Talking Mats

What Talking Mats does

Talking Mats is a Stirling, Scotland-based social enterprise founded in 1998 that provides a visual communication framework for people who have difficulty expressing their views, including those with learning disabilities, dementia, mental health conditions, stroke, or other communication support needs. The framework uses picture symbols arranged on a mat against a visual scale (e.g., going well / okay / not going well) to enable structured conversations and is offered both as physical card sets (Talking Mats Original) and as a web-based digital application (Digital Talking Mats) with subscription tiers (Pro), paid mobile apps (Lite), and a free taster. A portfolio of topic-based resource sets covers Health and Wellbeing, Social Care, Keeping Safe, Thinking Ahead, Exploring Spirituality, Supporting Communication with AAC, Funeral Planning, and Sexual Health and Relationships, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications underpinning the methodology.

The company makes money by selling training courses as a mandatory prerequisite to resource purchase (Foundation Training, Focused Foundation Training, Organisational Training, Advanced Specialist courses, and a Licensed Training course at £1,299), by selling physical resources (~£44 per topic set) and digital subscriptions through its e-commerce site, and by licensing a 200+ trainer network worldwide that delivers training and resells resources within their own organizations. Go-to-market is primarily sales-led via direct e-commerce and the licensed trainer channel, with marketing support from a research publication portfolio, sector events (Communication Matters, RCSLT Scotland), video content, and social media. The customer base spans health and social care providers (multiple NHS trusts), education (schools, SEND), justice (HMP Berwyn), and third-sector organizations, with named customers across each vertical. The headcount is small (1-10 employees), no external institutional investment is disclosed, and the operation is supplemented by grant funding from Innovate UK, the Scottish Government, and the Big Lottery Awards for All.

Name

Talking Mats

Legal name

Talking Mats Ltd.

Website

https://talkingmats.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Talking Mats is a Stirling-based social enterprise that provides a picture-symbol visual communication framework, training, and digital/physical resources for practitioners working with people who have communication difficulties across health, social care, education, and justice sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Tools

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual Nursing, Telemonitoring & Command Center Platforms (HLACAFAH)

Keywords

• Visual communication tools
• AAC support resources
• Speech therapy training
• Communication aids
• Social care consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

Stirling

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training Courses: Foundation training, Focused Foundation Training, Organisational training, Licensed Trainer courses, and Advanced Specialist courses. Training is required before purchasing resources, creating a prerequisite revenue stream.
2. Digital Subscriptions: Talking Mats Pro monthly or annual paid subscriptions, along with one-time payment options for Talking Mats Lite app and Talking Mats Original.
3. Physical Resources: Talking Mats Original physical products and Additional Resources sold through the online shop, with UK and international shipping options.
4. Licensed Training Business: Licensed trainers can train others within their own organisations or through partnerships, creating a network-based distribution model with 200+ licensed trainers worldwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Talking Mats provides a visual communication framework that uses picture symbols placed on a textured mat with a visual scale to help people with communication difficulties express their views and participate in decision-making. The offering spans physical card-based mats (Talking Mats Original), digital web and mobile applications (Digital Talking Mats, Talking Mats Pro/Lite/Taster), topic-specific symbol resource sets, and mandatory Foundation Training plus Licensed Trainer and consultancy services. It is targeted at practitioners and organisations working in health and social care, education, and justice.

Product overview

Talking Mats is a social enterprise providing a visual communication framework available both as physical card sets and digital web/app platforms. The core product portfolio includes Digital Talking Mats (web-app), Talking Mats Pro (subscription), Talking Mats Lite (paid app), Talking Mats Taster (free app), and Talking Mats Original (physical cards). Access to resources requires Foundation Training, with advanced Licensed Training available for those wishing to become trainers. Specialized topic resources include Health and Wellbeing, Social Care, Keeping Safe, Thinking Ahead, Exploring Spirituality, Supporting Communication with AAC, and Funeral Planning, each comprising specific picture symbol sets for different conversation contexts. The company also offers consultancy services across Education, Health and Social Care, and Justice sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Digital Talking Mats: Web-based digital platform version of the Talking Mats communication tool
• Exploring Spirituality Resource
• Supporting Communication with AAC
• Keeping Safe Resource
• Thinking Ahead
• Funeral Planning Resource

Products and services

• Digital Talking Mats Web-based digital platform that enables users to create and conduct visual communication conversations using interactive mats with picture symbols, usable in person or remotely via screen sharing in video calls.
• Talking Mats Pro Subscription-based digital Talking Mats product with monthly or annual access to the complete digital platform, providing instant login access for trained practitioners.
• Talking Mats Lite Paid mobile application version of Talking Mats available for download on mobile devices, providing access to the visual communication framework on phones and tablets.
• Talking Mats Taster Free mobile application providing introductory access to Talking Mats functionality, used as a discovery and trial experience for new users.
• Talking Mats Original Physical card-based communication resource using picture symbols placed on a textured mat with a visual top scale, designed for in-person visual conversations with people who have communication difficulties.
• Foundation Training

Quantifiable outcome

• Cost benefit ratio of £23.00 return for every £1.00 spent on Keeping Safe resource and training
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.

• Ace CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Ace Centre first contacted Talking Mats in 2018 with the idea of developing a specific assessment resource for AAC users. This partnership led to the development of the 'Supporting Communication with AAC' resource and online advanced training module.
• Scottish Centre of Technology for the Communication Impaired (SCTCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Talking Mats on the development of the 'Supporting Communication with AAC' resource and advanced training module.
• Queen Margaret UniversitynotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Ann Clark from Queen Margaret University presented research findings on communication in Hearings at Talking Mats Youth Justice seminar, highlighting SLCN (Speech, Language and Communication Needs) in children and young people.
• Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy ScotlandnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerKim Harley Kean, Head of RCSLT Scotland office, participated in Talking Mats Youth Justice seminar, discussing communication support and equality in justice and care services.
• Talking Trouble Aotearoa NZnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerSally Kedge and Alayne McKee from Talking Trouble NZ shared innovative work on communication needs at Talking Mats seminars. They presented on using Talking Mats with children and families in criminal justice and child protection contexts.
• Communication MattersnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunication Matters and AAC networks advertised the working group and helped form the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion resource development group in 2021.
• University of StirlingnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Stirling collaborated on the Talking Health and Housing project, with researchers from the university working with Talking Mats on health and housing outcomes for tenants.
• University of EdinburghnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Edinburgh researchers collaborated on the Talking Health and Housing project alongside Talking Mats and University of Stirling.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• CoughDrop: Cloud-based AAC app designed for tablets and browsers, used by speech-language professionals and families — comparable as a digital AAC platform, focused on a simpler subscription-delivered alternative to enterprise AAC suites.

Broad incumbents

• Tobii Dynavox: Global market leader in AAC devices and software (including Boardmaker symbol materials), serving speech-language pathologists, educators, and healthcare providers — closely comparable in serving the same SLT/SEND buyer with symbol-based communication tools, but at much greater scale and as a portfolio player.
• PRC-Saltillo: US-headquartered AAC device and language app maker (LAMP Words for Life, TouchChat) used by speech-language professionals — comparable as an AAC specialist serving SLTs and individuals with communication difficulties, with overlapping symbol-based methodology.

Regional players

• Crick Software: UK-based education software publisher of Clicker and DocsPlus, widely used in UK primary schools and SEND settings — comparable in providing symbol/picture-supported communication and writing tools for the same UK SEND and speech therapy buyer.

Others

• AAC Institute: US-based AAC education and advocacy organisation providing training, resources, and research for SLTs and AAC practitioners — comparable as a training/research-driven enabler for AAC adoption, supporting similar practitioner communities to Talking Mats' licensed trainer network.
• Communication Matters: UK charity and sector body for AAC, organising the Communication Matters Conference and supporting practitioners — comparable as an ecosystem player that Talking Mats actively partners with, shaping AAC training and policy in the UK.

Direct peers

• Widgit Software: UK developer of symbol-based communication and literacy software (Widgit Online, Communicate: In Print) used widely in UK special education and healthcare settings — comparable in offering symbol-based visual communication tools for SEND, speech therapy, and care applications.
• Boardmaker (by Tobii Dynavox): Widely-used picture symbol library and activity creator for special education and speech therapy, originally Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) — directly comparable as a symbol-based resource for SLTs, educators, and SEND practitioners.
• AssistiveWare: Developer of Proloquo and Proloquo2Go AAC apps for iOS, used by speech therapists and people with communication difficulties — comparable as a digital-first AAC/symbol-based communication platform serving the same SLT and end-user community.
• Smartbox Assistive Technology: UK-based provider of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) hardware and software (Grid 3, Grid for iPad) widely used by speech and language therapists and special education needs teams — directly comparable as an AAC/communication support specialist serving overlapping clinical and education buyer groups.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/talkingmats
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/talking-mats

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 Talking Mats