Seren

What Seren does

Hwb is the Welsh Government's official digital learning platform, operated by the Schools Digital Services Division within the Welsh Government (Llywodraeth Cymru). It provides all learners and staff in maintained schools across Wales with a single sign-on gateway to a curated suite of educational technology, including Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, Minecraft: Education Edition), Google Workspace for Education, Adobe Express and Creative Cloud, the Thinqi and J2e tool suites from CDSM Interactive Solutions and Just2easy, and bespoke personalised assessments for reading and numeracy. The platform is built on cloud-based infrastructure integrated with school Management Information Systems (SIMS, Teacher Centre), which enables automated account creation and lifecycle management, including automatic deactivation after 12 months of inactivity. An All-Wales Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) solution provides digital certificates for unique user and device identities and secures end-to-end communications on Hwb-managed devices.

Hwb is provided free of charge to all maintained schools, learners, and staff in Wales; it is entirely publicly funded and not a commercial product. Personalised assessments are mandatory for learners in Years 2 to 9, and the platform supports a user base spanning the entire Welsh maintained school sector. Headquarters are located at Cathays Park, Cardiff, with operational and service desk support based at Swansea. The platform is governed under the Welsh Government's privacy, data protection, and acceptable use frameworks, and conforms to WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards.

The business and operating model is that of a government state entity rather than a commercial enterprise: there is no pricing, no paid tiers, and no private-sector revenue. Strategic technology partnerships with Microsoft, Google, CDSM Interactive Solutions, Just2easy, Adobe, SWGfL, Apple, and Freshworks supply the underlying tool stack, while AlphaPlus Consultancy leads the consortium developing personalised assessments. The platform's competitive position is anchored by government mandate and statutory requirement to provide unique secure accounts to all Welsh learners, making it structurally insulated from commercial competition within its defined scope.

Name

Seren

Legal name

Welsh Government (Llywodraeth Cymru)

Website

https://hwb.gov.wales

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hwb is a Welsh Government-operated digital learning platform providing all maintained schools, learners, and staff in Wales with single sign-on access to Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, personalised reading and numeracy assessments, and integrated educational tools, funded publicly and provided free of charge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Technology / Digital Learning Platform

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Open Courseware & Course Modules (OCW) (EDAGAJAB)

Keywords

• Digital learning platform
• Educational technology
• Personalised assessments
• Classroom collaboration tools
• Learning management system

Headquarters

HQ city

Cardiff

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Publicly Funded Digital Education Service: Hwb is provided free of charge to maintained schools and learners in Wales. Funded by the Welsh Government as a public education initiative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hwb is a free digital learning platform provided by the Welsh Government for maintained schools in Wales. It delivers single sign-on access to Microsoft 365, Google Workspace for Education, and integrated educational tools (Thinqi, J2e, Adobe Express, Minecraft: Education Edition), along with mandatory personalised reading and numeracy assessments for learners in Years 2 to 9. Accounts are automatically provisioned from school Management Information Systems (MIS), secured by an All-Wales PKI infrastructure, and provided free of charge as a publicly funded education service.

Product overview

The source data pertains to Hwb (hwb.gov.wales), a digital learning platform operated by the Welsh Government for education in Wales. Hwb provides learners and staff in maintained schools in Wales with access to various digital tools and services, including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace for Education, and personalised assessments for reading and numeracy. However, no specific company named 'Seren' was found in the provided sources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hwb Digital Learning Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• Mandatory personalised assessments available for all learners in Years 2-9 across maintained schools in Wales

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Microsoft CorporationcoreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft 365 (including Word, Excel, Outlook email) and Minecraft: Education Edition provided through Campus and School Agreement. Personal data including middle name and Local Authority area shared with Microsoft.
• Google InccoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle Workspace for Education services including YouTube integrated into Hwb platform. Class groups data shared with Google.
• CDSM Interactive Solutions LtdcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides Thinqi tool suite and operates the Hwb website and event booking service. Processes display name, Hwb email, role, and Local Authority area.
• AlphaPlus Consultancy LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads consortium developing personalised assessments on behalf of Welsh Government. Responsible for assessment development and trialling.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• RM plc: Established UK supplier of ICT hardware, software, and managed services to schools, and parent of Frog Education. Operates across the same K-12 digital infrastructure space as Hwb but as a private commercial vendor across the whole UK.
• Microsoft Education: Global incumbent providing Microsoft 365 Education, Teams for Education, and Minecraft: Education Edition. Hwb integrates Microsoft as a Core partner and re-skins these capabilities for Welsh maintained schools with mandated identity and PKI.
• Google for Education: Global incumbent providing Google Workspace for Education, Classroom, and Chromebook ecosystems. Hwb integrates Google as a Core partner; comparable on functionality but Hwb adds Welsh curriculum alignment, PKI, and MIS-driven identity.

Emerging players

• Canvas by Instructure: Widely adopted learning management system used in K-12 and higher education. Comparable on the learning platform dimension but operates on a subscription SaaS model with no equivalent to Hwb's mandated national identity and MIS integration.

Direct peers

• Glow Scotland: Scotland's national digital learning platform for schools and learners, operated under Education Scotland. Direct analogue to Hwb as another UK devolved-nation education platform with mandated school access and integrated productivity tools.
• Frog Education (RM plc): UK-based learning platform originally built for schools and now part of RM plc. Closely comparable product surface (VLE, single sign-on, integrated tools) targeted at the same UK K-12 customer base as Hwb.
• C2k (Classroom 2000): Northern Ireland's managed ICT service for schools, providing unified sign-on, email, and educational content to all grant-aided schools. Closest jurisdictional peer to Hwb as the third UK devolved education platform.

Regional players

• London Grid for Learning (LGfL): Regional schools broadband and digital services consortium serving London schools. Comparable operating model (consortium/procurement-based, school-targeted digital services) but constrained to a single English region rather than a devolved nation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gofodserenspace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Seren