A Welsh business using drone technology to clean some of the UK's most iconic buildings is scaling up after securing a £300,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales.
KTV Working Drone (UK), based in Pontyclun, has received funding from the Wales Flexible Investment Fund to invest in the latest generation of specialist equipment. It will create five new jobs and expand with the launch of a satellite office in London as demand for its services continues to grow.
Established in 2022, KTV Working Drone holds the exclusive franchise for the Norwegian KTV Working Drone brand across England and Wales. The business uses drones to clean and inspect commercial buildings, offering a safer alternative to traditional methods such as rope access and elevated work platforms.
Its growing portfolio includes landmark sites such as the Principality Stadium, the Admiral building in Cardiff's Callaghan Square and a flagship project at Canary Wharf later this summer.
The investment will enable the company to purchase newly developed battery-powered drones and support equipment that can operate in significantly higher wind speeds. This will increase the number of days work can be carried out each year while reducing emissions, improving productivity and helping the business meet increasing customer demand.
Led by directors Chris Miles, Andrew Bowen and Paul Duheaume, the business evolved from facilities management company Shield HD, which secured Development Bank funding in 2023 to establish the UK's first KTV Working Drone operation.
Since becoming fully operational in 2024, KTV Working Drone has built a growing customer base across the commercial property sector and is now expanding to meet demand from major facilities management companies managing property portfolios across the UK.
Chris Miles, director of KTV Working Drone (UK), said:
“Over the past year we've demonstrated that this technology works, and we've built a strong base of repeat business as more customers experience the benefits for themselves. As our clients have grown in confidence, they've started rolling the service out across more of their property portfolios, so demand has increased significantly.
“This funding allows us to invest in the latest equipment and build additional teams so we can keep pace with that growth. The new drones can operate in much higher wind speeds, which means we can work on far more days throughout the year, improve productivity and deliver a more reliable service for customers.
“Our aim has always been to make working at height safer while giving customers a practical, cost-effective alternative to traditional access methods. Being based in Wales while operating the exclusive franchise across England and Wales puts us in a great position for the next stage of our growth.”
Jill Allen, Portfolio Executive at the Development Bank of Wales, said:
“KTV Working Drone has taken an innovative idea and successfully proved its commercial potential. The business has established itself with an impressive customer base and is now ready to scale up with investment in new technology that will improve productivity, create skilled jobs and support further expansion.
“Helping ambitious Welsh businesses invest in innovation and grow is exactly what the Wales Flexible Investment Fund is designed to do. We're pleased to support Chris, Andrew, Paul and the wider team as they continue to build the business from their base in Wales."
Financed by Welsh Government, the £500 million Wales Flexible Investment Fund supports Welsh businesses with terms of up to 15 years. Loans, mezzanine finance, and equity investments are available from £25,000 to £10 million.
