Atmo: The Story so Far

Let me take you on a journey of the tale of Atmo Technology - a tech venture that began its course in 2016 from the minds of Guy Barkley (yours truly) and Patrick Thomas .

Origin Story

Our story kicks off during our university days at University of Bath . Paddy and I, having met through the engineering scholarship programme and both starting companies, decided to join forces. I was awarded my scholarship in part for founding an electric racing car project dubbed 'TBRe' (still going strong!), while Paddy received his for creating a modular synthesiser music product, in conjunction with managing his own tech consultancy.

We wanted to start a company we would care about (not fintech or an app, as was the rage 10 years ago) and, as engineers, we were perturbed when we discovered the lack of robust data available for decision-makers dealing with air quality concerns - a pressing issue in today's world. Conventional air quality methods felt antiquated, prompting us to strive for a clearer, more holistic understanding of the air we breathe. We decided to set up Atmo.

With the support of our scholarships and some extra funding, we created a core sensor and portal system (air quality sensors collecting data which was then visible in the portal). After putting it through the paces with various companies, we landed our first contract to monitor air quality with Bristol Waste Company , followed swiftly by REDCAR BULK TERMINAL LIMITED . Along the way, we were constantly developing our IoT expertise and data analysis.

The Present

Fast forward to the present day, and Atmo has experienced substantial growth, incorporating vast asset datasets, as well as environmental. Our mission has developed and now revolves around a revolutionary ‘Smart Sites’ concept. Smart sites bring asset and environmental data together to unlock efficiency gains on-site, as we highlight under-utilised assets and view KPIs while monitoring environmental and safety performance.

Our proprietary software, AtmoCore, can now handle wider environmental and safety datasets including noise, vibration and location of people and plant. When combined with asset data, this enables us to identify plant and machinery that may be causing heightened safety risks through exposure to noise and air pollution, or proximity to staff - as well as under-utilised assets.

The ‘Smart Sites’ concept started in rail . Through our ‘First of a Kind’ R&D partnership with Network Rail and South Western Railway, we are developing a feature specifically for smart depot management, incorporating data from a wide array of on-site assets.

In terms of the team, we take on design engineering interns each summer, we support our employees with real hybrid and flexible working arrangements (no caveats here), and we host regular socials both in and out of our carbon-neutral office space ( Future Leap Sustainable Business Hubs | Certified B Corporation™ ). Each Atmo team member is given share options, meaning everyone is invested in the growth and success of the company whilst also being rewarded for being part of the journey.

The Future

Atmo has evolved from purely monitoring air quality, to integrating asset and environmental data through software, algorithms and data science, aiming to revolutionise site management.

Our vision for 2024 includes expanding the 'Smart sites' concept across industries (depots, construction, aviation infrastructure, healthcare and ports); paving the way for smarter, safer, and more efficient operations across the board.

So follow along as we continue our tale - we’d love for you to be part of the Atmo story... 📖