Human Recognition Systems nominated by Lord Young & Sir Terry Leahy as one of Britain’s brightest businesses

John Tonkiss, CEO of Liverpool-based Human Recognition Systems (HRS), a leader in total biometric solutions, has been invited to join the ACCELERATE 250. The group is a new business community championed by Sir Terry Leahy and Lord Young and made up of the fastest growing companies in the UK. 

This latest invitation is testament to HRS’ ongoing dedication to innovation and developing next generation solutions to today’s identity problems. HRS uses its expertise in biometric technology to provide innovative and trusted identity recognition systems for customers within global growth industries where physical identity assurance is of paramount importance. With particular expertise in the aviation, construction and education sectors, HRS has delivered the technology underpinning four of the largest biometric deployments in the UK including at the London 2012 Olympic Village.

The ACCELERATE 250 will be meeting for the first time at ACCELERATE 2013, Britain’s first flagship festival dedicated to high-potential businesses that is set to be held in Liverpool on June 27.

The festival aims to raise the profile of the UK’s fastest growing businesses and their impact on the British economy, with the ACCELERATE 250 seen as key to mobilising wider support for entrepreneurs and start-ups.

Lord Young and Sir Terry Leahy have identified representatives from the UK’s fastest growing small and medium businesses, the “vital six per cent” of companies that are creating more than half of the nation’s new jobs, calling on them to work together in identifying solutions to mutual obstacles.

The group will be working closely with one another to address the key issues and shared challenges that face all growing businesses, meeting for a series of interactive discussions and debates.

Members of the ACCELERATE 250 come from across the UK and represent industries from food and fashion, to pharmaceuticals and finance.

ACCELERATE 2013 will see more than 1,000 delegates descend on Liverpool for a festival like no other, with Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, lastminute.com co-founder Martha Lane Fox, former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick and Tech City UK CEO Joanna Shields among the confirmed speakers.

Sir Terry Leahy, former Tesco CEO, said: “It’s our belief that Britain’s prosperity in the 21st century global economy is going to be built on the success of high-potential, fast-growth businesses.

“That is why, this coming June, we will be assembling a new group of Britain’s brightest and best businesses to put them at the heart of Britain’s economic renaissance.

“It is our ambition that the 27 June will be just the start of the journey that sees the ACCELERATE 250 become the nucleus of Britain’s future high-growth economic success.”

John Tonkiss, Chief Executive Officer of HRS, said: “This is a really exciting time for HRS as we continue to develop and deploy several of the largest biometric projects in the UK. The need for advanced and intelligent identity recognition systems  continues to grow and to have been nominated as one of the UK’s fastest growing businesses by the likes of Sir Terry Leahy and Lord Young is a fantastic achievement.

“We are looking forward to joining forces with other businesses in the ACCELERATE 250

and using the festival as a chance to champion innovation within British industry and explore new opportunities for growth that will help boost the UK economy. The fact that the first ACCELERATE festival is taking place on our home ground of Liverpool is testament to the city’s growing reputation as a hub for entrepreneurship.”

Max Steinberg, Chief Executive of Liverpool Vision, said: “ACCELERATE 2013 will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase that the business world works best when it works together, with the ACCELERATE 250 embodying this collaborative spirit and we look forward to welcoming them to Liverpool.

“Members will have the opportunity to share their thoughts on how to make the successful transition from start-up to high-growth business.”