A Glasgow-based development firm, Motovate, has invested a six-figure sum to create a mobile app aimed at transforming HR and recruitment technology.

Supported by Business Gateway Glasgow and the Scottish Enterprise CAN DO Innovation Challenge Fund, Motovate has invested around £100,000 in the platform.

Launched in June 2018 through the University of Glasgow’s International Business School competition, the company drew upon support from the Scottish Enterprise Innovation Challenge – a live portal for innovation projects which allows businesses to engage with global companies.

The app has been designed to save businesses money and minimise their dependency on agency labour by enabling companies to offer shift work to in-house staff.  Key features of the app include allowing employers to determine the real-time availability of staff, sorted by geo-location.

It also provides employee ratings by managers, offers training and rewards for app users and identifies the number of vacancies available.

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Kenny Maclean, CEO at Motovate, commented: “We’re enormously proud of how far we’ve come with Motovate over the last year. Our close relationship with Business Gateway and Scottish Enterprise has helped us to constantly innovate our technology to meet the needs of all users.

“Innovation is about repurposing what’s already out there. It’s not about reinventing the wheel, it’s using the wheel for something else.”

Maclean added: “Business Gateway is an ‘enabler’ and was crucial in moving my business to the next stage. I’ve been in contact with Business Gateway for 15 years. Anyone starting out in business would be foolish not to engage with them, it’s a fantastic framework.”

Motovate was the only UK-based firm invited to speak at the Viva Technology Conference in Paris. After showcasing its new technology to the Accor Hotel Group, the app is now being trialled for roll-out with the chain. The NHS and DHL are also currently trialling features oft he app, which can be rebranded for any business.

The tech can also be tailored to cross-sector industries and markets, and the company says it has “ambitious activation plans” for international expansion.

Lynne Gorman, business advisor at Business Gateway Glasgow, said: “Over the years we’ve supported Kenny with a range of specialist support services such as financial oversight, legal and intellectual property advice and one-to-one consultancy support.

“It’s been a pleasure to work with Kenny and the team at Motovate to launch what will be the next step in real-time HR and recruitment technology.”