Scaling through community: How EdenFiftyOne grew its literacy platform in Liverpool

Empowering literacy skills technology

EdenFiftyOne is a literacy skills technology platform based at Cotton Exchange in Liverpool. Founded by former English teacher Tom Reynolds, it helps schools and colleges take a more structured and equitable approach to teaching, learning and assessing literacy.

After developing the business through pilot projects and grant funding, EdenFiftyOne has recently secured investment from another education technology company and is preparing to scale across the UK, with longer-term international ambitions.

Building momentum through networks

For Tom, one of the biggest advantages of growing the business in Liverpool has been access to a supportive and connected network. He describes the city as globally recognised but small enough for introductions to happen quickly, making it easier for founders to access advice, expertise and opportunities.

As the business evolved from an early-stage idea into a commercial proposition, support came from different parts of the city’s innovation ecosystem. EdenFiftyOne participated in Baltic Ventures’ accelerator programme, gaining access to strategic guidance, mentoring and investment. Tom believes this type of support has become significantly stronger in Liverpool in recent years, creating more opportunities for founders to access both advice and early-stage funding.

Alongside a core team of three employees, EdenFiftyOne has built a much wider network of advisers and supporters who continue to play an important role as the business grows. 

Connections that create opportunities

Cotton Exchange has become another part of that network. Tom first encountered the building while hot-desking with another business and saw the value of being surrounded by other growing companies.

Since moving into the building, informal conversations and introductions have helped expand his network and connect him with people who can support the business. Shared spaces are particularly important because they create opportunities for people from different businesses to meet as part of their working day.

“A lot of the people I now work with, or see as advisers to the business, have come through conversations in the shared spaces. That wouldn’t happen if you walked into your office, got a coffee in your office and left. It’s not just renting an office space, it’s being part of a business community where you can learn and build relationships.”

Tom Reynolds, Founder, EdenFiftyOne

Alongside these informal connections, the events programme provides more structured opportunities to learn and build relationships. Community events bring businesses together, while specialist sessions give smaller companies access to expertise they may not have internally. Tom points to sessions on intellectual property as one example of practical knowledge that has been valuable as EdenFiftyOne develops its technology and prepares to scale. 

Extending the capability of a small team

For a small business preparing to scale, these relationships effectively extend the capability around the core team. EdenFiftyOne can draw on advisers, peers and specialist support without needing to build all of that expertise internally.

The experience also shows that networks are most valuable when businesses engage with them with purpose. Tom sees networking as not simply about attending events. It’s about understanding what the business needs and finding the people who can provide the right expertise, perspective or introduction.

Being part of a connected community has created a wider support network around EdenFiftyOne, giving a small team access to relationships and expertise that can help it navigate its next stage of growth.

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