Freedom announces partnership with Esri to advance geospatial innovation

Freedom, an NG Bailey Group company, has announced a strategic partnership with Esri, the global leader in geographic information systems (GIS) as it seeks to drive digital transformation across its portfolio of net zero focused projects.

Esri is the company behind ArcGIS, the world’s leading GIS mapping software. ArcGIS integrates and connects data through the context of geography, providing world-leading capabilities for creating, managing, analysing, mapping and sharing data. 

Through the collaboration, Freedom Group will integrate Esri’s geospatial solutions into its day-to-day operations, allowing it to better support its customers with critical infrastructure planning and delivery to drive enhanced data-driven decision making. 

Freedom works with its customers to ensure efficient delivery of electrical distribution and transmission infrastructure solutions. It provides expert consultancy on design, connections, construction, maintenance and renewal of electricity infrastructure assets across the UK.

The partnership comes as part of Freedom’s drive to accelerate its digital offering, as it looks to build on its continued year-on-year growth. The collaboration with Esri will allow Freedom to offer advanced mapping services, simulation analytics, and visualisation tools to better understand and respond rapidly to its customers’ complex challenges whilst supporting their net-zero objectives.

Carl Clay, Managing Director at Freedom, said: "Our partnership with Esri is a key part of our 2030 digital strategy. By seamlessly integrating geospatial, design, construction, and inspection data within the Esri platform, we’re helping clients manage their portfolios more intelligently. This technology will enable better collaboration, enhance safety, reduce site visits, and improve delivery quality across the project lifecycle, whilst also supporting our net-zero commitments.”

Craig Evenden, Head of Architecture, Engineering & Construction at Esri, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Freedom to unlock the transformative potential of GIS across new frontiers.

This partnership highlights the growing importance of location intelligence in shaping a more connected, efficient, and sustainable future. In the UK’s engineering sector, the integration of GIS offers immense opportunities. As the industry embraces innovation and data-driven solutions, our joint efforts stand to accelerate progress, improve decision-making, and deliver smarter, more sustainable outcomes for communities”.