Glide
Glide is a UK-based connectivity provider offering full fibre broadband, managed Wi-Fi, dark fibre, and connected-building technology to universities, student accommodation, build-to-rent developers, and businesses across the UK, with operations expanding into Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersClevedon, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Glide does
Glide is a UK-based business connectivity provider operating for over 35 years, delivering full fibre broadband, managed Wi-Fi, dark fibre, and connected-building technology to enterprise and mid-market customers. The company is privately held under the legal entity Glide Student & Residential Ltd., headquartered in Birmingham (registered office) with operations across the United Kingdom and a recently announced expansion into European markets. Glide's product portfolio is anchored by three commercial propositions: Glide Business (broadband and Wi-Fi for SMB and enterprise), Glide Manage (next-generation connected buildings and ESG-enabled infrastructure), and Glide Fibre (high-capacity fibre network infrastructure, inherited from the 2021 acquisition of Concept Solutions People). Underlying technology is a terabit-ready full fibre network with managed Wi-Fi deployment capabilities designed for complex, high-density environments.
The company serves eight verticals — Education, Student Accommodation (PBSA), Build-to-Rent, Small & Medium Business, Hospitality, Data Centres, Public Sector, and Manufacturing/Warehousing/Logistics — with the first four flagged as primary. Glide operates a blended go-to-market combining enterprise field sales (including a new European Sales Director), inside sales for mid-market and SMB, and a partner/reseller channel. Revenue is generated through recurring managed-services contracts and subscription pricing on annual billing cycles, with quote-based enterprise pricing. King's College London is cited as a major reference customer for fibre and managed Wi-Fi. No external venture funding or public listing is disclosed, and the company appears to be privately held by management or founders.
The core infrastructure asset is the UK fibre footprint, materially expanded by the 2021 CSP acquisition. Glide participates in the UK government's Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme as an approved supplier. Leadership is led by Group CEO Tim Pilcher, with Alan Marshall recently appointed to lead European strategy. Customer segments are diversified across verticals, but enterprise anchor exposure and a capital-intensive fibre asset base create moderate concentration risk and require sustained capital deployment to maintain the terabit-ready network proposition.
Glide firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Glide
- Legal name
- Glide Student & Residential Ltd.
- Website
- https://glidegroup.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Glide is a UK-based connectivity provider offering full fibre broadband, managed Wi-Fi, dark fibre, and connected-building technology to universities, student accommodation, build-to-rent developers, and businesses across the UK, with operations expanding into Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Glide is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Clevedon
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Glide business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Managed Internet and Connectivity Services: Recurring managed services revenue from providing internet connectivity, Wi-Fi, and fibre broadband solutions to businesses and residential developers. Services include ongoing monitoring, management, and support.
- Network Infrastructure Services: Revenue from dark fibre, full fibre broadband, and network infrastructure deployment for buildings and communities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Custom enterprise pricing based on specific requirements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Glide product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Glide is a UK-based telecommunications provider delivering internet connectivity, broadband, VoIP and managed communication services to businesses, student accommodation, build-to-rent residences, hospitality venues and public sector organisations. The company supplies fibre broadband, managed Wi-Fi, dark fibre and connected-building solutions backed by its own carrier network.
Product overview
Glide is a UK-based provider of managed internet, Wi-Fi, and connectivity services with over 35 years of experience. The company operates two main divisions: Glide Business provides broadband and Wi-Fi solutions for businesses with terabit-ready network infrastructure, while Glide Manage focuses on connected building technology and ESG responsibility. The core service portfolio includes Fibre Broadband, Managed Wi-Fi, Dark Fibre, and network infrastructure services. Glide also operates through its sub-brand Glide Fibre (formerly Concept Solutions People) to expand high-capacity broadband networks across the UK.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Glide Fibre: Fibre network brand operating under Glide Group, formerly known as Concept Solutions People (CSP), providing high-capacity broadband networks across the UK.
Products and services
- Glide Business (Business Broadband)
Quantifiable outcome
- Specialist expertise developed over 35+ years serving complex connectivity environments
Companies that use Glide
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Glide technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Glide partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Concept Solutions People (CSP) - Acquired and renamed Glide FibrecoreGlide Group acquired Concept Solutions People (CSP), a fibre network builder, which was renamed Glide Fibre. This acquisition allows Glide to expand its high-capacity broadband networks across the UK, leveraging CSP's expertise and network infrastructure. The acquisition is part of Glide's strategy to grow its fibre network footprint.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Glide competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gigaclear: UK rural-focused full-fibre altnet serving residential and business customers. Comparable as an alternative network provider delivering fibre broadband to underserved areas with similar managed-service and customer-segment dynamics.
- Colt Technology Services: UK-headquartered provider of enterprise connectivity, fibre, and managed network services including dark fibre. Overlaps with Glide's business connectivity, dark fibre, and managed-services offerings for enterprise and data-centre customers.
- Zayo Group: International fibre and bandwidth infrastructure provider offering dark fibre, wavelengths, and managed connectivity to enterprise and data-centre customers. Comparable in dark fibre, network infrastructure, and enterprise-connectivity offerings to Glide's higher-end services.
- CityFibre: UK alternative network provider building full-fibre infrastructure targeting residential, business, and public-sector customers. Highly comparable to Glide as a UK altnet serving similar B2B and property-developer segments with full-fibre and dark fibre services.
- Community Fibre: London-focused full-fibre altnet offering gigabit broadband to residential, BTR, and business customers. Comparable business model and vertical mix to Glide, particularly in MDU and BTR segments.
- Hyperoptic: UK full-fibre broadband provider specializing in multi-dwelling units (MDUs), build-to-rent, and student accommodation — the same core verticals as Glide. Direct overlap in PBSA and BTR markets makes it a close comparable.
- ASK4: UK-based managed broadband provider specializing in student accommodation, build-to-rent, and residential developments. Directly competes with Glide in the PBSA and BTR verticals with similar managed Wi-Fi and connectivity propositions.
Broad incumbents
- TalkTalk Business: UK business broadband and connectivity provider serving SMB and mid-market customers. Comparable to Glide's SMB and business segments, though TalkTalk offers a broader portfolio including voice, mobile, and managed services.
- Virgin Media O2: Major UK cable and fibre broadband provider serving residential and business customers. Competes with Glide across SMB, BTR, and enterprise segments, with substantially larger scale and capital base.
- BT Group (Openreach): UK incumbent telecom operator and largest fixed-line network owner through Openreach. Competes with Glide across all verticals as both a wholesale infrastructure provider and a retail broadband provider.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Glide social profiles
Digital presenceGlide financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Glide leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Glide subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Glide funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Glide M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Glide
What does Glide do?
Glide is a UK-based telecommunications provider delivering internet connectivity, broadband, VoIP and managed communication services to businesses, student accommodation, build-to-rent residences, hospitality venues and public sector organisations. The company supplies fibre broadband, managed Wi-Fi, dark fibre and connected-building solutions backed by its own carrier network.
Is Glide a public or private company?
Glide is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Glide founded?
Glide was founded in 1990. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Glide based?
Glide is headquartered in Clevedon, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Glide make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Managed Internet and Connectivity Services are the primary driver. The others are network Infrastructure Services.
Who are Glide's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gigaclear, Colt Technology Services, Zayo Group, CityFibre, Community Fibre, Hyperoptic and ASK4. Broad incumbents are TalkTalk Business, Virgin Media O2 and BT Group (Openreach).
Does Glide have an API?
No public API is recorded for Glide.