Antser

What Antser does

Antser is a Birmingham-headquartered UK social care technology and services company operating through Antser Holdings Limited, with roots dating to 1990 and three decades of continuous service. The group delivers transformational solutions to the health, education, and social care sectors via four operating divisions: Cornerstone VR (the former Antser VR, rebranded August 2024) provides trauma-informed virtual reality training using in-house produced 360-degree immersive films covering child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation, domestic abuse, FASD, county lines, and online safety; Carter Brown Experts supplies multi-disciplinary assessments supporting decision-making across family, criminal, and immigration law; the Autism Assessment Hub offers person-centred autism and ADHD assessments with a 6-8 week diagnosis pathway across Birmingham, London, Newcastle, and Alderley Edge; and Cornerstone Training (formerly Antser Learning) delivers more than 300 training courses annually through virtual, face-to-face, and VR-enabled formats.

The underlying technology platform is built around pre-produced 360-degree film content delivered through VR headsets, with no disclosed AI or machine learning layer. Antser certifies partner organisations to deliver its VR programme internally, creating a partner/certified-practitioner network that extends reach without proportional direct sales cost. The proprietary content library, which has been developed over multiple years and recognised by national awards (LaingBuisson 2024, Health Tech Digital Awards 2021/2022, National Technology Award 2023), constitutes the core intangible asset.

Commercially, Antser operates an enterprise B2B sales-led model targeting UK public sector buyers — local authorities (nearly 50% of UK LAs, equating to 165 councils), NHS trusts (including Dartford and Gravesham, London Ambulance Service, and Darent Valley Hospital), independent fostering agencies (7 disclosed), the Met Police, schools, and a global children's charity. Revenue is generated through multi-year contract licensing of the VR programme with certification training, fee-for-service assessments (legal and autism/ADHD), and course-based training delivery. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated on a per-contract basis. The company received £8.5 million in growth capital from BGF in September 2021, its primary disclosed institutional investment, and expanded through the October 2024 acquisition of Solihull Autism Assessment Service.

Name

Antser

Legal name

Antser Holdings Limited

Website

https://antser.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Antser is a Birmingham-based social care technology group that delivers trauma-informed VR training, professional assessments, and workforce development to UK local authorities, NHS trusts, fostering agencies, police forces, and schools across nearly half of all UK councils.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Care Technology and Training Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

VR-Based Skills Training Simulations (Soft Skills, Customer Service, Leadership) (EDAFAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

AR/VR & Immersive Learning Content Development (EDAGAKAI)

Keywords

• Trauma-informed VR training
• Social care technology
• Virtual reality safeguarding
• Children's services training
• Social care assessments

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. VR Training Programme Licensing: Antser provides its Cornerstone VR (formerly Antser VR) programme to local authorities, NHS trusts, fostering agencies, schools, police, and healthcare providers. This includes certification training for organisations to embed the VR programme into their practice, delivered by Antser's training team.
2. BGF Investment: Growth capital investment of £8.5 million from BGF to support expansion in children's, adults, and adjacent social care markets, leveraging innovative technology solutions including virtual reality programmes.
3. Assessment Services: Carter Brown Experts provides multi-disciplinary assessments supporting decision-making across local authorities, family, criminal, and immigration law. Autism Assessment Hub provides independent person-centred autism and ADHD assessments with full pre- and post-diagnostic support.
4. Antser Learning / Cornerstone Training: Training and development courses delivered through virtual, face-to-face, and VR-enabled sessions for professionals across social care, health, and education sectors. Over 300 training courses delivered every year.
5. Direct Services and Compliance: Direct services for children, compliance and regulatory support to the health, education and social care sectors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Antser delivers transformational solutions to the UK health, education, and social care sectors. Its core offering is Cornerstone VR (formerly Antser VR), a proprietary trauma-informed virtual reality platform using in-house produced 360-degree immersive films that place professionals inside the lived experience of children affected by abuse, exploitation, and neglect. This is delivered alongside Carter Brown Experts (multi-disciplinary legal assessments), the Autism Assessment Hub (autism and ADHD diagnostics), Cornerstone Training/Antser Learning (300+ professional development courses per year), and broader transformation and technology services for local authorities and care providers.

Product overview

Antser is a multi-brand organization offering a portfolio of transformational solutions for health, education and social care sectors. The core offering centers on Cornerstone VR (formerly Antser VR), an award-winning trauma-informed virtual reality programme that uses 360-degree immersive films. This is complemented by Cornerstone Training (formerly Antser Learning) providing 300+ training courses, Carter Brown Experts for multi-disciplinary assessments, and the Autism Assessment Hub for autism and ADHD services. Antser Learning (Cornerstone Training) delivers training that supports the VR programme, while Assessments and Transformation services round out the broader portfolio of solutions designed to deliver better outcomes for children, adults, families and communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cornerstone VR: Award-winning, trauma-informed virtual reality programme designed to support professionals working with vulnerable children and their families
• Carter Brown Experts
• Autism Assessment Hub
• Cornerstone Training

Products and services

• Cornerstone VR (formerly Antser VR) Award-winning, trauma-informed virtual reality programme using in-house produced 360-degree immersive films that place social workers, foster carers, police, NHS staff, and educators into the lived experience of children who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or domestic abuse. Films cover CSE, CCE, domestic abuse, FASD, county lines, gangs and knife crime, and social media dangers. Delivered to UK local authorities, NHS trusts, fostering agencies, schools, and police forces under multi-year contracts with embedded certification training.
• Carter Brown Experts Multi-disciplinary expert assessment services supporting decision-making across local authorities, family law, criminal law, and immigration law for cases involving children and families.
• Autism Assessment Hub Independent, person-centred autism and ADHD assessment service with full pre- and post-diagnostic support. Operates clinic locations across Birmingham, London, Alderley Edge, and Newcastle with an average diagnosis time of 6-8 weeks. Includes the acquired Solihull Autism Assessment Service.
• Cornerstone Training (formerly Antser Learning) Training and development courses for health, education, and social care professionals, delivered via virtual, face-to-face, and VR-enabled sessions. Over 300 courses delivered annually covering safeguarding, child protection, trauma-informed practice, and therapeutic approaches.
• Assessments Service High-quality assessment services covering autism, ADHD, family law, and related areas that support decision-making across local authorities and legal sectors.
• Transformation Services Business support and transformation services for health, education, and social care organizations, helping them modernize operations, embed new practices, and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.
• Technology Solutions Technology solutions and digital transformation support for social care and health sectors, including VR implementation, integration, and rollout support for partner organisations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of participants reported having a deeper understanding of a child's perspective after VR training
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Inspirations Children's Residential Care HomesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2024Inspirations partnered with Cornerstone VR for the use of trauma-informed VR programme in Leicestershire care homes. The partnership won the LaingBuisson Award 2024 for Excellence in Children's Services. Following VR training, 96% of participants reported deeper understanding of a child's perspective.
• Solihull Autism Assessment ServiceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2024Antser acquired Solihull Autism Assessment Service in October 2024 to expand its Autism Assessment Hub. Widely recognised as one of the leading clinics in the West Midlands. Acquisition brings Dr Jessica and Dr Zoe (Co-Directors and Clinical Leads) and their team into the Antser Group. Average diagnosis time at Autism Assessment Hub is 6-8 weeks.
• Norfolk County CouncilflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 January 2024Cornerstone VR implemented into all foster carer and adoption journeys in Norfolk to reduce adoption breakdowns, placement breakdowns, and duration of support required. 805 children in fostering placements in Norfolk. Social workers also using VR headsets for a fresh perspective on young people they support.
• National Organisation for FASDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 September 2023Antser partnered with the National Organisation for FASD and Cambridgeshire Virtual School to create an immersive VR film highlighting the impacts of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The film is voiced by a young person living with FASD and aimed at families, carers, social care and education professionals.
• London Ambulance Service (LAS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2023London Ambulance Service developed VR safeguarding training using Antser's headsets and scenarios covering domestic violence, sexual exploitation, drug abuse, child grooming, modern slavery, and gang intimidation. LAS is the first ambulance service in the UK to use VR for safeguarding training.
• London Tri-borough (Redbridge, Waltham Forest, Enfield Councils)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Three London boroughs partnered with Antser to use VR to reduce child exploitation and extra-familial harm across the tri-borough. Between January-March 2022, VR used 52 times in interventions with vulnerable adolescents and families. 89% of parents had better understanding; 17/18 felt more able to discuss protection with practitioners. Shortlisted for MJ Awards 2023.
• Met PoliceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2021Antser partnered with the Met Police to enable frontline officers to use VR technology to understand the impact of domestic abuse on children, young people, and survivors. 48 officers trained across London's Met Police Service. 79% said VR was more engaging than other domestic abuse training.
• Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (Darent Valley Hospital)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2021Antser partnered with Darent Valley Hospital to pioneer VR for safeguarding training. The hospital won the Patient Safety Congress Awards 2021 for Effective Use of Technology. Over 10 staff members trained to deliver VR programme to 164+ further staff in A&E, paediatrics, and maternity.
• London Borough of HillingdoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2021Antser partnered with London Borough of Hillingdon to deliver VR training in adult and children's social care sectors. 86% of respondents said VR gave further insight and would alter their approach; 77% had deeper understanding of children's perspective. Training also extended to voluntary partners.
• Ealing Council (Youth Justice Service)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2021First-time deployment of Antser's VR films directly with young people (rather than professionals) through Ealing Council's Youth Justice Service. Pilot scheme aimed at reducing child criminal exploitation. Young people from the YJS use VR headsets and 360-degree immersive films to understand risks and exploitative relationships.
• London Borough of RedbridgeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Antser partnered with London Borough of Redbridge to pilot VR as a tool to disrupt domestic abuse and improve outcomes for victims and perpetrators. 85% of perpetrators changed thinking about behaviour; 90% had no further incidents in 14 months. Partnership shortlisted for MJ Awards and LGC Awards.
• Flourish FosteringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfsted rated 'Outstanding' independent fostering organisation, one of the first in the UK to pioneer Antser VR across its services. VR used to upskill foster parents in trauma understanding. Multiple case studies published featuring Flourish Fostering foster parents.
• Adopt South (Regional Adoption Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdopt South (combining Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council, and Southampton City Council) uses Antser VR in Stage 2 training, assessment work, in-person training, and adoption support. Their Training Manager was shortlisted for Social Worker of the Year Award 2023.
• Northamptonshire Children's Trust (NCT)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCT partnered with Antser to use VR for foster placement stability. Shortlisted for National Technology Awards 2023. VR changed the outcome of a placement facing potential disruption. 100% of respondents agreed VR made them think differently about their approach to looked after children.
• Goldsmiths, University of LondonminorOthersGoldsmiths independently evaluated the VR domestic abuse pilot with London Borough of Redbridge, providing evidence-based validation of VR effectiveness. Found that perpetrators were motivated to engage with the technology and the immersive films facilitated perspective taking and a desire to change behaviour.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• VirtualSpeech: UK-based VR training company focused on communication, public speaking and soft-skills development, with overlapping enterprise and training-led go-to-market.
• Interpersonal Development: UK provider of VR-based soft skills and management training, directly comparable to Antser's immersive learning and behaviour-change VR programmes.
• Make Real: UK-based immersive technology studio building VR training and simulation experiences for enterprise and public sector, with overlap in soft-skills and behavioural change use cases versus Cornerstone VR.
• PIXO VR: Enterprise VR training platform delivering immersive learning programmes to large organisations, similar go-to-market and use case profile to Cornerstone VR's enterprise public sector sales motion.
• Talespin: US-based immersive learning platform focused on VR-based soft skills, leadership and DEI training for enterprises, the closest international peer to Cornerstone VR's use case.
• Moth+Flame VR: VR soft-skills and corporate training company offering immersive learning modules for enterprise customers, comparable to Antser's VR-based behavioural and empathy training approach.

Broad incumbents

• Strivr: US-based enterprise immersive learning provider initially focused on retail training, now broader L&D use cases; an established VR training incumbent comparable in category though not in safeguarding/social care.
• Kineo: Major UK and global e-learning provider offering digital and blended learning solutions; a broader incumbent that overlaps with Antser's training and assessment business.
• Sponge UK: Larger UK immersive learning and digital training provider serving regulated industries; a broader e-learning incumbent that competes for similar training budgets.
• Cornerstone OnDemand: Global enterprise learning and talent management platform that has expanded into VR/immersive content; a broad incumbent and brand-name overlap with Cornerstone VR that competes for corporate L&D wallets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/antserltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/antser-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Antser