![]() |
The asbestos Client Portal is now much faster to load |
Posts
About Start Software
Start Software is an award-winning developer and leading publisher of asbestos software, systems for the legal services industry and more.
Want to know more about asbestos software Alpha Tracker? Alpha Tracker is the most used asbestos software in the UK, Australia & New Zealand with more than 60m items of asbestos data stored.
Our legal services software Alpha Legal helps will writers, accountants, solicitors, IFAs and estate agents to communicate securely with clients. Read about developments here on the blog.
Or need help with Alpha Anywhere or Alpha Transform projects or software development? You'll find useful info here.
Dan has arrived in Baltimore to help on the OERCA stand at B’More RAW 2025. We love meeting our clients and our clients' clients!
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
![]() |
The conference is being held at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel |
Alpha Tracker Release 42 plans are nearly complete. Do you want us to squeeze another feature in?
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
We're just about to wrap up the feature-list for asbestos & water hygiene software Alpha Tracker Release 42. Is there anything you'd like to suggest for us to squeeze in?
![]() |
Ideas-a-plenty for Release 42 |
We're already focusing on:
- performance in the water hygiene screens
- performance in the asbestos client portal (larger clients will notice the difference)
- tighter FLS integration
- Lab Sample Exchange
- a new risk assessment algorithm for our Australian Alpha Tracker asbestos consultancies
- an updated Alpha Tracker Mobile (better when taking 100s of water hygiene photos)
- our AI-powered "Ask Alfie" feature integrated to help you to find answers to your Alpha Tracker questions.
Asbestos consultancy Nova Group UK are now live! Welcome to asbestos software Alpha Tracker
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Welcome Matt and colleagues from Nova Group UK to asbestos software Alpha Tracker!
Our Alpha Tracker specialist Kim completed their training today by Teams
![]() |
Kim in her training pod |
Can we help you to automate your asbestos consultancy? Get in touch for a free demo and discussion (UK or Aus/NZ).
Have you responded to the HSE consultation "Asbestos Regulatory Reforms: Accreditation of Surveying Organisations" yet?
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
The HSE are asking for opinions on accreditation and surveying cost |
We've responded on behalf of our asbestos software, Alpha Tracker.
Lots happening during Global Asbestos Awareness Week (#2025GAAW) including the UK launch of a devastating new report
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Read more about Malcolm Gelsthorpe's story here |
In this internationally important week, a new UK report has been launched by Asbestos Information CIC mapping the presence of asbestos across the UK and comparing risks against more familiar ones (eg the danger of being killed in a road accident). We'll be offering our full support, giving our Alpha Tracker asbestos consultancy clients the opportunity to extract data in formats suitable for sharing.
The Daily Mail have covered the report's launch - read here |
Alpha Tracker has a large number of integrations enabling data sharing including the OpenAsbestos data sharing protocol - read more here: https://alpha-tracker.co.uk/integrations
London AI workshop with Piers Linney and Aalok Shukla. We went with ideas to share, and brought back 20 more!
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
![]() |
Robin, Jonathan, Piers |
First time reaching 300 raised tickets in one week!
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Meet Maria from Finland!
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Maria has come to stay in the UK for a two week vocational study exchange, from the happiest country in the world! She is a graphics designer and animator who will be spending the day here, at Start Software.
Do you care about the amount of litter on our roads? Join our volunteer army of data gatherers with RoadVlog, our app for CleanUpBritain
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Our director Robin is passionate (and angry!) about the state of the UK roadside verges. They are often full of litter and debris and, in his opinion (and ours), it has become a national embarrassment.
We've created a free app for the CleanUpBritain campaign to enable car passengers to log the condition of verges as they drive along. This data will be gathered and used by CleanUpBritain to encourage the Government and responsible agencies to do something about it - the litter is not going away by itself!
![]() |
Try roadvlog.uk for yourself - it's completely free |
You can access the app at https://roadvlog.uk - give it a try as you are driving home tonight! Even better, ask your team to use the app to record the condition of roads as they drive around for work - the more data we collect, the better!
We have packed up at FAMANZ - come and find us at UKATA, Asbestonomy and EAF later this year
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
We love taking our Alpha Tracker stand to conferences and exhibitions.
Kim & Judy have just finished up at FAMANZ 2025 in Queenstown, New Zealand, and they met so many wonderful Australian and New Zealand Alpha Tracker users.
![]() |
What a fabulous event FAMANZ was again this year |
We'll be making an appearance at events organised by UKATA, Asbestonomy and EAF later this year, and elsewhere. Come and find us, say hello, and find out what Alpha Tracker can do for your asbestos, water and fire consultancy.
Our Australian/New Zealand team have a new website. Take a look at alpha-tracker.com.au
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
![]() |
Visit www.alpha-tracker.com.au |
Improved Master Project importer being tested. Better feedback means higher quality data in your system
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Our new Master Project importer is nearly ready and is being tested by two of our beta-testing asbestos consultancy clients.
Look out for the new "Verify" step at position 3 (of 4) |
The change introduces a new "Verify" step to check the sites from your Excel spreadsheet and give you feedback before you commit them to the system.
It will highlight where the UPRNs are missing or are the placeholder "TBC" (or similar) and it will also show you where sites already exist in the system. In addition, it highlights jobs already recorded against the sites you are importing, to help prevent you from importing duplicates accidentally.
Early feedback has been really positive and this updated screen should save your admin teams a great deal of time when checking and fixing mistakes on imports.
Do get in touch if you have any other ideas for improvements. At Alpha Tracker (UK/Aus), we're here to help!
Judy & Kim have arrived in Queenstown, New Zealand, for the FAMANZ asbestos conference
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
The stand is up (thanks to Judy's husband & kids - they did the hard work while Judy watched on, we believe!!). That was step 1 - Judy and the stand from Adelaide to Queenstown to arrive at the FAMANZ 2025 asbestos conference.
![]() |
The Alpha Tracker stand is up - courtesy of Judy's family! |
Kim has also arrived in Queenstown from the UK, with husband Tim in tow. That's quite a journey - they look remarkably refreshed! Step 2, complete.
If you're attending FAMANZ this year, make a bee-line for Judy & Kim, they will be delighted to talk to you and show you the latest Alpha Tracker Release.
More software updates on the way including a new Exchange Calendar Sync and hyperlinks to photos in asbestos reports
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Jack & Adam are working on some more updates to asbestos software Alpha Tracker.
![]() |
Product Manager Jack and developer Adam |
There is a new version of Exchange Calendar Sync which fixes a couple of bugs. One of the fixes relates to the situation where an appointment is swapped from one member of staff to another, and then quickly moved to another date or time. One of our asbestos consultancy clients had spotted that appointments in this situation were not always being synced correctly.
Adam has been working on a new feature for PDF asbestos reports. He's enabling an option so we can including hyperlinks to photos in PDF reports enabling a larger, higher quality photo to be displayed if the hyperlink is clicked on by the report recipient. This is pretty clever stuff - also helping you to make the most of Alpha Tracker's Client Portal with your clients.
If you've got any ideas for features for Alpha Tracker Release 42, get in touch!
Welcome asbestos, fire & Legionella consultancy Salvum to Alpha Tracker! Great to have you on board
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
![]() |
Melika's (seated front/left) first site visit! |
![]() |
What an excellent team Salvum have |
Best Support Desk performance for 6 months! Congratulations to Zac and the support team
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Zac - leading our Support Desk |
Alpha Tracker Release 41.5 is ready for desktop and Android/Apple app users. Nearly 600 improvements!
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
![]() |
Read about Release 41.5 on our website |
Kim is flying to Queenstown, New Zealand, to join Judy at the FAMANZ asbestos conference!
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
This year's FAMANZ conference is heading to the incredible Queenstown, New Zealand, on the breathtaking shores of Lake Wakatipu.
Alpha Tracker Specialist Kim has booked her flights and will be joining Alpha Tracker Director Judy at the conference to meet clients old and new.
![]() |
Kim is heading to New Zealand! |
Make sure you look out for Kim and Judy and say hello if you're attending FAMANZ this year. The rest of the UK team in Telford are seriously jealous, Kim!
New Australian National Guide for Asbestos Surveys has been published by the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
The guide can be downloaded as a PDF |
Jack and his team are updating asbestos software Alpha Tracker now to reflect the new regime.
Great to see Alpha Tracker QR codes being put to such good use! Congratulations Anglian Demolition & Asbestos
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Anglian are making the most of our asbestos QR codes |
Release 41.5 of Alpha Tracker includes many upgrades to our QR code functionality - and the new features have been well-received by asbestos consultancies and their clients.
Read more here: https://www.angliandemo.co.uk/anglian-rolls-out-revolutionary-qr-code-labelling-system/
BBC Radio 4 is airing "Killer Dust" over the next 10 days. It's a fascinating listen covering the topic of asbestos from so many angles. Listen at 13:45 daily or via BBC Sounds
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
"This is the story of Killer Dust, from mountains of the material in mines still operating in countries today, to the skyscrapers of Manhattan, and the terraced streets of the north of England.It is the story too of the people who fought and died for the truth in order to expose the reckless pursuit of profit in the making of one of the most dangerous building materials on the planet."
Important! Do you use our Microsoft Exchange Calendar Sync? You need to take action
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
![]() |
Microsoft are disabling a feature - you need to take action |
NORAC have published their report about asbestos registers
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
NORAC - the National Organisation of Asbestos Consultants - has published a report about asbestos registers following a poll of their members.
Alpha Tracker is an associate member of NORAC and we're always interested to read their reports. This one is especially interesting as it relates to the notion of a national asbestos register - a topic which is being discussed at the highest level now.
The NORAC Asbestos Register report |
Contact NORAC to find out more about their organisation and the benefits of membership.
Big C V2 up-close and personal! Robin & Catherine attend Andrew Bedwell's talk in Cheltenham
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Robin & Catherine took their chance on Thursday to see Andrew Bedwell's new boat - Big C V2 - in person. Andrew was delivering a talk to the Gloucestershire Property Forum in Cheltenham, explaining his love for adventures and the reasons he is trying again to cross the Atlantic ocean in the shortest boat ever.
![]() |
Andrew is full flow - as inspiring and entertaining as ever |
![]() |
Andrew's presentation being introduced |
![]() |
Start Software are the main sponsors for Big C V2 |
![]() |
Robin, Catherine & Andrew |
![]() |
Look at how small the boat is! Imagine spending 90 days in this |
Andrew is raising money for cancer research and all donations are welcome: https://www.gofundme.com/f/solo-sailing-world-record
More good news! The HSE are working with the Government towards a programme of asbestos removal from the UK environment
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
More good news has emerged about asbestos in the UK.
Sarah Albon, HSE Chief Executive, said at the Work and Pensions Committee last week that there is “agreement between HSE and government to ultimately look to remove asbestos entirely from built environment" and that “this links to the potential for some kind of register”. Parliament Live (minutes 11:12 - 11:16).
This is the type of programme that we have been supporting at asbestos software Alpha Tracker for years with our connection to UKNAR (the fledgling UK National Asbestos Register) and OpenAsbestos, our open asbestos data sharing protocol. Really promising news - at last.
Sarah Albon giving evidence at the Work and Pensions Committee |
You can read more on UKNAR Andrew Paten's Linked post here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrew-paten-1755415a_asbestos-asbestosawarenes-asbestosmanagement-activity-7294705795357655041-Oul0?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web
Charles Pickles' Airtight on Asbestos campaign has also summarised the situation perfectly, including some important analysis of the relative risks arising from different types of asbestos, especially in children: https://www.airtightonasbestos.uk/post/how-to-deliver-a-uk-national-asbestos-strategy
Good Morning Britain takes up the fight! It really does feel like a change in asbestos policy in coming soon
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Today's Good Morning Britain included a segment about Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related disease. The presenters were visibly moved - and so were we.
Our good friend and campaigner Andrew Paten appeared in support of Mesothelioma sufferer Emily Jane to discuss her diagnosis and the ongoing damage that asbestos causes people throughout the UK - including young women like Emily-Jane.
![]() |
Emily-Jane and Andrew talking about asbestos disease - so moving |
This link https://www.itv.com/watch/good-morning-britain/2a3211 (skip to 1hr 8min) will take you to the interview.
At Alpha Tracker, we've long been a supporter of Andrew's UKNAR initiative, in particular through the creation and promotion of our open asbestos data sharing protocol, OpenAsbestos.
Thanks to Andrew and other campaigners, finally, in 2025, it feels like the UK Government may support the significant changes to public policy that would see the safe removal of asbestos from public buildings. We truly hope so.
Renewed campaigns fight to reduce the impact of asbestos on our public workers. Even children are at risk from the poor condition of asbestos in our schools
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
The latest Daily Mail article from Steve Boggan - tradesmen at risk of asbestos-related disease |
Consistency is key on our Support Desk
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
This chart underlines how consistent our Support Desk is. It is showing 6 months of data back to August 2024.
The blue bars show % of tickets solved on time; the red bars are the High Priority problems |
We resolved 904 tickets in January and met the caller's required timeframe 89.2% of the time (for all tickets) and 93.5% for urgent problems. From the chart, you can see how consistent this has been with only minor variations each month.
Asbestos: a corporate coverup, a public health catastrophe. Read the report from Charlotte Bailey
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Read Charlotte Bailey's detailed and moving reflection of her Dad's battle with Mesothelioma |
So much in journalist Charlotte's article confirms the conclusions of our "Damage: The Poor Condition of Asbestos in our Schools, Hospitals & Houses" report which we published in May 2023 and updated in November 2024.
More asbestos consultancies have joined the Alpha Tracker family. Welcome Nova Group and OLM Environmental
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
ChatGPT in action again! |
Would you like to connect Microsoft Power BI to your Alpha Tracker?
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Microsoft Power BI is a popular data analysis tool. A growing number of Alpha Tracker software users are asking us for help to connect Power BI to their Alpha Tracker database to enable them to analyse data and uncover powerful insights about their asbestos, water hygiene or fire consultancy.
![]() |
Find out more about Power BI here |
Power BI is just one of many integrations available to Alpha Tracker users. Click https://alpha-tracker.co.uk/integrations to find out more.
New report to support NORAC and FAWG available to all Alpha Tracker Air Module users
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
In the next update to asbestos software Alpha Tracker, we will be introducing a new standard report: the Four Stage Clearance Failure Report. This new addition is designed to provide Tracker Air users with an insightful and detailed overview of Four Stage Clearance Tests, focusing on failure rates and pinpointing the stages where failures occur.
We have created the report to help NORAC |
The request for the report came from our friends at NORAC (the National Organisation of Asbestos Consultants) and FAWG (the Female Analyst Working Group), to help them in their efforts to review and evaluate data on Clearance tests. Such analysis aims to identify trends in failures and to provide information to help understand issues relating to staff members, contractors, types of enclosure etc.
The report will be available to all clients using the Tracker Air module, so that they can easily extract the data for their own use or to pass on to others, such as NORAC, for further evaluation if they wish.
Interested in Single Sign-On (SSO) for Alpha Tracker? We've published a new guide to help you to understand the options and configure your system
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
![]() |
The Alpha Tracker/SSO technical guide |
Remember Andrew Bedwell and the "Big C"? He is trying again in May 2025 to break an incredible world record
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Robin's interview with Paul King from Flow Mobile Surveying is up on YouTube. Take a look to see how we are joining forces to build the Lab Sample Exchange
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Paul King (Flow Mobile Surveying) and Robin Bennett (Alpha Tracker) |
The Lab Sample Exchange feature that we have built will be a game-changer for Alpha Tracker labs wanting to work more closely Flow Mobile Surveyors (or Alpha Tracker asbestos surveyors!).
Start Software is having quite an "International" January
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
![]() |
Call us for support and you could be speaking to us anywhere! |
- UK
- Australia
- South Africa
- Indonesia
- Albania
- USA, and
- Japan
There's a new Alpha Tracker Mobile in the app stores and another coming along soon
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Our latest Alpha Tracker Mobile update has hit the app stores (Google and Apple).
![]() |
Alpha Tracker Mobile in the Google and Apple app stores |
The biggest change will benefit Alpha Tracker water hygiene (Legionella) technicians. We've improved the logic which powers our data integrity checks, and this should reduce the number of alerts that the technicians see, especially at the start of the day.
A larger update is on its way, featuring a new sync method that makes it faster and easier for site staff to send in their data and photos
Happy New Year! We'll be sharing our 2025 plans soon. What are yours?!
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
![]() |
Another shockingly-bad AI generated image... will they improve in 2025?! |
Thanks again and here's to a prosperous 2025 for us all.
Blog Archive
-
-
- We've made the asbestos Client Portal significantl...
- Dan has arrived in Baltimore to help on the OERCA ...
- Alpha Tracker Release 42 plans are nearly complete...
- Asbestos consultancy Nova Group UK are now live! W...
- Have you responded to the HSE consultation "Asbest...
- Lots happening during Global Asbestos Awareness We...
- London AI workshop with Piers Linney and Aalok Shu...
- First time reaching 300 raised tickets in one week!
- Meet Maria from Finland!
-
- Do you care about the amount of litter on our road...
- We have packed up at FAMANZ - come and find us at ...
- Our Australian/New Zealand team have a new website...
- Improved Master Project importer being tested. Be...
- Judy & Kim have arrived in Queenstown, New Zealand...
- More software updates on the way including a new E...
- Welcome asbestos, fire & Legionella consultancy Sa...
- Best Support Desk performance for 6 months! Congra...
- Alpha Tracker Release 41.5 is ready for desktop an...
- Kim is flying to Queenstown, New Zealand, to join ...
- New Australian National Guide for Asbestos Surveys...
- Great to see Alpha Tracker QR codes being put to s...
- BBC Radio 4 is airing "Killer Dust" over the next ...
-
- Important! Do you use our Microsoft Exchange Calen...
- NORAC have published their report about asbestos r...
- Big C V2 up-close and personal! Robin & Catherine ...
- More good news! The HSE are working with the Gover...
- Good Morning Britain takes up the fight! It really...
- Renewed campaigns fight to reduce the impact of as...
- Consistency is key on our Support Desk
- Asbestos: a corporate coverup, a public health cat...
-
- More asbestos consultancies have joined the Alpha ...
- Would you like to connect Microsoft Power BI to yo...
- New report to support NORAC and FAWG available to ...
- Interested in Single Sign-On (SSO) for Alpha Track...
- Remember Andrew Bedwell and the "Big C"? He is tr...
- Robin's interview with Paul King from Flow Mobile ...
- Start Software is having quite an "International" ...
- There's a new Alpha Tracker Mobile in the app stor...
- Happy New Year! We'll be sharing our 2025 plans s...
-