The chief executive of Ordnance Survey has disclosed how the venerable mapping organisation is battling US behemoths Google and Apple to maintain its significance in the modern era.
Nick Bolton, who leads the Southampton-based enterprise which dates back to the era of King George III, has maintained that Ordnance Survey continues to be vital to Britain's technological advancement, despite competing against the industry titans, as reported by .
Bolton, who assumed leadership of the state-owned entity in 2023, informed City AM's Boardroom Uncovered podcast in a forthcoming instalment that the company's information quietly underpins numerous everyday services.
'We understand Britain superior to anyone else'
"Google Maps is an amazing achievement," he said. "But for Great Britain, the day-to-day is in front of our data. And that's true of all sorts of apps that you use on your phone."
Bolton explained that across transport applications, meteorological services and even social platforms, cartography has become "absolute universal," highlighting that Google Maps alone now boasts 2.2bn monthly users.
Whilst companies such as Google and Apple command navigation services, Bolton argued that Ordnance Survey's advantage rests in the precision and detail of its intelligence.
"We now consume and produce millions of maps every single day... and we can be much more specific about those maps than we ever could before," he said. With 500m features updated 20,000 times daily, the chief executive stated he believes Ordnance Survey possesses unparalleled expertise of Britain's physical landscape.
The obstacle, he noted, lies in ensuring this information is effectively utilised.
"We know Britain better than anybody else. But right now that sits on a server and that does not butter any parsnips. We've got to put it in the hands of the people who've got those geospatial questions," he said.
Bolton added: "We exist so that we can deliver better outcomes for British citizens. You'd be lost without us."
Profit slips as revenue rises at Ordnance Survey
The Boardroom Uncovered discussion follows City AM's August report that earnings at Ordnance Survey had declined whilst turnover surged to nearly £200m during the historic organisation's most recent trading period.
The firm recorded pre-tax earnings of £17.6m for the 12 months to 31 March, 2025, falling from the £22m achieved the previous year.
Recently released filings, nevertheless, demonstrate Ordnance Survey's turnover climbed from £186.8m to £194.5m.
This latest figure represents the organisation's eighth successive year of record turnover.
Income generated by Ordnance Survey from direct licences rose during the period from £128.4m to £131.9m whilst partner licence sales expanded from £34.6m to £37.9m.
Revenue the company secured from Ordnance Survey maps similarly increased from £9.5m to £11.6m, though paper maps income fell from £7.9m to £7.4m. In a statement accompanying the accounts, the company noted that its revenue growth was bolstered by an increasing demand for its data, especially in the financial services sector.
The firm highlighted that the financial services sector is "increasingly relying on geospatial data which provides information on floodplains, building footprints, building material, number of floors, roof types and proximity to critical infrastructure among others."
