Keeping staff safe after hours: The new app that supports the night-time economy

For those working in hospitality, retail and other night-time sectors, getting home safely after a shift isn’t always straightforward. WalkSafe, a personal safety app born in Manchester, saw an opportunity to address this gap – and, with backing from the Foundational Economy Innovation Fund, developed a workplace-focused version that provides real-time safety support for frontline staff.

Bridging personal safety and employer responsibility

The original WalkSafe app, launched in 2020, lets users share their location with trusted friends, find vetted safe spaces, and quickly call for help. In 2023, WalkSafe received initial backing of £10,000 from the Foundational Economy Innovation Fund to explore what a business-friendly adaptation might look like. That support enabled early market research and prototype development in partnership with local hospitality businesses.

“We already had the technology for people to share their journeys with friends,” explains Andrew Kay, Chairman. “But through a ‘WalkSafe for Business’ pilot we were able to better understand what more employers could do to support the personal safety of their employees, particularly those in hospitality, who are often travelling at times that make them more vulnerable.”

The pilot gave WalkSafe a clearer picture of how businesses were thinking about staff safety. While there was clear demand for a solution, the practical limitations many employers faced became apparent. “Managers said they wanted to know staff had got home safely, but weren’t always the last to leave the building or awake to check – so they needed a system that could do this part for them,” says Andrew. “Employees, meanwhile, were often cautious about sharing journey details with a line manager, but felt more comfortable providing that information to trained security professionals.”

From pilot to product

Such insight laid the groundwork for the new business version of the app. WalkSafe applied for £53,150 in innovation funding from GMCA to enable it to create an inexpensive, low-hassle safety solution for employers that combined user-controlled journey sharing with 24/7 professional monitoring delivered by security specialists at MITIE.

The app offers flexible safety options, giving employees control over how they stay connected and supported on their journey home, including:

• SOS alerts, monitored by trained security professionals at MITIE
• Live journey tracking, enabling real-time monitoring from work to home
• Home Safe check-ins, where alerts are triggered only if a user doesn’t arrive by a set time

“Everyone’s needs are different,” says Emma Kay, WalkSafe’s Founder. “Some people want to share their whole journey. Others just want to know someone’s there if they don’t get home. It’s about offering options, not tracking for the sake of it.”

The app is already being used in Manchester, where WalkSafe has helped build a network of safe spaces in partnership with local authorities and venues, integrating personal safety technology with on-the-ground safety infrastructure. “It’s the first place we’re bringing all these safety measures together in one joined-up system,” adds Emma. “It means staff not only have access to real-time monitoring, but also safe venues nearby if something doesn’t feel right.”

The WalkSafe team found that awareness by hospitality and night-time economy workers of many of Manchester’s safety initiatives – such as the Women’s Night-time Safety Charter – was limited. By signposting and linking to these through the app, there’s now a major opportunity to make them more visible and accessible, especially to those working in the night-time economy.

Emma says: “Manchester is really leading the way on this. We’ve got a strong base here, supportive partners, and a city that takes safety seriously. The Innovation Fund accelerated the project and really helped us to get the business app right for users, which is something we care deeply about. All those technical developments we were able to make added up to one big, effective change – the funding has helped us streamline the system, improve it, and support people in ways we couldn’t before.”

A clear case for safety

With further features also in development, including anonymous reporting tools and in-app wellbeing surveys, creating safer commutes is becoming a key part of how organisations attract and retain staff, says Emma.

“66% of Gen Z employees told us they’re more attracted to a role where a company has initiatives to protect employees when travelling to and from work. Nearly half of employees think their employers should take some of the responsibility of their safety when commuting. And women spend an average of £100 extra on their safety per month.”

WalkSafe Pro also helps employers prepare for the Worker Protection Act, which came into force in October 2024. The legislation introduced a legal duty to prevent workplace harassment, including during commutes and work-related social events.

“We’re giving businesses a way to meet that responsibility head-on,” says Andrew. “What we’re offering is auditable, flexible and employee-led. It’s the kind of practical innovation that makes a real difference, integrating easily with companies’ existing security systems and designed to be as flexible as possible in giving companies what they need.”

WalkSafe is now rolling Pro out to employers, with discounted access available to all Greater Manchester organisations that sign up in the first year.

Visit the WalkSafe website for more information (external website).