UK Endorsing Services
UK Endorsing Services Limited is a UK Home Office approved Endorsing Body, structured as a consortium of six UK businesses, that assesses and endorses Innovator Founder and Scale-Up visa applications for international entrepreneurs and UK growth businesses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersWimbledon, London, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What UK Endorsing Services does
UK Endorsing Services Limited (UKES) is a UK Home Office approved Endorsing Body, registered in England and Wales (company number 14373153) and headquartered at The Old Town Hall, 4 Queens Rd, Wimbledon, London. It assesses and endorses applications under the Innovator Founder visa route (New Business, Same Business as Previous, and Settlement in the UK) and the Scale-Up visa sponsor route. Endorsement is granted against three criteria — innovation, viability, and scalability — and is required for international entrepreneurs seeking to establish or extend innovative, scalable businesses in the UK.
UKES is structured as a consortium of six UK businesses: European Innovation, Schoolgate Accounting Services, Severn Seed Finance, NEXUS, International Innovation Hub Limited (IIH), and Blue Orchid. The consortium collectively claims over 75 years of experience supporting growth businesses, having helped create over 20,000 new businesses and 25,000 new jobs and raise over £150M of early-stage investment. Alongside core endorsement products, UKES bundles business incubation (workspace, mentoring), professional services (accountancy, legal/IP, HR, insurance), finance access (business angels, VCs, loan finance, grants), and sales, marketing, R&D and technical product development support to endorsed applicants. Applications are processed through a 10-stage Microsoft Power Apps portal, with non-English channels in Mandarin, Russian and Urdu plus recurring multilingual webinars.
The company charges fixed, per-application fees (Innovator Founder endorsement £1,000 excl. VAT; Scale-Up endorsement £1,500 excl. VAT) collected upfront, plus £500 (excl. VAT) checkpoint monitoring fees at roughly 12 and 24 months after business start date. Payments are non-refundable once documents are approved for assessment. Distribution is direct and digital (ukesapp.co.uk and the Power Apps portal), supported by referrals across the consortium partner network. The company operates from a small core team of approximately 5 employees and does not disclose revenue, funding or ownership split.
UK Endorsing Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UK Endorsing Services
- Legal name
- UK Endorsing Services Limited
- Website
- https://ukesapp.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- UK Endorsing Services Limited is a UK Home Office approved Endorsing Body, structured as a consortium of six UK businesses, that assesses and endorses Innovator Founder and Scale-Up visa applications for international entrepreneurs and UK growth businesses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UK Endorsing Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Visa Endorsement Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Visa & eVisa Processing Platforms (THALAPAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Regulatory Content, Rules Engine & Compliance Intelligence (Visa/Entry Requirements) (THALAPAG)
Keywords
Where UK Endorsing Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wimbledon, London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
UK Endorsing Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Innovator Founder Endorsement Assessment: Fixed-fee service for reviewing and assessing Innovator Founder visa endorsement applications. Fees are charged per applicant at application submission. Services include document review, business plan assessment, and endorsement decision. No refunds are provided if application is unsuccessful or visa is not granted.
- Innovator Founder Monitoring Services: Checkpoint monitoring fees charged at 12-month and 24-month intervals after business start date. These are new engagements invoiced when work is undertaken.
- Scale-Up Endorsement Assessment: Fixed-fee assessment service for UK businesses seeking Scale-Up visa sponsor licenses. Charged at application submission.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Innovator Founder - New Business endorsement assessment |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Innovator Founder - Same Business as Previous Endorsement |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Innovator Founder - Settlement in the UK |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Innovator Founder - 12-month checkpoint monitoring |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Innovator Founder - 24-month checkpoint monitoring |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Scale-Up endorsement assessment |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
UK Endorsing Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UKES is a UK Home Office approved Endorsing Body that assesses and issues endorsements required for the Innovator Founder and Scale-Up UK visa routes. The company evaluates business proposals against Innovation, Viability, and Scalability criteria and provides associated business support services (incubation, accountancy, legal, finance access, sales/marketing, R&D) through a consortium of six UK partner businesses.
Product overview
UK Endorsing Services (UKES) is a UK Home Office approved Endorsing Body operating as a consortium of six UK businesses. The company offers a portfolio of visa endorsement products (Innovator Founder endorsements for new businesses, same-business continuations, and settlement; plus Scale-Up endorsements) and a comprehensive suite of business support services including business incubation, professional services access (accountancy, legal, HR, insurance), finance access, sales and marketing, R&D support, and technical/product development. The endorsement products form the core offering, while the support services are additional value-added offerings provided through the consortium partners to help endorsed applicants scale and grow their businesses in the UK.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Innovator Founder Endorsement (New Business)
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 20,000 new businesses created
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use UK Endorsing Services
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
UK Endorsing Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
UK Endorsing Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- European InnovationcorePart of the 6-member consortium providing professional consulting services including strategic business planning, training, and design of innovative solutions. Founded Maxi House incubator for talented founders. Deep understanding of innovation and goal to empower talented founders globally to scale from the UK.
- Schoolgate Accounting ServicescoreBusiness consultancy started as accountancy practice in 2014, specializing in assisting UK and overseas entrepreneurs to establish and grow in the UK. Offers business planning and consultancy services. Has helped hundreds of businesses with market entry and expansion across the UK.
- Severn Seed FinancecoreUK company based in Wales specializing in accessing finance for early-stage businesses, MBOs and MBIs via dedicated online private platform. Team has over 60 years business and equity funding experience and has raised over £100M in private equity and leveraged investment. Approved as UK Government Endorsing Body for startup and innovator applications.
- NEXUScoreForward-thinking collaborative incubator incorporated in 2018 operating as physical and digital hub for next generation of ESG aligned creative tech and digital founders. Provides access to infrastructure, investment funding, and professional services. Established on ESG principles.
- International Innovation Hub Limited (IIH)coreBased in Liverpool city centre, IIH provides coaching, guidance, support and financial services through extensive network of UK and international contacts. Directors have firsthand experience creating and building successful UK businesses including green energy start-ups.
- Blue OrchidcoreEstablished in 2001, one of the most knowledgeable business advice and support programme providers in the UK. Delivers business support services for Local Enterprise Partnerships, Local Authorities, and Government Departments including New Enterprise Allowance programme across Merseyside on behalf of Department of Work and Pensions.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
UK Endorsing Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Fragomen: Global immigration law firm that assists with UK Innovator Founder and Scale-up visa applications, including interactions with endorsing bodies. While not itself an endorsing body, it sits in the same client journey and competes for the same entrepreneur's professional services spend.
- UCLan (University of Central Lancashire) Endorsing: A UK university that has been approved as an endorsing body for Start-up and Innovator Founder visas, leveraging its broader institutional infrastructure and international student/founder networks. Comparable endorsement activity but bundled into a much larger educational institution.
Direct peers
- Start Up Visa (SME Lancashire / Genesis Group): Approved Endorsing Body providing endorsements for Innovator Founder and Start-up visa applicants. Direct competitor to UKES offering equivalent endorsement assessments and business support services for international founders.
- Envestors: One of the longest-standing UK Home Office approved Endorsing Bodies for the Innovator Founder and Start-up visa routes. Directly competes with UKES in the same regulated endorsement market, serving international entrepreneurs seeking UK visa endorsement.
- G-Body Global: UK Home Office approved Endorsing Body focused on Innovator Founder visa endorsements, with offices in the UK and other countries. Direct peer competing for the same pool of international entrepreneur applicants with similar assessment and support services.
- Get Global Ventures: Home Office approved Endorsing Body offering Innovator Founder visa endorsements and incubation services. Competes head-to-head with UKES in assessing international entrepreneur applications against Innovation, Viability and Scalability criteria.
- Sandalwood Ventures / Sandalwood Innovation Platform: A Home Office approved Endorsing Body that combines endorsement assessment with business incubation, talent programs, and growth support for international entrepreneurs. Direct comparable to UKES in offering both endorsement and bundled incubation services.
Emerging players
- Smith Stone Walters: UK immigration law firm that specializes in business immigration including Innovator Founder and Scale-up visa routes. Acts on behalf of applicants who approach endorsing bodies like UKES, so it sits at the same point in the founder's visa journey.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
UK Endorsing Services social profiles
Digital presenceUK Endorsing Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UK Endorsing Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
UK Endorsing Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UK Endorsing Services M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UK Endorsing Services
What does UK Endorsing Services do?
UKES is a UK Home Office approved Endorsing Body that assesses and issues endorsements required for the Innovator Founder and Scale-Up UK visa routes. The company evaluates business proposals against Innovation, Viability, and Scalability criteria and provides associated business support services (incubation, accountancy, legal, finance access, sales/marketing, R&D) through a consortium of six UK partner businesses.
Is UK Endorsing Services a public or private company?
UK Endorsing Services is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was UK Endorsing Services founded?
UK Endorsing Services was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is UK Endorsing Services based?
UK Endorsing Services is headquartered in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does UK Endorsing Services make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Innovator Founder Endorsement Assessment is the primary driver. The others are innovator Founder Monitoring Services and scale-Up Endorsement Assessment.
Who are UK Endorsing Services's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Fragomen and UCLan (University of Central Lancashire) Endorsing. Direct peers are Start Up Visa (SME Lancashire / Genesis Group), Envestors, G-Body Global, Get Global Ventures and Sandalwood Ventures / Sandalwood Innovation Platform. Smith Stone Walters is listed as an emerging player.
Does UK Endorsing Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for UK Endorsing Services.
What industry is UK Endorsing Services in?
UK Endorsing Services's product category is Visa Endorsement Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THALAPAA, Visa & eVisa Processing Platforms, with a secondary code of THALAPAG, Regulatory Content, Rules Engine & Compliance Intelligence (Visa/Entry Requirements).