A Big Bloc Birthday: We’re celebrating our silver anniversary! Marking two and a half decades of impact and innovation. We’ve reached silver, now we’re striving for gold!

From disruptive beginnings to an established global presence, here are 25 moments that define 25 years of Bloc Digital as creative, visualisation, and immersive tech specialists.

Here's our journey so far...

1. 2000 – Founded by Keith Cox and Chris Hotham, Bloc Digital began as two self-employed visionaries determined to transform industrial communication through 3D visualisation. The duo first crossed paths as colleagues at Rolls-Royce.

2. 2000 – Securing one of its first major contracts with a national bowling company, Bloc’s business momentum quickly gathered pace.

3. 2005 – The company was formalised as Bloc Graphics Ltd, laying the groundwork for rapid growth and service diversification.

4. 2007 – Early collaborations with blue-chip clients such as Rolls-Royce and JCB cemented long-term relationships in the aerospace and manufacturing sectors.

5. 2010 – Bloc entered the defence sector, delivering an updated digital learning package for BAE Systems.

6. 2011 – Rebranding from Bloc Graphics to Bloc Digital marked a bold new era focused on immersive technology, innovation, and enterprise expansion.

7. 2013 – Expanding into the lubricants, oils, and additives market with Lubrizol, Bloc pioneered its ‘create once, use many’ approach.

8. 2015 – With a growing team, Bloc relocated to its second headquarters at the Derwent Business Centre in Derby.

9. 2017 – Development of immersive AR/VR applications accelerated, enhancing training and safety in industrial environments.

10. 2019 – Multiple innovation awards and an expanded international client base across Europe and the US underscored Bloc’s rising profile.

11. 2019 – The business established specialist teams across six core disciplines: Design, 3D Modelling, Animation, Immersive, Software, and Data.

12. 2020 – Relocation to a new UK headquarters at the Enterprise Centre in Derby supported the next phase of growth.

13. 2020 – Celebrating 20 years in business, Bloc supported global clients during the COVID-19 pandemic with remote digital solutions.

14. 2020 – Launch of ‘Powered by Bloc’ products, pre-built frameworks offering digital answers to real-world challenges.

15. 2022 – With a refreshed brand and new website, Bloc expanded into fresh markets with the future firmly in sight.

16. 2023 – Bloc Digital Inc. was established in the USA, targeting the North American aerospace and defence market.

17. 2023 – Our digital twin and data visualisation expertise transformed JCB’s production lines, delivering the UK’s first Factory of the Future Digital Twin.

18. 2023 – Bloc was named East Midlands Small Business of the Year.

19. 2023 – Keith and Chris were invited to showcase Bloc’s capabilities at NASA Glenn Research Centre, a major milestone in the company’s global expansion.

20. 2024 – Opening a new US office in Mentor, Ohio, strategically positioned Bloc near key aerospace and engineering clients.

21. 2024 – Launch of BlocHub, our latest SaaS solution for engineers, unveiled live at Advanced Engineering.

22. 2025 – Expansion continued with a second US office in Wichita, Kansas, America’s industrial heartland and the ‘air capital of the world’.

23. 2025 – Bloc's bespoke multi-sensory event experiences support Leonardo, Rolls-Royce, and Kongsberg, around the world, all year round.

24. 2025 – BlocHub’s collaboration with Geospatial Ventures Limited was selected as one of five projects awarded £2.5 million in UK Space Agency funding.

25. 2025 – Celebrating 25 years of innovation, Bloc marked its journey from a two-person Derby start-up to a global leader in industrial visualisation.