Georgina Fairhall – CEO/Founder at wac
Read about Georgina Fairhall’s journey from NTU to being the founder of wac, a platform that helps hourly workers.
When Georgina Fairhall (George) was studying Law at Nottingham Trent University, she never imagined she’d go on to found a tech company that supports people around the world to get paid fairly.
Proudly based in Leeds, George is now the founder and CEO of wac — a fast-growing platform designed to give hourly-paid workers control over their pay and working lives. Since launching in 2020, the app has helped over 500,000 low-paid workers reclaim thousands of pounds in lost wages.
George's spark for creating wac
Like many students, George worked a range of hourly jobs. From McDonald’s to bar shifts and agency roles. And too often, found herself underpaid or unpaid for the hours she worked. As she explains...
I was getting paid incorrectly, struggling to keep track of shifts, and there was no easy way to check what I was owed,” she explains. “After one job didn’t pay me at all, I decided that was the last time - and I channelled that frustration into creating a solution.
From Leeds to the world
Today, wac has users across 39 countries and is used by workers from companies like Tesco, Amazon, and Greggs. In 2024, George introduced wac’s first revenue stream to propel the business to its next stage of growth.
But George, like most entrepreneurs, has faced her fair share of challenges along the way.
As a sole female, non-technical founder with no revenue, no network, and a low-paid user base, I didn’t fit the traditional investor mould. I learned that early funding isn’t about ticking boxes - it’s about your story, your drive, and your belief in your mission.
Despite those odds, George has raised over £1.5 million in angel investment, making her one of the highest-risk, yet most inspiring success stories in the Northern tech ecosystem. She’s also proudly resisted pressure to relocate to London, choosing instead to grow her business from Leeds and contribute to the region’s booming tech scene.
Support along the way
George’s entrepreneurial journey was fuelled by the early support of NTU Enterprise, as well as programmes at NTU’s Nottingham Business School and NatWest.
She first came to NTU Enterprise with an idea, frustration at a broken system, and hand-drawn illustrations of her app idea. From there, she worked with our team to refine her business model, build confidence, connect with mentors and plug into other support systems that would continue to support her along her journey.
NTU gave me the foundation to think critically, problem-solve, and see opportunity where others might see barriers
Achievements
wac has received multiple accolades, most recently including:
- Young Leader of the Year, TheBusinessDesk.com Awards 2025
- Finalist, Bupa everywoman in Tech Awards 2025
- Start-up of the Year, Leeds Digital Festival 2023
- Entrepreneur of the Year, Leeds Digital Festival 2023
wac is much more than a tech business. George has turned what began as infuriating experiences into a social impact powerhouse - promoting pay transparency, liberating workers, and increasing awareness of employment rights.
Advice for aspiring founders
What's George’s message to students dreaming of launching their own business?
Don’t wait until you feel ready - you’ll never have all the answers. Start with what you know, stay curious, and keep learning. The best ideas often come from solving your own frustrations.