Ability Matters Group
AM Healthcare Group is a privately held UK-based healthcare group, the largest NHS prosthetic service provider in the United Kingdom, operating eleven subsidiaries across prosthetics, orthotics, mobility products, and bespoke footwear across the UK, Ireland, France, Benelux, and the Nordics.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersAbingdon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Ability Matters Group does
AM Healthcare Group (formerly Ability Matters Group) is a privately held UK-based healthcare products and services group founded in 1989, operating across the prosthetics, orthotics, and mobility sectors. The group is the largest provider of prosthetic services to the NHS in the United Kingdom through its Opcare subsidiary, and also delivers major NHS orthotics and posture/mobility contracts via clinical sites including hospital outpatient departments, specialised clinics, schools, child development centres, and community health centres. The group owns eleven wholly owned subsidiaries covering the full value chain: clinical service delivery (Opcare, Crispin Orthotics, Proactive), manufacturing and distribution (Ortho Europe, Kenward), adjacent mobility products (Greencare wheelchairs, Greentyre puncture-proof tyres, Peach), and continental European operations (LM Orthopedie).
The group's technology base centres on Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing (with three in-house printers and five years of operating experience), pre-preg carbon fibre orthosis manufacturing, proprietary silicone orthotics processes, and clinical measurement systems including X-Sens wireless gait analysis, Parologg plantar pressure, Dartfish video, and 3D laser scanning. Products span ankle-foot orthoses, knee-ankle-foot orthoses, functional foot orthotics, spinal supports, knee braces, cervical collars, and bespoke footwear, with a 12-month warranty on 3D printed orthoses and a 60% waste reduction claim versus traditional manufacturing. Clinical services include gait analysis, biomechanical assessment, custom device fitting, and sports-specific orthotic provision (cycling, running, rugby/football, winter sports).
Revenue is generated through three streams: NHS managed service contracts (the primary channel), private clinic services at pay-as-you-go pricing (£60 initial assessment, £90 follow-up), and product manufacturing/distribution via Ortho Europe. The group operates across the UK, Ireland, France, Benelux, and the Nordics with 700+ staff, and has pursued an active acquisition strategy including Crispin Orthotics (May 2022) and Kenward Orthopaedic (June 2023), followed by a 2023 corporate rebrand from Ability Matters Group to AM Healthcare Group.
Ability Matters Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ability Matters Group
- Legal name
- Ability Matters Group Limited
- Website
- https://abilitymatters.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- AM Healthcare Group is a privately held UK-based healthcare group, the largest NHS prosthetic service provider in the United Kingdom, operating eleven subsidiaries across prosthetics, orthotics, mobility products, and bespoke footwear across the UK, Ireland, France, Benelux, and the Nordics.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ability Matters Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Prosthetic and Orthotic Services and Devices
- NAICS
- Ambulatory Health Care Services (621), Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134), Offices of All Other Health Practitioners (62139)
- SIC
- Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Orthotics & Bracing (Spinal/Lower/Upper Extremity Orthoses) (HLAHAEAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Connected Medical Devices & Wearables (Sensors, Patches, Implantables) (HLACAPAB)
Keywords
Where Ability Matters Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Abingdon
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
Ability Matters Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- NHS Clinical Services: The company delivers major contracts with the NHS, providing prosthetic and orthotic services through hospital outpatient departments, wards, specialized clinics, schools, child development centres, and community health centres. This is the primary revenue stream.
- Private Clinical Services: Private orthotic clinics providing assessment and treatment for patients not covered by NHS or seeking faster service. Includes gait analysis, biomechanical assessment, and custom orthotic provision.
- Product Manufacturing & Sales: Manufacturing and distribution of prosthetic, orthotic, and seating products through Ortho Europe brand. Products include foot orthotics, ankle foot orthoses, knee braces, spinal supports, and custom footwear.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Initial Assessment - £60.00 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Follow-up Assessment - £90.00 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Orthotic Fitting - No Charge |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Fine Tuning up to 12 Weeks After Fitting - No Charge |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Routine Review Appointment - £40.00 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ability Matters Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AM Healthcare Group (formerly Ability Matters Group) provides prosthetic and orthotic clinical services and manufactures/distributes mobility devices (orthoses, wheelchairs, seating, bespoke footwear) through eleven wholly owned subsidiaries. The group delivers NHS-managed clinical services across UK hospitals, schools, and community centres while also serving private patients through clinics such as Crispin Orthotics, and supplies products wholesale via Ortho Europe.
Product overview
AM Healthcare Group (formerly Ability Matters Group) operates as a diversified healthcare products and services provider in prosthetics, orthotics, and mobility. The portfolio consists of multiple sub-brands serving different segments: Opcare provides NHS prosthetic and orthotic clinical services; Ortho Europe handles manufacturing and distribution; Crispin Orthotics specializes in innovative 3D printed solutions; Proactive runs private clinics; and Kenward produces bespoke footwear. The company offers a comprehensive range of orthotic products including ankle foot orthoses (AFOs), knee ankle foot orthoses (KAFOs), functional foot orthotics, spinal supports, knee braces, cervical collars, and wrist/hand orthotics. Manufacturing capabilities include 3D printing (Multi Jet Fusion), carbon fibre lay-up, silicone products, and traditional methods. Clinical services encompass gait analysis, plantar pressure assessment, and custom fitting. Products are available through NHS contracts (via frameworks including NHS Supply Chain, NHS SBS, and regional procurement hubs) and private pay services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Patients transferring from conventional caliper device to carbon fibre orthosis doubled their walking distance (Scandinavian study)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Ability Matters Group
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ability Matters Group technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Ability Matters Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Strathclyde UniversitycoreApproved centre for provision of undergraduate training for orthotists, recognized by the university for clinical education.
- Salford UniversitycoreApproved centre for provision of undergraduate training for orthotists, recognized by the university for clinical education.
- BAPO (British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists)minorProfessional association for prosthetists and orthotists in the UK.
- BHTA (British Healthcare Trades Association)minorProfessional association for healthcare trades in the UK.
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)coreGoverning body for Orthotists. All Crispin Orthotics clinicians are state registered with the HCPC.
- Blackburn Rovers FCminorSporting partner providing orthotic services to professional football club.
- Everton FCminorSporting partner providing orthotic services to professional football club.
- Liverpool FCminorSporting partner providing orthotic services to professional football club.
- Manchester City FCminorSporting partner providing orthotic services to professional football club.
- Sale Sharks RUFCminorSporting partner providing orthotic services to professional rugby union club.
- Denovo HealthcareminorPrivate partner for healthcare services.
- Griffiths & Hartley Physiotherapy & Sports InjuriesminorLeeds-based physiotherapy clinics partner for multidisciplinary care.
- Up and RunningminorSporting partner for orthotic services related to running and athletics.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ability Matters Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ottobock: Global market leader in prosthetics, orthotics and exoskeletons. Comparable as it manufactures and distributes a similar breadth of orthotic and prosthetic devices, plus operates clinical services and competes for the same end-patient mobility market.
- Össur: Iceland-based global leader in prosthetics and bracing. Highly comparable product portfolio (orthotic braces, prosthetic limbs), similar customer base across hospital and consumer channels, and direct overlap in the orthotic and prosthetic categories served by AM Healthcare Group.
- Blatchford: UK-based manufacturer and provider of prosthetics and orthotics, including carbon fibre devices. Direct domestic competitor with overlapping NHS relationships, similar manufacturing technology and product mix targeting the same mobility patient pool.
- Steeper Group: UK prosthetics and orthotics manufacturer and provider, including Steeper Clinics. Direct competitor in NHS prosthetic and orthotic service delivery with comparable manufacturing capabilities and patient-facing clinical services.
- Fillauer: US-based manufacturer of orthotic and prosthetic components with international distribution. Comparable as a component and device manufacturer targeting the same prosthetists and orthotists serving NHS-style patient populations.
- Endolite (Blatchford subsidiary): Blatchford-owned brand for prosthetic componentry including microprocessor knees and feet. Overlaps with Ortho Europe's product portfolio in prosthetics and competes for similar NHS and private prosthetic procurement.
- Trulife: Manufacturer and distributor of orthotic, prosthetic and breast care products. Comparable as a competing device manufacturer with overlapping product categories (orthotics and prosthetics) and international distribution footprint.
Broad incumbents
- Hanger Clinic: Largest US provider of orthotic and prosthetic patient care services with a nationwide clinical network. Comparable business model combining clinical service delivery with device provision, though US-focused rather than UK/EU like AM Healthcare Group.
- Bauerfeind: German manufacturer of orthopaedic braces, supports and compression therapy products. Comparable as a broader orthotics manufacturer with overlapping brace, support and insole product lines competing for both consumer and clinical channels.
- Thuasne: French family-owned medical device group producing orthoses, prosthetics and mobility aids. Comparable European competitor with overlapping orthotic manufacturing and distribution across similar European geographies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ability Matters Group social profiles
Digital presenceAbility Matters Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Ability Matters Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ability Matters Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ability Matters Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
Ability Matters Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ability Matters Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ability Matters Group
What does Ability Matters Group do?
AM Healthcare Group (formerly Ability Matters Group) provides prosthetic and orthotic clinical services and manufactures/distributes mobility devices (orthoses, wheelchairs, seating, bespoke footwear) through eleven wholly owned subsidiaries. The group delivers NHS-managed clinical services across UK hospitals, schools, and community centres while also serving private patients through clinics such as Crispin Orthotics, and supplies products wholesale via Ortho Europe.
Is Ability Matters Group a public or private company?
Ability Matters Group is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Ability Matters Group founded?
Ability Matters Group was founded in 1989. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Ability Matters Group based?
Ability Matters Group is headquartered in Abingdon, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Ability Matters Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. NHS Clinical Services are the primary driver. The others are private Clinical Services and product Manufacturing & Sales.
Who are Ability Matters Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ottobock, Össur, Blatchford, Steeper Group, Fillauer, Endolite (Blatchford subsidiary) and Trulife. Broad incumbents are Hanger Clinic, Bauerfeind and Thuasne.
Does Ability Matters Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ability Matters Group.
What industry is Ability Matters Group in?
Ability Matters Group's product category is Prosthetic and Orthotic Services and Devices. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAEAI, Orthotics & Bracing (Spinal/Lower/Upper Extremity Orthoses), with a secondary code of HLACAPAB, Connected Medical Devices & Wearables (Sensors, Patches, Implantables). Its NAICS code is 621 and its SIC code is 3842.