Apollo3D, the Leeds-based immersive technology specialist, has been named winner of the Best Customer Service Award at the Yorkshire Choice Awards 2026 – a title determined entirely by public vote, marking a direct reflection of the high regard in which the company is held by its clients and partners.
The independent digital twin and 3D mapping firm, founded in Otley in 2017 by Mark Shepherd, beat competition from across the region to secure the accolade at the awards’ milestone 10th-anniversary celebration, which this year raised vital funds for Candlelighters, the regional childhood cancer charity. Organisers noted that the nomination and subsequent win highlighted Apollo3D’s commitment to tailoring state-of-the-art spatial software to meet individual business challenges.
Based at Wharfebank Mills in Otley, Apollo3D employs a 12-strong team and has delivered more than 3,000 virtual tours since its founding. Its client roster includes the NHS, Primark, Greene King, Marks & Spencer, Leeds Beckett University and Marriott hotels, as well as venues such as Kirkstall Abbey, The Royal Armouries, Rudding Park and ‘Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem’, England’s oldest inn.
How the ‘Infinity Virtual Tours’ platform turns interest into sales
Central to Apollo3D’s customer service approach is its recently launched custom “Infinity Virtual Tours” platform, which helps businesses convert online interest into solid sales bookings. The platform builds on Matterport’s software, adding a more intuitive structure with features such as branding, custom menus, guided navigation, lead capture forms and detailed analytics. It allows building managers to integrate manuals, asset information and live data feeds into a single central view, and offers capabilities for linking multiple sites, guided tours and insights into user behaviour.
The platform is already being used across theatres, concert venues, universities, heritage sites and property developments – including student accommodation and new housing viewings. Apollo3D plans to incorporate greater use of artificial intelligence, faster scanning and advanced reporting for building compliance, conservation and maintenance. The company said it is seeing interest from the UK, Europe and the United States for the Infinity platform.
Rob Wilyman, director at Apollo3D, said: “Customer service in the technology sector is often reduced to automated helpdesks and chat tickets. At Apollo3D, we have built our business by listening directly to client headaches and developing custom solutions, which is exactly how our Infinity platform came to life.”
The platform’s practical impact is evident in client feedback. Alessandro Proiett, co-owner of Buon Apps restaurant – a long-standing client that helped Apollo3D reach its 3,000th virtual tour milestone in October 2025 – said a virtual tour is “more than just a visual showcase; it’s a way of inviting people into the restaurant”. He highlighted how Apollo3D’s expertise helps customers see the surroundings and quality of dining spaces, vital for attracting new visitors and securing bookings.
Other clients have echoed the sentiment. Ryan Cartwright praised the “fantastic results” of a 3D map and drone tour for his wedding venue and noted prompt service from the office team. Carol Walker-Gunn described Apollo3D’s service as “second to none” for showcasing residential properties, while James Saul said their services had helped his lettings and estate agency business “massively”.
Client successes and a major partnership with Primark
Apollo3D’s services extend beyond virtual tours to include drone photography and videography, website design and development, and the creation of hyper-accurate digital twins for facilities management, refurbishment planning and BIM/CAD drawing extraction. Its digital twins help clients reduce travel times and carbon emissions, streamline maintenance, improve project rollouts and reduce on-site visits.
A notable collaboration with Primark involved virtual scanning of more than 350 stores across the UK and Europe for an LED lighting upgrade programme. Mark Shepherd described the partnership as a “blueprint for how innovation can deliver meaningful, measurable impact at scale”, noting that the project reduced survey time by over 80 per cent and supported subsequent initiatives such as Click & Collect desk installations.
Shepherd, who founded the company after a background in teaching computer studies and a period living in America, said: “When we started out nine years ago, 3D mapping was often viewed as a passing visual gimmick. We’re now one of the leading experts in the field and have worked incredibly hard to change that perception, turning our digital twins into practical daily tools that help clients cut down travel times, reduce carbon emissions, and streamline maintenance.”
Expansion plans and a commitment to personal service
Apollo3D is now preparing for a major expansion, targeting a £1 million turnover inside the next 18 months. Wilyman said: “As we scale up to target a £1 million turnover inside the next 18 months, keeping this award-winning approach to customer care will remain our absolute priority.”
Mark Shepherd added: “This trophy proves that our growth has not come at the expense of personal service. Whether we are scanning a local restaurant or surveying over 350 international retail spaces for a major brand like Primark, we treat every client with the same level of care and detail.”
The Yorkshire Choice Awards were established to recognise the achievements of independent local businesses and inspirational individuals across the county. This year’s 10th-anniversary event raised funds for Candlelighters, which for more than 40 years has provided emotional, practical and financial support to children and their families affected by cancer in Yorkshire, relying entirely on donations and fundraising with no government funding.
