Manchester's Purple Earns National Acclaim as Business Excellence Finalist

MANCHESTER, LANCS – July 24, 2026

Manchester’s own Purple, a global leader in WiFi and analytics technology, has been named a finalist in the prestigious Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026. The company, which powers connectivity and provides deep insights for venues in over 90 countries, is shortlisted for the highly competitive Technology Business of the Year award, marking a major national recognition of its innovation and global reach.

The nomination places the firm among an elite group of just 11 businesses in its category and part of a wider field of nearly 200 finalists across the UK. This acknowledgment comes from the nation's flagship business awards programme, headlined by Lloyds Bank with ITV as a media partner and the full support of the UK government, underscoring the significance of the achievement.

Gavin Wheeldon, CEO of Purple, expressed the team's pride, stating, “Being named a finalist in the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards is a huge moment for our team. This recognition belongs to every one of the 78 people at Purple who help power connectivity for venues around the world, and to the partners and customers who trust us every day. We're proud to be flying the flag for Manchester at Grosvenor House.”

The sentiment was echoed by the awards' headline partner. Amanda Murphy, CEO of Lloyds Business and Commercial Banking, commented on the calibre of the finalists: “Behind every successful business is a story of ambition, determination and innovation. Inspiring entrepreneurs backing themselves to succeed. That's exactly what the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards celebrates. Purple is bringing new ideas, investing in its community and helping drive growth in the UK. They represent the very best of British enterprise and we're incredibly proud to back them.”

Beyond Connectivity: The Technology Powering 80,000 Venues

While many consumers know guest WiFi as a simple convenience, Purple has transformed it into a sophisticated tool for business intelligence. The company operates as an "intelligent spaces" platform, using a cloud-based software overlay that integrates with a venue's existing WiFi hardware. This approach eliminates the need for costly infrastructure replacement and turns a standard utility into a source of actionable data.

At the heart of the platform is a powerful analytics engine, Purple AI, which processes connection data to reveal deep insights into visitor behaviour. Venue operators can access detailed reports on footfall, dwell times, visit frequency, and the distinction between new and returning customers. Advanced heatmaps and location data allow businesses to understand how people move through their physical space, enabling them to optimize layouts, staffing, and product placement. This data-driven approach is invaluable for sectors ranging from retail and hospitality to stadiums and transport hubs.

The platform's value extends beyond analytics into direct customer engagement. It facilitates a frictionless login experience for guests through customizable captive portals that support social media authentication. In exchange for free connectivity, venues can build detailed customer profiles, which are then used to power a sophisticated marketing automation engine. This allows for personalized communications, targeted offers, and micro-surveys to gather real-time feedback, ultimately driving customer loyalty and revenue.

This technological prowess has not gone unnoticed by industry experts. For the third consecutive year, Purple has been named a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Indoor Location Services. This distinction, based on the company's "completeness of vision" and "ability to execute," solidifies its standing among global technology leaders. Analysts praise the platform for its unique wayfinding capabilities, which help users navigate complex venues, and its recently launched asset tracking platform, designed to improve operational efficiency in critical sectors like healthcare.

From Manchester Startup to Global Force

Founded in Manchester in 2012, Purple's journey is a powerful testament to the city's thriving tech ecosystem. In just over a decade, the company has grown from a local startup into a global powerhouse, now powering over 80,000 venues and handling 440 million logins annually across more than 90 countries. Its client list includes some of the world's largest enterprises, including McDonald's and Walmart.

This success story is deeply rooted in its home city. Manchester is recognized as the UK's second-largest tech hub outside of London, contributing an estimated £5 billion in annual Gross Value Added (GVA) to the regional economy. With over 10,000 tech businesses and a steady pipeline of talent from world-class universities, the city provides a fertile ground for innovation and growth. Purple stands as a shining example of a company that has leveraged this dynamic environment to achieve international scale while remaining committed to its local origins.

The company's strategic growth continues unabated. A 2025 merger with Splash Access significantly enhanced its global connectivity platform, expanding its capabilities in the Multi-Dwelling Unit (MDU) and education markets while adding advanced security features like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Looking forward, the firm is focused on scaling its operations to better serve the Small and Medium-sized Business (SMB) market, which represents the vast majority of venues worldwide.

A Purpose-Driven Path to Excellence

Purple’s nomination for Technology Business of the Year is not just a reflection of its commercial success and technological innovation; it also aligns with its identity as a purpose-driven organization. As a certified B Corporation, the company is legally required to consider the impact of its decisions on its workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. This certification places it within a global movement of businesses using profit and growth as a means to a greater end: positive impact for their employees, communities, and the planet.

This commitment to social and environmental responsibility resonates strongly with the values celebrated by the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards, which emphasize sustainability, resilience, and ethical leadership. Purple's mission to make WiFi a secure, seamless, and ever-present utility for everyone directly contributes to global digital inclusion. By transforming physical venues into "intelligent tech-hubs," the company not only enhances business efficiency but also creates smarter, more connected communities. This ethos is also reflected in its internal operations, including a fully remote working model that enables it to attract top talent from around the world.

The winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced at a gala ceremony at the Grosvenor House in London on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. The event will bring together 1,200 of the UK's most influential business leaders to celebrate the best of British enterprise. In keeping with the awards' tradition, the winners will also be honored with the opportunity to ring the opening bell at the London Stock Exchange.