Yorkshire entrepreneur Gary Martin has bought the hardware business and assets of Chameleon Technology, the smart meter display maker he founded, out of administration, saving 22 jobs in Harrogate.
The deal, for an undisclosed sum, was completed on 26 October 2026 through Verve Energy Technology, a privately funded company backed by fresh investment. It safeguards 27 jobs in total, including engineering, commercial and customer support roles. The business will move to new offices in central Harrogate and keep a team in Hong Kong. Other staff had already been made redundant before the acquisition.
Martin founded and funded Chameleon in 2010 and left after a management buyout in December 2020. Under later ownership the company expanded into software, data analytics and other markets before it ran into financial difficulties and administrators were appointed. The rescue covers the hardware operations, including the in-home display products and manufacturing assets, but not the software and data business.
Chameleon has supplied more than 12 million in-home displays, the screens supplied with smart meters that show how much gas and electricity a household is using. Its customers include British Gas, EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and OVO. The rescued business plans to restart production of its IHD3 and IHD7 displays, and Kyle Brown will lead commercial operations.
“When the opportunity arose to rescue the hardware business, my first priority was to protect as many jobs as possible and keep the expertise we have built here in Yorkshire,” Martin said.
The administrators were S&W, with legal advice from Mishcon de Reya. Martin and the management team were advised by Wilkin Chapman Rollitts and Rosedale Advisory.
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