Birmingham EdTech Firm Secures £1M to Transform Workplace Learning

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 15 seconds

Spotlight

Share:

Quick Read: Birmingham-based Assemble You secures £1 million to scale its audio-first, inclusive approach to workplace training, aiming to improve engagement and accessibility for modern workforces.

Assemble You, a Birmingham-based education technology company, has raised £1 million in investment to scale its innovative audio-first approach to workplace training—designed with inclusivity, accessibility, and engagement at its core.

The company replaces traditional, often ineffective training methods—like long videos and click-through modules—with bite-sized, podcast-style audio content focused on soft skills such as leadership, inclusion, and communication. This format is tailored especially for remote, deskless, and neurodiverse workers, aiming to boost productivity, reduce staff turnover, and create more inclusive learning environments.

The funding round includes a £499,983 investment from the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund (WMCO), alongside backing from specialist EdTech investor Ufi Ventures. The capital will support Assemble You’s plans to expand its content library, translate courses into French, German, and Spanish, and grow its sales and marketing operations.

Photo: Adam Lacey & Richard Ward, Photo Credit: Assemble You

The WMCO Fund, established by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and managed by Midven (part of Future Planet Capital), targets high-growth SMEs in the region, offering matched equity investments to drive job creation and innovation.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker praised Assemble You’s potential, saying:

“This company exemplifies the creativity and energy needed to fuel the West Midlands’ future economy. By rethinking how we train and retain talent, they’re making workplaces better for everyone.”

Co-founder Adam Lacey said the funding marks a pivotal step in the company’s growth:

“This investment allows us to challenge outdated training models and offer an accessible, engaging alternative. We're helping organisations build a more skilled, future-ready workforce.”

Midven investment manager Huw Sparkes added:

“Assemble You is pioneering a smarter, more inclusive way to upskill teams. Their approach is set to redefine digital learning.”

With a fresh round of funding and growing recognition, Assemble You is poised to lead the next wave of evolution in workplace education—one audio lesson at a time.

What's new

DigiSpinWM Pilot Celebrates Milestone as 11 Investor-Ready Innovations Emerge in the West Midlands

The DigiSpinWM pilot programme, a bold initiative designed to accelerate the spin-out of digital and advanced manufacturing innovations in the West Midlands, has marked a key milestone with a showcase event in Birmingham, unveiling 11 investor-ready ventures developed over the past six months.

Transforming Ideas into Investment Opportunities

Backed by Research England and delivered through a partnership between the University of Wolverhampton, Coventry University, and Birmingham City University via the West Midlands Combined Universities, the programme set out to test a collaborative model for commercialising innovation more efficiently and effectively.

In just six months, DigiSpinWM has:

- Assessed over 40 high-potential technologies for commercial viability
- Delivered tailored support to participants on spin-out strategy and intellectual property development
- Nurtured 11 ventures to investment readiness
- Developed a shared framework for technology transfer across participating universities

The recent showcase celebrated these achievements, spotlighting innovations spanning early-stage development to near-market solutions with the potential for significant societal and economic impact.

A Regional Model for Innovation

Ceri Jones, Director of Research & Enterprise at the University of Wolverhampton, reflected on the programme’s success:

The DigiSpinWM pilot has been a transformative journey. Seeing 11 investor-ready ventures emerge from such a collaborative, regional approach shows what’s possible when we unify efforts across institutions. These spinouts will drive real-world change and position the West Midlands at the forefront of digital and advanced manufacturing.

The pilot’s success is also credited to a strong ecosystem of academic mentors, business advisors, and industry reviewers who provided essential support and guidance to participants.

The showcase event featured live pitches from select ventures to an audience of investors, stakeholders, and innovation leaders, marking a key step towards unlocking the funding required to bring these innovations to market.

With the DigiSpinWM model proving its value, the programme signals a new chapter for spin-out activity in the West Midlands—one built on collaboration, shared infrastructure, and investment-ready innovation.

By Anushka Malhotra

8 Jun