With guidance and funding from GM Business Growth Hub, Future Safety is developing a new suite of high-performance helmets that bring Formula 1 and aerospace innovation to frontline protection.

• £45,000 Innovation grant funding, towards £83k cost of projects
• 2 new jobs forecast
• 20% increase in turnover forecast

Founded in 1992, Future Safety built its name designing and manufacturing personal protective helmets for a variety of industries, and now specialises in producing high-performance helmets for sectors that include the emergency services, the military, marine, and sports.

When the Saddleworth-based company saw an opportunity to create a new type of helmet – one that combined multi-impact protection with a lightweight, compact design not found in the marketplace – it turned to GM Business Growth Hub to help bring its vision to life.

Turning technical vision into reality through collaboration

The idea was clear: designing helmets that are both tougher and lighter, while not compromising on comfort or practicality. The concept was shaped by direct conversations with end users, particularly in the marine and military sectors, who need protective gear that can keep pace with increasingly complex operational demands.

“As their roles diversify, so too must the protective equipment they rely on,” explains Paul Halliday, Commercialisation Specialist at GM Business Growth Hub. “Innovation in the helmet industry has been relatively slow, but Future Safety saw an opportunity to break that mould.”

The ongoing collaboration included the creation of a bespoke manufacturing system ready for scaled production, including lab set-up and the identification of advanced machinery. The capital element of the grant enabled Future Safety to invest in three key pieces of equipment: a manual press, a membrane press, and an electric hydraulic press, none of which had existed on site prior to the project.

This is now enabling Future Safety to create a full suite of new helmets in-house, tailored to different operational needs. The modular system they’re developing allows for interchangeable shells, liners, harnesses and padding, giving end users the flexibility to adapt a single helmet for multiple scenarios, from riot control to marine operations. “No one else is doing this at the same scale or ambition,” Colin says. “We’re pushing the boundaries of design and performance, targeting lighter, stronger helmets using advanced carbon fibre moulding and temperature-resistant liners that can withstand extremes from −50°C to +50°C.”

Unlocking ambition with long-term support

With the launch of the new helmets likely to go ahead in 2026, the Saddleworth company has major opportunities for growth, including a forecasted 20% increase in turnover, the creation of two new skilled roles, and expanded reach into both existing and new global markets.

Colin credits the Innovation Service with accelerating a highly complex project: “GM Business Growth Hub have saved me 12 to 18 months in development time. The funding and support gave us the confidence to push ahead with something that carries real commercial and technical risk. In business, R&D always comes with a level of uncertainty – you can invest a lot and not get the outcome you hoped for. Knowing we had backing behind us made a huge difference in being able to take that step.”

What’s clear is that the project wasn’t just about product development, but technology transfer and knowledge transfer. It’s brought world-leading design expertise into Greater Manchester and helped strengthen the region’s advanced manufacturing base in the process. “Our staff are developing new skills to move from basic manual tasks to producing high-performance, specialist helmets,” says Colin. “Building this internal capability and technical knowledge will allow us to be more self-sufficient and competitive in the long term.”

The success of the project has meant a further partnership with GM Business Growth Hub is already in the pipeline, involving support to develop a state-of-the-art ballistics helmet and new innovative materials. The aim is to address long-standing challenges in protective headgear by combining high-performance materials science with specialist design expertise, including knowledge originally developed for aerospace applications. If successful, the project will represent another significant step forward in the field of personal protection.

‘Where can I find grants for innovation and development?’

This wasn’t the first time the firm had tapped into our Innovation Service. Back in 2019, it accessed £10,000 in matched funding from GM Business Growth Hub to collaborate with Manchester Metropolitan University on product development research. That experience – “a hugely valuable exercise, opening doors and enhancing our network”, says Colin – helped shape the business’s mindset and readiness for its next big leap.

And as Greater Manchester continues to invest in innovation, collaboration and advanced manufacturing, Future Safety’s story shows what can be achieved when innovation is backed by the right support, funding and connections.

If you’re a business with an innovative product or service and the ambition to scale, the help is here in Greater Manchester. Contact our team today to see how we can take your ideas to the next level. Call us on 0161 359 3050 or email bgh@growthco.uk.