to the development department during a period of significant change. He supports the business, his colleagues and management with a range of tasks, and nothing is ever too much trouble. He leads by example, and it’s a pleasure to have him as part of the Glider team.”

A bit about Ziggy

During the voting period we ask team members to share some information about themselves to help others get to know them better. Ziggy is a problem-solver with a passion for collaboration and innovation and is known for his technical expertise and willingness to help others. He thrives on tackling challenges, such as mastering new technologies for new feature releases. Outside of work, he enjoys snowboarding, cycling and snooker (despite losing to his 13-year-old brother!) and has a quirky obsession with capybaras. His dedication and positive attitude makes him a standout member of the Glider team.

Well done, Ziggy!

Ziggy’s dedication, expertise and positive attitude make him an invaluable member of the Glider team. Congratulations, Ziggy, on being our first Shine a Light winner!

Next up

The Shine a Light award will next focus on our sales and marketing team. We look forward to announcing the winner in a couple of months.

If you’d like to learn more about working at Glider, visit our careers page.

The Construction Computing Awards honour the best in construction technology, from tools and solutions to projects that have set a benchmark in innovation and efficiency. The Collaboration Project of the Year category specifically spotlights achievements that demonstrate the power of teamwork and seamless integration of information management, scheduling, and resource planning.

Winning this award is a testament to Glider’s commitment to transforming the built environment through collaboration and data-driven solutions.

The winning project

22 Bishopsgate, one of London’s tallest and most technologically advanced buildings, presented a unique challenge. Beyond the initial construction, this project demanded managing a massive information handover dataset, including:

• Tens of thousands of drawings
• Over 400 individual models with thousands of attributes
• Integration of 30 new information models from separate supply chains within three years of handover

Simultaneously, the building underwent tenant fit-outs across ten floors, effectively creating 30 mini-projects, each requiring coordination with smaller, often BIM-limited, supply chains.

Driving collaboration and efficiency

At the heart of this success is Glider’s innovative approach to digital asset management. Combining our gliderbim® platform with our Asset Data Management Service, we:

• Onboarded fit-out contractors and delivery teams to align on information deliverables and responsibilities.
• Maintained the asset information model while incorporating new data with consistency and accuracy.
• Provided engineering and FM teams with real-time access to a single, reliable source of information.

By integrating 30 supply chains into a cohesive digital strategy, we ensured data quality, reduced risks, and enhanced operational efficiencies.

A proud achievement

This award reflects Glider’s leadership in enabling digital transformation for the built environment. By leveraging innovative solutions, we empower asset owners, contractors, and project teams to achieve better outcomes through seamless collaboration and robust information management.

With 22 Bishopsgate, we proved that even the most complex projects can thrive with the right tools and expertise.