Bic Innovation

What Bic Innovation does

BIC Innovation Ltd is a private limited consultancy headquartered at Menai Science Park, Gaerwen, Anglesey, with a second office in Bridgend, South Wales. Originally established in 1993 as BIC Eryri, the company transitioned in 2004 into a private consultancy focused on innovation and growth advisory for UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It operates a portfolio of eight core advisory service lines — Practical AI Adoption, Planning and Strategy, Growth and Scaling Up, Innovation and R&D, Operations and Productivity, Internationalisation, Marketing and Communications, and Funded Programmes — and delivers public-sector programme design, cluster development, and management services to bodies such as the Welsh Government, Innovate UK, and Wiltshire Council.

The company's technology stack is non-proprietary; its intellectual property sits in consulting methodologies, sector specialisations, and delivery frameworks rather than software products. It employs approximately 50 professionals, including directors and specialists with prior experience at blue-chip organisations (HSBC, Boots, Cadbury, GE, Amersham, Lloyds Banking Group). Revenue is generated through two streams: paid professional services engagements with SMEs, and managed-service contracts for the delivery of publicly funded business support programmes. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Notable 2024 operational outcomes include supporting 910 businesses, securing £24M in client funding (an 8.8:1 ROI), and creating or safeguarding over 1,800 jobs.

On 1 October 2025, BIC Innovation completed a transition to full employee ownership through an Employee Ownership Trust, becoming the 100th employee-owned company in Wales. It holds Certified B Corporation status (achieved February 2024, with re-certification planned for 2026), operates bilingually in Welsh and English, and runs sector-specific clusters in food & drink, life sciences, circular economy, and defence. Recent strategic moves include a June 2026 partnership with AI Wales to develop SME AI adoption services and a co-developed decarbonisation programme (Trac-C) with Greener Edge.

Name

Bic Innovation

Legal name

BIC Innovation Ltd

Website

https://bic-innovation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BIC Innovation is a Wales-headquartered, employee-owned business consultancy advising SMEs and public sector clients on innovation, growth strategy, AI adoption, and operational improvement, with sector specialisations in food & drink, life sciences, defence, and circular economy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Gaerwen

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Consultancy Services: BIC Innovation generates revenue by providing paid consultancy services to businesses for innovation, growth, strategy, operations, internationalisation, and marketing support.
2. Public Sector Programme Delivery: The company delivers publicly funded business support programmes on behalf of public sector bodies such as Welsh Government and Innovate UK, receiving programme funding to support SMEs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BIC Innovation is a private consultancy that delivers tailored innovation, growth, and operational advisory services to SMEs, alongside the design, management, and delivery of publicly funded business support programmes on behalf of Welsh Government, Innovate UK, and other public sector bodies. The company provides eight core service lines for businesses (Practical AI Adoption, Planning and Strategy, Growth and Scaling Up, Innovation and R&D, Operations and Productivity, Internationalisation, Marketing and Communications, and access to Funded Programmes) plus sector-specialised advisory for Food & Drink, Life Science, Circular Economy, and Defence.

Product overview

BIC Innovation is a business consultancy offering a portfolio of advisory services focused on innovation, growth and organisational change. Rather than a software product, the company provides hands-on consulting services structured around core offerings (Practical AI Adoption, Planning and Strategy, Growth and Scaling Up, Innovation and R&D, Operations and Productivity, Internationalisation, Marketing and Communications) and public sector programme delivery. Specialised sector services cover Food & Drink, Life Science, Circular Economy and Defence. The company also delivers funded programmes and collaborates with Greener Edge on decarbonisation services through the Trac-C initiative. The company transitioned to full employee ownership in October 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• trac-C: A collaboration between BIC Innovation and Greener Edge to deliver a unique series of support packages to guide businesses on their decarbonisation journey, providing exceptional carbon footprint review and understanding of how to make improvements.
• Wiltshire Fit for Growth

Products and services

• Practical AI Adoption Advisory service helping SMEs understand, adopt and benefit from artificial intelligence through structured approaches including AI readiness assessments.
• Planning and Strategy
• Growth and Scaling Up
• Innovation and R&D
• Operations and Productivity
• Internationalisation
• Marketing and Communications
• Funded Programmes
• Programme Development
• Cluster Development
• Management and Delivery
• Collaboration
• Trac-C Decarbonisation Support
• Circular Economy Support
• Defence Sector Support

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported 910 businesses in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AI WalescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026BIC Innovation and AI Wales announced a new partnership to help businesses across Wales understand, adopt and benefit from artificial intelligence. The partnership combines AI Wales' expertise in AI and emerging technologies with BIC Innovation's extensive experience supporting business growth, innovation, and organisational change. Together they will develop activities, resources, and support to help businesses identify AI adoption opportunities, build confidence, and implement solutions that deliver real business value. Welsh SMEs are invited to complete the AI Readiness Assessment as part of this partnership.
• CwmpasminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Cwmpas is the UK's leading advocate for employee ownership. They supported BIC Innovation's transition to full employee ownership through an Employee Ownership Trust. Cwmpas has supported over 30 businesses in Wales and beyond to make the employee ownership shift.
• Geldards LLPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 October 2025Geldards provided legal support for BIC Innovation's transition to full employee ownership. The law firm has supported over 30 businesses in Wales and beyond with similar transitions.
• BPU & Co Chartered AccountantsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 October 2025BPU & Co provided valuation advice for BIC Innovation's transition to full employee ownership through an Employee Ownership Trust.
• Greener EdgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreener Edge is a specialist consultancy that BIC Innovation works closely with on carbon, climate, and sustainability projects across sectors. The collaboration supports Welsh food producers and helps manufacturers navigate towards net zero. Greener Edge's expertise helps SMEs turn climate goals into practical action. They jointly deliver the Trac-C programme, a unique series of decarbonisation support packages.
• Trac-C (BIC Innovation and Greener Edge collaboration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrac-C is a collaboration between BIC Innovation and Greener Edge that delivers a unique series of decarbonisation support packages. The partnership provides exceptional decarbonisation review of carbon footprint and gives businesses the understanding, awareness, and knowledge about how they and their company can make improvements and realise clear cost benefits from their investment.
• Welsh GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelsh Government is a key public sector partner for BIC Innovation. The company delivers business support programmes on behalf of Welsh Government, helping SMEs across Wales access growth and innovation support.
• Innovate UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovate UK is a public sector partner that funds innovation and business growth programmes delivered by BIC Innovation. The company serves as Innovate UK EDGE (formerly) Innovation & Growth Specialists and Scale-up Directors.
• Local Enterprise PartnershipsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development partnerships that collaborate with BIC Innovation on business support delivery in specific geographic areas.
• Academic PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversities and academic institutions that partner with BIC Innovation on knowledge transfer initiatives and research projects.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Digital Catapult: UK innovation Catapult focused on advanced digital technologies and adoption by SMEs and corporates. Comparable to BIC Innovation as a publicly-backed innovation intermediary enabling SME technology and capability adoption.
• WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group): Academic department at the University of Warwick delivering applied research, SME support and innovation programmes in manufacturing and related sectors. Comparable to BIC Innovation's sector-cluster model in manufacturing, food and drink, and supply chain.

Direct peers

• Be the Business: UK not-for-profit focused on boosting SME and mid-market productivity through peer-led mentoring, benchmarking and capability programmes. Highly comparable in mission and SME advisory positioning to BIC Innovation's growth and productivity services.
• CIL Management Consultants: Long-established UK management consultancy advising owner-managed and mid-sized businesses on growth, strategy, funding and operational improvement. Closely aligned with BIC's core SME advisory offering and sector-agnostic consultancy approach.
• ScaleUp Institute: UK organisation dedicated to helping scale-up businesses access peer networks, expertise and growth support, with strong public-sector links. Directly comparable to BIC Innovation's Scale-up Director offering and Innovate UK-aligned scale-up practice.
• The Growth Company: UK-based social enterprise delivering business growth, employability and skills programmes to SMEs, often in partnership with public sector bodies. Closely comparable to BIC Innovation's hybrid consultancy-plus-public-programme-delivery model across the North of England.

Regional players

• Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC): UK innovation centre supporting manufacturing SMEs with R&D, technology adoption and productivity improvements. Comparable to BIC Innovation's manufacturing and operations productivity services, though more capital-intensive and facility-led.

Broad incumbents

• Catapult Network: Network of nine UK Catapult centres delivering R&D, innovation and SME growth support across technologies and sectors. Comparable to BIC Innovation as a publicly-backed innovation delivery network with sector-specific cluster programmes for SMEs.
• Innovate UK Business Growth (formerly Innovate UK EDGE): The national Innovate UK network of innovation and growth specialists — of which BIC Innovation is itself a delivery partner. Directly comparable as the umbrella programme through which BIC delivers scale-up and innovation support to UK SMEs.
• Connected Places Catapult: UK innovation Catapult supporting businesses and public bodies in transport, places and local economic growth. Comparable to BIC Innovation as a publicly-supported innovation intermediary that designs and delivers programmes for SMEs in specific sectors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/bicinnovation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bic-innovation-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Bic Innovation