LDC Top 50 2025
Nick Hutchinson
Founder and Managing Partner
Glider Technology
An IT graduate who entered the paper-heavy building data industry in 2004, Nick Hutchinson has driven digital transformation across the sector ever since. He started Glider Technology in 2016 with no external backing, creating a tech platform to manage data on complex buildings.
The company now works with seven of the UK’s 10 biggest contractors and major public sector clients including the Ministry of Defence and HMRC. Hutchinson has tripled revenues since 2022 and is using AI to further disrupt the industry. He’s targeting a £0.5 billion valuation within five years: “Our technology will become part of a building’s fabric.”
Our technology will become part of the fabric of a building. Just like windows or a lift, you won’t question having our software.”
Q&A
How have you achieved success?
Between 2004 and 2016 I worked on the frontline of this industry, managing large, complex building projects. I understood the challenges and the gaps in the market, which gave me confidence, experience and credibility. Glider disrupted how building information was managed, not just moving hard copies online but creating a platform where you can capture, store, visualise and exploit that information. We got instant traction.
How ambitious are you?
I always wanted to start my own business. There was a fire in my belly to create a legacy. But it took 15 years of working for someone else to think, ‘Maybe I can do this’. I left a secure role as a board director and shareholder to start Glider. My business partner and I started with little funds. I had to move in with my partner’s parents in Lancashire in the early days. But our first contract was for Wimbledon’s Number One Court. I still remember it vividly.
Who has inspired you?
My father was a civil servant, working as a prison officer for 25 years. Then, aged 42, he took a complete career change, doing a nursing degree. He’s now an advanced nurse practitioner. He’s one of my heroes. He showed me that if you want to do something, get on with it.
