Birmingham firm raises £1 million to revolutionise workplace training

A Birmingham firm offering a revolution in workplace training has secured a £1 million investment to take their business to the next level.

Assemble You has set out to tackle the challenge of low engagement in workplace training – especially for remote and neurodiverse staff.

They replaced lengthy videos and click through training modules used by many businesses with shorter podcast style audio content, focussed on soft skills such as leadership development and inclusion. These are designed to improve staff engagement and develop new skills – reducing employee turnover and poor productivity.

The investment includes £499,983 from the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund (WMCO) alongside funding from specialist education technology investor Ufi Ventures.

This enables them to expand their range of learning materials, develop French, German and Spanish language versions, and grow their sales and marketing team.

Assemble You co-founders Adam Lacy and Richard Ward

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) set up the £25m WMCO in partnership with the West Midlands Pension Fund to invest in new businesses with the potential to grow, create jobs and contribute to a vibrant regional economy.

It provides equity of up to £1 million to high-growth SMEs in the WMCA area, matched by private co-investment. 

The fund is managed by Midven, part of Future Planet Capital, which is providing additional guidance. Midven recognised the growth potential of Assemble You’s engaging and accessible workplace training.

Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands said: “Assemble You is full of the energy and creativity that is going to drive our economy into a new era of prosperity. They’re using innovative technology to support businesses, maintain a happy workforce, and retain talent in a rapidly changing workplace.

“The success of small businesses will be at the core of my growth plan. And that’s why I’m backing them with the investment and support they need to innovate, grow and reignite our economy.”

Adam Lacey, co-founder of Assemble You said: “This investment will have a huge impact on Assemble You and our mission, allowing us to tackle the widespread problem of disengaged employees head-on.

“Traditional digital training methods simply aren't working, and we're providing a solution that's not only more engaging but also truly accessible to everyone, including deskless and neurodiverse workers. This funding will enable us to expand our content library, reach more learners, and ultimately create a more skilled and future-ready workforce.”

Huw Sparkes, investment manager at Midven said: “We are delighted to invest in Assemble You, a company that has demonstrated innovation and forward-thinking in the digital learning and development space. Their mission to democratise workplace learning through high-quality educational content positions them well for significant growth.”

For full details of the fund and how to apply visit the Midven website.