Awards & Recognition

2020: Thames Valley SME 100 Growth Index

For the third year running Semafone has been listed on the Thames Valley SME 100 Growth Index, an index that lists fast-rising small and medium-sized businesses in the region. Published by The Business Magazine, it highlights firms with an annual turnover of between £1 million and £17.5m that have grown significantly in the past year.

2020: PCI Awards - Award for Excellence

Semafone is delighted to receive this industry accolade for our work with TalkTalk. Our patented data capture solution, Cardprotect Voice+ has been recognised for the fourth year in a row as the industry-leading solution for contact centre PCI DSS compliance and data protection.

2020: FStech Awards - Cyber Security Solution of the Year and Cloud Computing Innovation of the Year - Finalist

The FStech awards celebrate the best cyber security solution offered by a technology provider as well as excellence in the ever-growing area of cloud computing. We are delighted to be shortlisted in both categories, which focus on the security elements of the solutions, as well as the cost and efficiency benefits.

2019: The Card & Payments Award – Best Security or Anti-Fraud Development – Finalist

We are thrilled to be shortlisted in this award category for our work with TalkTalk, which celebrates the innovative nature of the security anti-fraud development within a specific customer environment.

2019: Growing Business Awards - Diversity and Inclusion Champion of the Year - Shortlisted

We are delighted to be recognised in this new category. As a company, we embrace this ethos and believe inclusion and diversity is fundamental to our business growth.

2019: Payments Awards – Anti-Fraud Solution of the Year – Shortlisted

Semafone has been recognised for its work with AXA and named a finalist by the Payments Awards in the category of Anti-Fraud Solution of the Year. The Payments Awards acknowledge and celebrate companies that have demonstrated excellence and innovation in the payments space.

2019: NICE inContact DEVone Outstanding Partner - Innovation Award

Semafone receives Innovation Award for the successful integration of its Cardprotect Relay+ omnichannel PCI DSS compliance solution into the NICE inContact system.

2019: Best in Biz Awards - Most Innovative Company - Gold

Semafone has been named the gold winner of the Best in Biz Awards International Most Innovative Company of the Year for its new technology solutions to help organisations strengthen their omni-channel data security and better protect consumers’ sensitive payment card information.

2019: Emerging Payments Awards - Best CSR or Charity Initiative - Shortlisted

Semafone has been acknowledged for its work with The British Heart Foundation (BHF) and named a finalist by the Emerging Payments Awards in the category of Best CSR or Charity Initiative.  The Emerging Payments Awards celebrates innovation, collaboration and emerging payments by recognising companies that have made significant advances in how we pay today.

2019: Thames Valley SME 100 Growth – Growing the Workforce, Judges Choice

Semafone is delighted to receive the Growing the Workforce Award from the Thames Valley SME 100 Growth Index, an index that lists fast-rising small and medium-sized businesses in the region that are making a significant impact in their sector.  Judges commented; “This company with 110 employees has maintained a family culture within leading edge facilities and a flexible approach to employment.”

2019: PCI Awards - Award for Excellence

Semafone was recognised for the third year in a row as the industry-leading solution for contact centre PCI DSS compliance and data protection at the PCI Awards for Excellence. The award was given to Semafone for its “exemplary real-life PCI DSS project” with the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

2018: Best in Biz Awards - Most Innovative Company - Bronze

Semafone has been named the bronze winner of the Most Innovative Company of the Year for its new technology solutions to help organizations strengthen data security and better protect consumers’ sensitive payment card information through voice channels.

2018: Emerging Payments Awards Silver - Best CSR or Charity Initiative

Semafone scooped Silver for Best CSR or Charity Initiative category in the Emerging Payment Awards, which celebrate innovation, collaboration and emerging payments by recognising companies that have made significant advances in how we pay today.

2018: Shortlisted for Computing - Security Excellence Awards

Computing’s Security Excellence Awards celebrate the achievements of the IT industry’s leading security companies that are keeping every other part of the industry operating. Semafone has been shortlisted in the Risk Management category.

2018: Shortlisted for "Best Use of Technology in Risk Management - Partnership" - CIR Risk Management Awards

Semafone and RNIB have been shortlisted in the Risk Management Awards, which recognises those individuals, organisations and teams that have significantly added to the understanding and practice of risk management.

2018: Best 30 Companies of the Year - CIO Bulletin

In 2018, CIO Bulletin recognised Semafone as one of the 30 Best Companies of the Year, a distinction honoring some of the fastest growing companies offering IT and cybersecurity solutions.

2018: PYMNTS Voice Challenge with Amazon Alexa - Most Disruptive

Semafone’s winning “Phone Concierge” Alexa Skill with Voice Payments and Authenticate (ID&V) capabilities uses voice tokens to facilitate and secure phone-based card not present (CNP) transactions – such as those performed in enterprise contact centres – and authenticate incoming and outgoing calls.

2018: Future Fifty from Tech City

Semafone has been selected as one of Tech City UK’s Future Fifty cohort for 2018, recognising the company as a fast-growing UK business. Semafone will join other well-known late-stage companies including UNiDAYS, Gousto, Trouva and DarkTrace as part of the programme.

2018: SME Export Track 100

The Sunday Times Lloyds SME Export Track 100 ranks Britain’s 100 small and medium-sized (SME) companies with the fastest-growing international sales over the latest two years. It is compiled by Fast Track and published in The Sunday Times each February. Semafone was recognised for its significant growth in international sales.

2018: PCI Awards - Award for Excellence

Semafone’s patented Cardprotect solution has been recognised once again as the industry-leading solution for compliance and data protection at the PCI Awards for Excellence, run by AKJ Associates. The award was given to Semafone for its “outstanding PCI DSS project”, delivered alongside 360 Solutions to online electrical retailer, AO.com.

This is the second year running in which Semafone has achieved success at the awards. Last year the company won an award for projects with broadcast giant Sky and insurance company AXA.

2017: Best in Biz Awards - Fastest Growing Company of the Year - Silver

Semafone has been named a silver winner in the Fastest-Growing Company of the Year—medium-sized business, in Best in Biz Awards, the only independent business awards program judged each year by prominent editors and reporters from top-tier publications in North America.

2017: Tech Leaders Awards - Business Leader of the Year

Semafone’s CEO Tim Critchley has been recognised as the Business Leader of the Year at the prestigious Tech Leaders Awards. Tim was chosen for his strong leadership during the company’s expansion into the North American and Australian markets. Under his leadership, Semafone has achieved significant growth, particularly in the US where new client wins accounted for 49 per cent of revenues in 2016

2017: CNP Awards - Best Call Centre Solution, Judges Choice

Semafone was picked as the judges choice for Best Call Centre Solution at the 2017 CNP Expo, Florida. The annual CNP (Card Not Present) awards honour companies who contribute to the advancement of payments in environments where the card is not physically present, such as ecommerce, mobile, or call centre environments.

2017: BDO - Surrey Best in Business

Semafone has been recognised as one of Surrey’s most successful businesses by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO. In an accolade that acknowledges its significant contribution to the local economy, Semafone has been named as one of the top 20 fastest-growing companies in BDO’s Best in Business report.

2017: PCI Awards - Award for Excellence

Semafone’s patented payment method has been recognised as an industry-leading solution at the inaugural PCI Awards for Excellence, run by AKJ Associates. The award was given to Semafone for its “outstanding PCI DSS projects” delivered to insurance giant AXA and global telecommunications company Sky.

2016: Owler - HOT in Guildford Award!

Semafone is delighted to announce it has been named a winner of Owler’s 2016 HOT In Guildford Award!

2016: Corporate Vision - Most Innovative Call Centre Technology Solution

We are proud to announce Semafone has been named the Most Innovative Call Centre Technology Solution in 2016 by Corporate Vision Magazine’s Tech Innovator Awards.

2016: Payments Awards - Shortlisted for ‘Best Anti-Fraud/Security Solution of the Year’ category

We are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for the Anti-Fraud/Security Solution category at this year’s Payments Awards, which recognise excellence and innovation in the field of cards and payments.

We owe this nomination to our collaboration with Adam Phones on a great project for AXA, implementing Semafone in three UK contact centres in Ipswich, Glasgow and Teeside. Together we have helped more than 1000 agents to take payments, keeping the AXA’s contact centre fully secure and protected against fraud, without compromising the company’s renowned high quality of customer service.

The winners of the award will be announced at a gala dinner & ceremony on Thursday 20 October 2016 at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square.

2016: CNP Awards - Best International CNP Program, Customer Choice

Semafone was very excited to be voted the Best International CNP Program – Customer Choice at the 2016 CNP Awards in Florida.

2016: CNP Awards - Best PCI Compliance Provider, Customer Choice

Semafone was delighted to be voted Best PCI Compliance Provider by our Customers at the CNP Expo.

2016: CNP Awards - Best Call Centre Solution, Judges Choice

Semafone was picked as the judges choice for Best Call Centre Solution at CNP Expo, Florida. The annual CNP (Card Not Present) awards honour companies who contribute to the advancement of payments in environments where the card is not physically present, such as ecommerce, mobile, or call centre environments.

2016: Amdocs - Best Innovation Partner

Semafone was delighted to be presented with the “Best Innovation Partner”  award at the Amdocs Annual Partner conference in Florida.

2016: SouthTech Award - Most Successful Company of the Year

Semafone has been awarded the independent SouthTech award, supported by Grant Thornton, NatWest and the Whiteoaks Consultancy, for achieving a significant increase in business value during the past twelve months. Semafone produced the highest percentage increase in net asset value among technology companies in the South of England.

2015: FStech Awards - Shortlisted for Anti-fraud/Security Strategy of the Year

Semafone has been shortlisted for the FSTech Awards’ Anti-fraud/Security Strategy of the Year. Now in its 16th year, the FStech Awards recognise excellence and innovation in the field of information technology within the UK and EMEA financial services sector. All shortlisted companies come from financial services institutions and technology suppliers who are leading the way in such areas as compliance, social media, customer service, mobile, online, systems integration, outsourcing and data governance. The winners will be announced on the 17th March 2016.

2015: Payments Awards - Shortlisted for ‘Best Anti-Fraud/Security Solution of the Year’ category

Semafone has been shortlisted for the Payments Awards 2015 ‘Best Anti-Fraud/Security Solution of the year’. The Payments Awards recognises cards and payments excellence and technology innovation. The award application follows the implementation of Semafone’s software by dlc, which is now part of Cabot Credit Management. For dlc, the technology was instrumental in improving compliance with PCI DSS and boosting customer satisfaction.

2015: Number 40 on the SME Export Track 100 list

Semafone has been selected as one of the top 100 businesses on The Sunday Times Business SME Export Track list which was compiled by Fast Track, the Oxford-based research and networking events company. The award ranks Britain’s 100 private small and medium sized enterprises with the fastest growing international sales over the last two years.

The feature was published in the Sunday Times on the 17^th May.

2015: CNP Awards - Customer Choice, Best Call Centre Solution

Semafone was voted customers’ choice for Best Call Centre Solution at CNP Expo, Florida. The annual CNP (Card Not Present) awards honour companies who contribute to the advancement of payments in environments where the card is not physically present, such as ecommerce, mobile, or call centre environments.  Semafone was selected from the largest pool of nominations to date for its secure payment method for telephone payments.

2014: August Equity’s Pathfinder 20 Awards - Finalist

Semafone has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Pathfinder 20 Awards for 2014. Pathfinder 20, is an index of the UK’s most exciting emerging technology companies, judged by a panel of leading technology executives – all of whom have a track record of growing and mentoring leading technology businesses in the UK.

2013: FStech/Retail Systems Payments Awards - Compliance Project of the Year

Semafone and Sky  won the Compliance Project of the Year category at the inaugural FSTech/Retail Systems Payments awards in November 2013.

The award recognises Sky’s use of Semafone within its global contact centres to strengthen its adherence with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) regulations.

2012: Wonga - Future 50

Semafone was identified by Real Business magazine as one of the UK’s most exciting new businesses, the ‘Wonga Future 50’. We now number among a group of companies deemed to be “the bold, disruptive new generation of entrepreneurial businesses that are triggering change in their market.”

2012: Trailblazer Awards - Finalist

Semafone was shortlisted for the Best Innovation category of the Cards & Payments Trailblazer awards, which took place in Barcelona, June 2012.

2012: METAward - MRC Emerging Technology Award

We were declared the winner of the Emerging Technology category of the highly prestigious METAwards, organised by the Merchant Risk Council (MRC). The award was presented at the March MRC conference in Las Vegas.

2011: Network Computing Awards - Finalist

2010: European Call Centre Awards 2010 - Product of the Year

Our new payment security solution won the best product category in the European Call Centre Awards which took place after Call Centre Expo at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole.