Timeware

What Timeware does

Timeware UK Limited is a UK-based workforce management software company headquartered in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, with 30+ years of domain experience and 7,500+ installations across the UK, Ireland, and West Africa. The company sells three on-premise product tiers: timestart (entry-level, up to 3 users and 50 employee records, £75/month), timeware Small Business (up to 5 users, 5 devices, and 150 records, from £1,900/year), and timeware Professional (unlimited capacity, from £3,800/year). A cloud platform, timeware Cloud, is in beta with official launch planned for Q4 2026. The core technology stack combines time and attendance processing, biometric and NFC-based attendance capture (including the proprietary timeware Puck), access control, personnel management, absence management, and a fire alarm roll-call module. ESS GO is a cross-tier mobile employee self-service app for iOS and Android supporting NFC, leave requests, shift viewing, and GPS-tagged offsite bookings.

The product is monetised through a combination of software subscriptions, per-seat ESS GO licences (£1/person/month), annual managed service fees (£1,295/year from year 2 on Small Business), hardware resale (Suprema biometric and proximity devices), annual integration licences, and professional services for installation, bio enrolment, and training. The distribution model is primarily direct enterprise field sales in the UK, with channel partners for West Africa (Visisure) and a Channel Partner Development Manager hire in October 2025 indicating a planned channel buildout ahead of the cloud launch. Over 75% of new business originates from existing-customer referrals, and several enterprise customers (Cranswick, IAC Group, Bilfinger, Aggregate Industries) have tenures exceeding 15 years, indicating strong retention. The integration ecosystem spans 16+ approved partners across payroll (Sage, ADP, Earnie, Pegasus), HR (BambooHR, PeopleHR, HiBob, Cascade HR), and access control (Paxton, Genetec, BioStar 2, Brivo, Optima, GuardPoint10, InVentry). The company is privately held, has 11-50 employees, holds ISO 9001, ISO 27001, ISO 14001, and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications, and does not publicly disclose revenue.

Name

Timeware

Legal name

timeware® UK Limited

Website

https://timeware.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Timeware UK Limited provides workforce management software to 7,500+ installations across the UK, Ireland, and West Africa, offering time and attendance, access control, and HR/payroll integration solutions across three product tiers, with a cloud platform planned for Q4 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Management Software

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Payroll, Time & Attendance (BPACAPAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Time, Attendance & Scheduling Administration (BPACAIAE), Time & Attendance Administration (Timekeeping, Scheduling, Leave Tracking) (BPAAAHAC)

Keywords

• Workforce management software
• Time and attendance systems
• Absence management solutions
• Access control software
• Biometric attendance devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. Software Subscriptions: Three-tier subscription model: timestart (£75/month for small teams), Small Business (from £1,900/year for growing teams), and Professional (from £3,800/year for large teams). Includes software licenses, updates, and support.
2. ESS GO Mobile App License: Employee self-service app licensed per person at £1/month for timestart and Small Business tiers. Priced in blocks of 50 users for Professional tier.
3. Managed Services: Managed service package covering system management, updates, training, reviews, and support requests. £1,295/year from year 2 for Small Business.
4. Hardware Sales: Sale of Suprema biometric devices (face recognition, fingerprint, proximity), timeware Pucks, and access control hardware. Includes BioStation 3, FaceStation F2, X-Station 2, BioEntry W2, and other devices.
5. Integration Licenses: Annual licenses for API integrations with payroll providers (Sage, ADP, Earnie, Pegasus), HR systems (BambooHR, PeopleHR, HiBob, Cascade HR), and access control systems (Paxton, Genetec, BioStar 2, GuardPoint10, InVentry, Brivo, Optima).
6. Professional Services: Implementation, installation, bio enrolment, and user training services delivered by timeware technicians at customer locations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Timeware develops and sells on-premise workforce management software for time and attendance, absence management, access control, and HR/payroll integration, sold in three tiers (timestart, Small Business, Professional). The company also distributes Suprema biometric hardware (face recognition, fingerprint, proximity readers), its proprietary NFC-based timeware Puck attendance device, and the ESS GO mobile self-service app, complemented by implementation, training, and managed services.

Product overview

Timeware offers a portfolio of three workforce management software tiers: timestart (entry-level, up to 3 users, £75/month with ESS GO and NFC Puck), timeware Small Business (growing teams, up to 5 users, 150 records, from £1,900), and timeware Professional (enterprise, unlimited users/devices, from £3,800). All tiers share a common time and attendance engine developed over 30 years and support ESS GO mobile app for iOS and Android. The Professional edition adds specialized modules including Personnel, Absence Management, Time and Attendance, Access Control, Fire Alarm/Assembly Point, Cost Centre Analysis, ADP (Attendance Display Panel), Dashboards and Reports, To-do List, Payroll Integration, Browser-based ESS, and GDPR/WTR Compliance. Integration options span HR systems (BambooHR, PeopleHR, HiBob, Cascade HR), payroll providers (Sage, ADP, Earnie, Pegasus), and security platforms (Paxton Net2, BioStar 2, Genetec, GuardPoint10, Brivo, Optima, InVentry) plus Suprema biometric hardware.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• timestart®: Entry-level time and attendance software solution for small businesses with up to 3 users and 50 employee records, priced at £75 per month
• timeware® Small Business
• timeware® Professional
• ESS GO

Products and services

• timestart Entry-level on-premise time and attendance software for small businesses with up to 3 users and 50 employee records. Includes ESS GO mobile app, NFC timeware Puck for attendance, Sage payroll integration, and cloud-based data storage. Priced at £75 per month including managed service.
• timeware Small Business On-premise workforce management software for growing teams with capacity up to 5 users, 5 devices, and 150 employee records. Includes core modules for time and attendance, absence management, personnel, GDPR compliance, and integrations with HR, payroll, and access control systems. From £1,900 per year.
• timeware Professional Flagship on-premise workforce management software for large, multi-location enterprises with unlimited users, devices, and employee records. Offers advanced features including multiple customization points, project management, and comprehensive modules for time and attendance, access control, payroll, and compliance. From £3,800 per year.
• timeware Cloud Cloud-based workforce management platform currently in beta at selected UK sites, planned for official launch in Q4 2026. Designed to deliver the same reliability and performance as the on-premise timeware solutions in a cloud delivery model.
• ESS GO Mobile App Employee self-service mobile app for iOS and Android that enables attendance bookings via NFC, leave requests, shift rota viewing, timesheet access, and flexi balance checking. Uses GPS coordinates for offsite attendance bookings. Licensed at £1 per person per month.
• Suprema Biometric Hardware Biometric and proximity attendance/access control hardware from Suprema, including BioStation 3 (face recognition), X-Station 2, FaceStation F2, XPass 2, BioEntry W2, BioEntry P2, and BioLite N2 devices. Sold as part of timeware Professional installations.
• timeware Puck NFC Attendance Device

Quantifiable outcome

• 75%+ referral rate for new business
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• SupremacoreTechnology or IntegrationSuprema is a leading global provider of access control, time & attendance and biometrics solutions. timeware is a Suprema Integration Partner, integrating with BioStar 2 platform and various Suprema devices including BioStation 3, FaceStation F2, X-Station 2, BioEntry W2, BioEntry P2, BioLite N2, and XPass 2.
• SagecoreTechnology or Integrationtimeware is an official Sage Development Partner providing approved integration to Sage Payroll software. Following overtime approval, total hours worked data in timeware transfers to Sage Payroll, eliminating manual data entry. Integration available across all product tiers.
• PaxtoncoreTechnology or IntegrationPaxton designs and manufactures market-leading security solutions with around 25,000 buildings secured globally each year. timeware has achieved Paxton Approved Integration status for Net2 version 6.02 onwards, enabling personnel/users and credentials to sync between systems.
• GeneteccoreTechnology or IntegrationGenetec is a world-class provider of IP-based security solutions including CCTV, physical access control, vehicle barrier control, and ANPR. API integration compatible with Genetec version 5.8 and onwards enables attendance tracking using existing Genetec readers.
• BambooHRcoreTechnology or IntegrationBambooHR is a cloud-based HR platform bringing recruitment, onboarding, performance, payroll, and absence tracking into one system. timeware integration automates transfer of employee data and approved leave information between systems.
• PeopleHRcoreTechnology or IntegrationPeopleHR is a cloud-based HRM system providing functionality for recruitment, talent management, and absence management. Integration eliminates duplicate entry by passing employee details and approved leave from PeopleHR to timeware.
• HiBobcoreTechnology or IntegrationHiBob, founded in 2015 and headquartered in London, specialises in modern HR software for SMEs with their Bob platform. Integration enables employee and absence data sync between Bob and timeware Professional.
• Cascade HRcoreTechnology or IntegrationIRIS Cascade HRi is a comprehensive cloud-based HRM system for centralising HR and payroll functions. Integration enables employee record transfer and absence synchronisation between Cascade HR and timeware Professional.
• ADPcoreTechnology or IntegrationADP is a leading payroll provider for UK businesses managing payslips, employee pay, pensions, expenses, statuary pay, tax calculations, and HMRC submissions. Integration transfers hours worked from timeware to ADP following overtime approval.
• EarniecoreTechnology or IntegrationEarnie IQ Payroll by IRIS manages payroll processes including payslips, employee pay, pensions, expenses, statuary pay, tax calculations, and HMRC submissions. Integration transfers hours worked from timeware to Earnie following overtime approval.
• PegasuscoreTechnology or IntegrationPegasus provides payroll software for UK businesses managing payslips, employee pay, pensions, expenses, statuary pay, tax calculations, and HMRC submissions. Integration transfers hours worked from timeware to Pegasus following overtime approval.
• BioStar 2coreTechnology or IntegrationBioStar 2 from Suprema Inc. is a web-based, open, and integrated security platform providing comprehensive functionality for access control and video log maintenance. Integration enables personnel/users created in timeware to be passed into BioStar 2 system.
• GuardPoint10coreTechnology or IntegrationGuardPoint10 by Sensor Access Technology is a modern access control software platform suitable for businesses of all sizes, from small to global enterprises. Integration compatible with Windows 11 and Active Directory.
• InVentrycoreTechnology or IntegrationInVentry is a visitor management and sign-in solution trusted by more than 8,000 schools and businesses in the UK. API integration eliminates duplicate entry by passing personnel records and events from InVentry to timeware.
• BrivocoreTechnology or IntegrationBrivo is a global leader in cloud-based access control and smart building technologies, powering over 45,000 commercial accounts and millions of users across 60 countries. Integration enables personnel sync and attendance tracking using Brivo devices.
• OptimacoreTechnology or IntegrationOptima by Almas Industries is an innovative security solution and biometric access control and time & attendance system. Integration enables personnel sync and attendance tracking using Optima readers.
• Visisure (West Africa) LtdregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational partner representing timeware in West Africa. Located in Accra, Ghana, with Lordson Abasa-Addo as Director. Handles sales and support for timeware products in the West African region.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group): Global workforce management and HCM leader formed by the merger of Kronos and Ultimate Software. UKG Dimensions is a direct cloud competitor to Timeware Professional across time & attendance, scheduling, and HR analytics for large multi-site enterprises — making it the most relevant global direct peer.
• Planday: Denmark-based (now part of Hilti) shift planning and workforce management platform widely used in UK hospitality, retail, and healthcare SMBs. Directly comparable to Timeware's small and growing-teams tiers on employee scheduling and basic T&A.
• Deputy: Mobile-first, cloud-native workforce management platform used widely in shift-based industries including hospitality, healthcare, and retail. Competes most directly with Timeware on the SMB and mid-market tiers and represents the cloud-native trajectory Timeware is racing to match with the Q4 2026 cloud launch.
• Quinyx: Swedish AI-driven workforce management platform with strong European and UK retail/logistics presence. Competes with Timeware Professional in workforce scheduling, forecasting, and time & attendance for large multi-site enterprises.
• WorkForce Software: US-headquartered workforce management specialist focused on time & attendance, scheduling, and absence management for large, often unionized, multi-site employers — directly comparable to Timeware Professional in target customer and product scope.

Emerging players

• Connecteam: Mobile-first employee management app (time clock, scheduling, HR, communication) with aggressive global SMB pricing. An emerging best-of-breed competitor for the lower end of Timeware's market, and a benchmark for Timeware Cloud's mobile UX.

Broad incumbents

• Ceridian Dayforce: Enterprise HCM and workforce management platform (formerly Ceridian) with strong time & attendance, scheduling, and payroll capabilities. Competes with Timeware Professional for large multi-site UK employers in manufacturing, retail, and services.
• ADP: Largest payroll provider globally, with integrated workforce management modules (ADP Workforce Now, ADP Vantage HCM). ADP is both a Timeware integration partner and a competitor — its embedded T&A reduces customers' willingness to buy a separate best-of-breed layer like Timeware.

Regional players

• RotaCloud: UK-based employee scheduling, time & attendance, and rota planning platform targeting hospitality, retail, and care SMEs. Most comparable to Timeware's timestart and Small Business tiers in geography and product simplicity.
• Softworks: Irish-based workforce management, time & attendance, and skills software provider with strong UK and Ireland enterprise presence in healthcare, manufacturing, and public sector — closely overlapping Timeware's core geographies and customer mix.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/timewareCommunity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/timewareuk
• Xx.com/timewareuk

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Timeware