Bedford business wins The Queen’s Award for Enterprise

A business in Bedford has been praised by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis after being awarded the Queen's Awards for Enterprise.

Maths Circle Ltd is a small company of seven employers who developed 'Times Tables Rock Stars' a gamified app solution to engage children with learning of times tables and increase their confidence and proficiency in maths. The Bedford based business wins the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category.

The development resulted from a need identified by the company's founder, Bruno Reddy, a maths teacher, who saw many pupils entering the school lacked basic skills in maths.

It began as a paper based training aid and was then developed into a software app with gamification features. The system, now used by over 15,000 schools and 30,000 families worldwide, uses artificial intelligence to tailor the questioning and learning to the child, adapting to their progress and building their confidence.

Maths Circle have also developed, NumBots, a sister maths platform for schools which uses the same innovative adaptive technology and gamification to engage children in the learning of addition, subtraction and number bonds to improve basic numeracy skills.

CEO Bruno Reddy says “We’re extremely proud and honoured to win The Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation 2020 and be recognised alongside the very best in British business.

"It is wonderful recognition of the impact that Times Tables Rock Stars is having on children’s maths learning worldwide."

Now in its 54th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen’s Awards emblem for the next five years.

Innovation Award winners are defined as having demonstrated that their business has substantially improved in areas of performance and commercial success by either outstanding innovation, continued over at least two years, or continuous innovation and development over at least five years.

Innovation achievements are assessed for invention, design or production; performance of services and products; marketing and distribution; or after-sales support of goods or services.

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis said: "Maths Circle have used their unique creativity and innovation in the development of the maths app which has made children’s interactive learning fun and engaging.

"I am delighted that they have been honoured this year. My sincere congratulations to them all for receiving this most prestigious award and my best wishes for their continuing success."

Maths Circle are currently offering schools up to 60 days full free access to both of their online maths platforms to help with remote learning during the Covid-19 outbreak.

If teachers would like to sign up their school for free access, visit: www.ttrockstars.com/page/covid19support or www.numbots.com/covid19support.

Maths Circle will celebrate its award during a royal reception for Queen’s Awards winners later in the year.