Key facts
- Ordnance Survey's revenue increased by 2.1% to £199 million in the year to March.
- The growth was primarily driven by public sector partnerships.
- The company has mapped 80% of Britain's buried pipes and cables for the National Underground Asset Register.
- Subscribers to OS Maps increased by 6% to 536,000.
- Commercial use of maps in land and property sectors saw growth of 9% and 17%.
Ordnance Survey (OS), Great Britain's official mapping agency, has reported a record revenue growth of 2.1%, reaching £199 million in the year to March. This increase is largely attributed to its expanding digital services and public sector partnerships, positioning the company as a significant data provider.
The agency, historically known for its paper maps, has transformed into a "data giant" by supplying digital infrastructure to government bodies and private companies. A key project highlighted is the National Underground Asset Register, for which OS has mapped 80% of Britain's buried pipes and cables. This initiative aims to prevent delays and accidents during construction work by providing crucial information on power and water supplies.
Despite the dominance of tech giants like Apple and Google in the mapping space, Ordnance Survey has seen growth in its own map services. The firm experienced a 6% rise in subscribers to its OS Maps service, reaching 536,000. Furthermore, its commercial map usage in the land and property sectors grew by 9% and 17% respectively.
Nick Bolton, CEO of Ordnance Survey, emphasized the company's ongoing innovation to meet national needs, stating that the demand for trusted location data has fueled another year of growth. With a six-year program to build its data foundation now complete, OS is focusing on enhancing data accessibility for a wider audience.