A Vale of Glamorgan entrepreneur has been recognised with a major national award for her work developing new technology aimed at improving sustainability in the construction sector.
Kathryn Llewellyn, Cofounder of Thrive for Hire, has been named a winner of Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation Award — one of only a small number of businesses across the UK to receive the honour this year. The award, delivered by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), includes grant funding alongside business coaching and mentoring support.
Thrive for Hire, which operates its plant and tool hire business from the Vale of Glamorgan, is using the award to accelerate development of a new digital platform designed to help construction and infrastructure firms make more sustainable choices when hiring equipment. The technology aims to support wider industry efforts to reduce carbon emissions by making environmental considerations easier to factor into day‑to‑day decisions.
The recognition marks a positive step for the local economy, with the business continuing to expand its team and operations in the Vale as the project progresses over the coming year.
Kathryn Llewellyn, Cofounder of Thrive for Hire, said“To be recognised by Innovate UK as a Women in Innovation Award winner means a huge amount, both for me personally and for Thrive for Hire. It's proof that a Vale of Glamorgan business can compete on a national stage with a genuinely innovative idea.”
“Construction is under real pressure to reduce its environmental impact, but many organisations still lack practical tools that make sustainable choices simple and commercially viable. Our vision is to build technology that helps businesses embed sustainability into everyday decisions — not treat it as a box-ticking exercise — and this award will help us take that from an idea to reality.”
“I'm proud to be building this from right here in the Vale, and I hope it shows other local business owners that there's real national support out there for ambitious ideas.”
Development of the platform will continue over the next year in collaboration with industry partners. The initial phase will focus on research, product development and testing ahead of a wider rollout. Further updates will be shared as the project moves forward.
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