In the latest of our series talking to the 2020 winners of the Queen’s Awards, we’re asking a big data analysis company about its contribution to the government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis and why winning a Queen’s Award will be a “beacon” that sets it apart from the competition.

Profile: Tonic Analytics – keeping speeders in check during lockdown

Data analysis company Tonic Analytics has only been around for five years, but they are already solving “some of society’s big challenges”.

With road traffic significantly below normal levels throughout the lockdown, emptier roads have given plenty of space for keen motorists to test the limits of the law and their cars.

Andy Dollin, managing director at Tonic Analytics, told the Daily Update the firm has been combining datasets from the road network with their cutting-edge predictive analysis to help “ensure better compliance” with speeding laws and “assist law enforcement”.

“Roads are quieter than usual, so some people are taking the chance to speed,” he said. “We’ve been accessing the road network data and combining it with our analysis to provide information to assist better law enforcement and ensure better road safety during the pandemic.”

Big in the US

Based on the University of Southampton Science Park – where the Institute of Export & International Trade hosted its 2019 South Coast World Trade Summit – Tonic Analytics was recognised with the Queen’s Award in Enterprise in April this year.

The award is a recognition of Tonic Analytics’ success growing internationally, particularly to the US, though the firm has ‘end-users’ around the world.

It exports predictive maintenance services for major airlines and health and usage monitoring systems (HUMS) for helicopter manufacturers.

Beacon

Dollin says the award is a “clear demonstration of our ability to succeed internationally” and hopes the award will be a “beacon” that sets them apart from the competition.

He acknowledges we are now in a world with “unprecedented challenges and suffering” but there are “unique opportunities for businesses like ours to step up and help to solve some of those challenges.”

Revealed on 21 April, 128 companies were awarded in the international trade category this year, showing the importance of exporting to the UK economy.