diff --git a/source/hal/source/components/npu/ethosu_profiler.c b/source/hal/source/components/npu/ethosu_profiler.c
index 3ac3497..5d50b09 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/components/npu/ethosu_profiler.c
+++ b/source/hal/source/components/npu/ethosu_profiler.c
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 
 extern struct ethosu_driver ethosu_drv;     /* Default Arm Ethos-U NPU device driver object */
 static ethosu_pmu_counters npu_counters;    /* NPU counter local instance */
+static const char* unit_beats = "beats";
+static const char* unit_cycles = "cycles";
 
 /**
  * @brief Gets the npu counter instance to be used.
@@ -59,29 +61,29 @@
     counters->npu_evt_counters[0].event_type = ETHOSU_PMU_NPU_IDLE;
     counters->npu_evt_counters[0].event_mask = ETHOSU_PMU_CNT1_Msk;
     counters->npu_evt_counters[0].name = "NPU IDLE";
-    counters->npu_evt_counters[0].unit = "cycles";
+    counters->npu_evt_counters[0].unit = unit_cycles;
 
     counters->npu_evt_counters[1].event_type = ETHOSU_PMU_AXI0_RD_DATA_BEAT_RECEIVED;
     counters->npu_evt_counters[1].event_mask = ETHOSU_PMU_CNT2_Msk;
     counters->npu_evt_counters[1].name = "NPU AXI0_RD_DATA_BEAT_RECEIVED";
-    counters->npu_evt_counters[1].unit = "beats";
+    counters->npu_evt_counters[1].unit = unit_beats;
 
     counters->npu_evt_counters[2].event_type = ETHOSU_PMU_AXI0_WR_DATA_BEAT_WRITTEN;
     counters->npu_evt_counters[2].event_mask = ETHOSU_PMU_CNT3_Msk;
     counters->npu_evt_counters[2].name = "NPU AXI0_WR_DATA_BEAT_WRITTEN";
-    counters->npu_evt_counters[2].unit = "beats";
+    counters->npu_evt_counters[2].unit = unit_beats;
 
     counters->npu_evt_counters[3].event_type = ETHOSU_PMU_AXI1_RD_DATA_BEAT_RECEIVED;
     counters->npu_evt_counters[3].event_mask = ETHOSU_PMU_CNT4_Msk;
     counters->npu_evt_counters[3].name = "NPU AXI1_RD_DATA_BEAT_RECEIVED";
-    counters->npu_evt_counters[3].unit = "beats";
+    counters->npu_evt_counters[3].unit = unit_beats;
 #else /* ETHOSU_PMU_NCOUNTERS >= 4 */
     #error "NPU PMU expects a minimum of 4 available event triggered counters!"
 #endif /* ETHOSU_PMU_NCOUNTERS >= 4 */
 
 #if ETHOSU_DERIVED_NCOUNTERS >= 1
     counters->npu_derived_counters[0].name = "NPU ACTIVE";
-    counters->npu_derived_counters[0].unit = "cycles";
+    counters->npu_derived_counters[0].unit = unit_cycles;
 #endif /* ETHOSU_DERIVED_NCOUNTERS >= 1 */
 
     for (i = 0; i < ETHOSU_PMU_NCOUNTERS; ++i) {
diff --git a/source/hal/source/components/npu/include/ethosu_profiler.h b/source/hal/source/components/npu/include/ethosu_profiler.h
index ca95b19..093c07f 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/components/npu/include/ethosu_profiler.h
+++ b/source/hal/source/components/npu/include/ethosu_profiler.h
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@
     enum ethosu_pmu_event_type event_type;
     uint32_t event_mask;
     uint32_t counter_value;
-    char* unit;
-    char* name;
+    const char* unit;
+    const char* name;
 } npu_evt_counter;
 
 typedef struct npu_derived_counter_ {
     uint32_t counter_value;
-    char* unit;
-    char* name;
+    const char* unit;
+    const char* name;
 } npu_derived_counter;
 
 typedef struct ethosu_pmu_counters_ {
diff --git a/source/hal/source/components/platform_pmu/include/platform_pmu.h b/source/hal/source/components/platform_pmu/include/platform_pmu.h
index 3724e57..b3fd8e8 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/components/platform_pmu/include/platform_pmu.h
+++ b/source/hal/source/components/platform_pmu/include/platform_pmu.h
@@ -50,10 +50,10 @@
 void platform_reset_counters(void);
 
 /**
- * @brief   Gets the current counter values.
- * @returns A populated instance of pmu_counters struct.
+ * @brief       Gets the current counter values.
+ * @param[out]  Pointer to a pmu_counters object.
  **/
-pmu_counters platform_get_counters(void);
+void platform_get_counters(pmu_counters* counters);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/source/hal/source/hal.c b/source/hal/source/hal.c
index d6028e7..4651bfd 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/hal.c
+++ b/source/hal/source/hal.c
@@ -19,62 +19,29 @@
 #include "platform_drivers.h"   /* Platform drivers */
 #include "log_macros.h"         /* Logging macros */
 
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <assert.h>
-#include <string.h>
-
-int hal_init(hal_platform* platform, platform_timer* timer)
+bool hal_platform_init(void)
 {
-    platform->timer     = timer;
-    platform->platform_init     = platform_init;
-    platform->platform_release  = platform_release;
-    platform_name(platform->plat_name, sizeof(platform->plat_name));
-
-    return 0;
-}
-
-/**
- * @brief  Local helper function to clean the slate for current platform.
- **/
-static void hal_platform_clear(hal_platform* platform)
-{
-    assert(platform);
-    platform->inited = 0;
-}
-
-int hal_platform_init(hal_platform* platform)
-{
-    int state;
-    assert(platform && platform->platform_init);
-    hal_platform_clear(platform);
-
     /* Initialise platform */
-    if (0 != (state = platform->platform_init())) {
-        printf_err("Failed to initialise platform %s\n", platform->plat_name);
-        return state;
+    if (0 != platform_init()) {
+        printf_err("Failed to initialise platform %s\n", platform_name());
+        return false;
     }
 
     /* Initialise LCD */
-    if (0 != (state = hal_lcd_init())) {
+    if (0 != hal_lcd_init()) {
         printf_err("hal_lcd_init failed\n");
-        return state;
+        return false;
     }
 
-    /* Initialise the timer module */
-    init_timer(platform->timer);
+    /* Initialise PMU */
+    hal_pmu_init();
 
-    info("%s platform initialised\n", platform->plat_name);
-    platform->inited = !state;
-    return state;
+    return true;
 }
 
-void hal_platform_release(hal_platform *platform)
+void hal_platform_release(void)
 {
-    assert(platform && platform->platform_release);
-
-    hal_platform_clear(platform);
-    info("Releasing platform %s\n", platform->plat_name);
-    platform->platform_release();
+    platform_release();
 }
 
 bool hal_get_user_input(char* user_input, int size)
diff --git a/source/hal/source/hal_timer.c b/source/hal/source/hal_pmu.c
similarity index 61%
rename from source/hal/source/hal_timer.c
rename to source/hal/source/hal_pmu.c
index 0488afa..c89128d 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/hal_timer.c
+++ b/source/hal/source/hal_pmu.c
@@ -14,26 +14,20 @@
  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  * limitations under the License.
  */
-#include "timer.h"
-#include "log_macros.h"
+#include "hal_pmu.h"
 #include "platform_drivers.h"
 
-#include <assert.h>
-#include <string.h>
-#include <inttypes.h>
-
-/**
- * @brief       Initialiser for HAL timer.
- * @param[in]   timer  Platform timer to initialize.
- **/
-void init_timer(platform_timer* timer)
+void hal_pmu_init(void)
 {
-    assert(timer);
-    memset(timer, 0, sizeof(*timer));
+    platform_reset_counters();
+}
 
-    timer->reset = platform_reset_counters;
-    timer->get_counters = platform_get_counters;
+void hal_pmu_reset(void)
+{
+    platform_reset_counters();
+}
 
-    timer->reset();
-    timer->inited = 1;
+void hal_pmu_get_counters(pmu_counters* counters)
+{
+    platform_get_counters(counters);
 }
diff --git a/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/include/platform_drivers.h b/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/include/platform_drivers.h
index 8b699d5..de03bcd 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/include/platform_drivers.h
+++ b/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/include/platform_drivers.h
@@ -38,10 +38,9 @@
 void platform_release(void);
 
 /**
- * @brief   Sets the platform name.
- * @param[out] name     Name of the platform to be set
- * @param[in]  size     Size of the input buffer
+ * @brief   Gets the platform name.
+ * @return  Pointer to the name
  */
-void platform_name(char* name, size_t size);
+const char* platform_name(void);
 
 #endif /* PLATFORM_DRIVERS_H */
diff --git a/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/include/timer_mps3.h b/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/include/timer_mps3.h
index b370e89..dcec980 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/include/timer_mps3.h
+++ b/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/include/timer_mps3.h
@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@
 void platform_reset_counters(void);
 
 /**
- * @brief   Gets the current counter values.
- * @returns A populated instance of pmu_counters struct.
+ * @brief       Gets the current counter values.
+ * @param[out]  Pointer to a pmu_counters object.
  **/
-pmu_counters platform_get_counters(void);
+void platform_get_counters(pmu_counters* counters);
 
 /**
  * @brief  Gets the MPS3 core clock
diff --git a/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/source/platform_drivers.c b/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/source/platform_drivers.c
index 17ccdf2..d1c3da2 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/source/platform_drivers.c
+++ b/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/source/platform_drivers.c
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@
  */
 static int verify_platform(void);
 
+/** Platform name */
+static const char* s_platform_name = DESIGN_NAME;
+
 int platform_init(void)
 {
     int err = 0;
@@ -82,8 +85,7 @@
 #endif /* ARM_NPU */
 
     /* Print target design info */
-    info("Target system design: %s\n", DESIGN_NAME);
-
+    info("Target system design: %s\n", s_platform_name);
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -92,9 +94,9 @@
     __disable_irq();
 }
 
-void platform_name(char* name, size_t size)
+const char* platform_name(void)
 {
-    strncpy(name, DESIGN_NAME, size);
+    return s_platform_name;
 }
 
 #define CREATE_MASK(msb, lsb)           (int)(((1U << ((msb) - (lsb) + 1)) - 1) << (lsb))
diff --git a/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/source/timer_mps3.c b/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/source/timer_mps3.c
index 6330269..7ce3002 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/source/timer_mps3.c
+++ b/source/hal/source/platform/mps3/source/timer_mps3.c
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
 #include "smm_mps3.h"   /* Memory map for MPS3. */
 
 static uint64_t cpu_cycle_count = 0;    /* 64-bit cpu cycle counter */
+static const char* unit_cycles = "cycles";
+static const char* unit_ms = "milliseconds";
 
 /**
  * @brief   Gets the system tick triggered cycle counter for the CPU.
@@ -69,12 +71,10 @@
 #endif /* defined (ARM_NPU) */
 }
 
-pmu_counters platform_get_counters(void)
+void platform_get_counters(pmu_counters* counters)
 {
-    pmu_counters platform_counters = {
-        .num_counters = 0,
-        .initialised = true
-    };
+    counters->num_counters = 0;
+    counters->initialised = true;
     uint32_t i = 0;
 
 #if defined (ARM_NPU)
@@ -84,20 +84,20 @@
             npu_counters.npu_evt_counters[i].counter_value,
             npu_counters.npu_evt_counters[i].name,
             npu_counters.npu_evt_counters[i].unit,
-            &platform_counters);
+            counters);
     }
     for (i = 0; i < ETHOSU_DERIVED_NCOUNTERS; ++i) {
         add_pmu_counter(
             npu_counters.npu_derived_counters[i].counter_value,
             npu_counters.npu_derived_counters[i].name,
             npu_counters.npu_derived_counters[i].unit,
-            &platform_counters);
+            counters);
     }
     add_pmu_counter(
         npu_counters.npu_total_ccnt,
         "NPU TOTAL",
-        "cycles",
-        &platform_counters);
+        unit_cycles,
+        counters);
 #endif /* defined (ARM_NPU) */
 
 #if defined(CPU_PROFILE_ENABLED)
@@ -111,14 +111,14 @@
     add_pmu_counter(
             mps3_counters.counter_systick,
             "CPU TOTAL",
-            "cycles",
-            &platform_counters);
+            unit_cycles,
+            counters);
 
     add_pmu_counter(
             get_tstamp_milliseconds(&mps3_counters),
             "DURATION",
-            "milliseconds",
-            &platform_counters);
+            unit_ms,
+            counters);
 #endif /* defined(CPU_PROFILE_ENABLED) */
 
 #if !defined(CPU_PROFILE_ENABLED)
@@ -129,8 +129,6 @@
     UNUSED(i);
 #endif /* !defined(ARM_NPU) */
 #endif /* !defined(CPU_PROFILE_ENABLED) */
-
-    return platform_counters;
 }
 
 uint32_t get_mps3_core_clock(void)
diff --git a/source/hal/source/platform/native/include/platform_drivers.h b/source/hal/source/platform/native/include/platform_drivers.h
index a203618..50164db 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/platform/native/include/platform_drivers.h
+++ b/source/hal/source/platform/native/include/platform_drivers.h
@@ -35,10 +35,9 @@
 void platform_release(void);
 
 /**
- * @brief   Sets the platform name.
- * @param[out] name     Name of the platform to be set
- * @param[in]  size     Size of the input buffer
+ * @brief   Gets the platform name.
+ * @return  Pointer to the name
  */
-void platform_name(char* name, size_t size);
+const char* platform_name(void);
 
 #endif /* PLATFORM_DRIVERS_H */
diff --git a/source/hal/source/platform/native/include/timer_native.h b/source/hal/source/platform/native/include/timer_native.h
index c8eeda2..da34b30 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/platform/native/include/timer_native.h
+++ b/source/hal/source/platform/native/include/timer_native.h
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@
 void platform_reset_counters(void);
 
 /**
- * @brief   Gets the current counter values.
- * @returns A populated instance of pmu_counters struct.
+ * @brief       Gets the current counter values.
+ * @param[out]  Pointer to a pmu_counters object.
  **/
-pmu_counters platform_get_counters(void);
+void platform_get_counters(pmu_counters* counters);
 
 #endif /* NATIVE_TIMER_H */
diff --git a/source/hal/source/platform/native/source/platform_drivers.c b/source/hal/source/platform/native/source/platform_drivers.c
index 10db99a..d5b3727 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/platform/native/source/platform_drivers.c
+++ b/source/hal/source/platform/native/source/platform_drivers.c
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 
 #include <string.h>
 
+static const char* s_platform_name = "native";
+
 int platform_init(void)
 {
     return 0;
@@ -27,7 +29,7 @@
 void platform_release(void)
 {}
 
-void platform_name(char* name, size_t size)
+const char* platform_name(void)
 {
-    strncpy(name, "native", size);
+    return s_platform_name;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/source/hal/source/platform/native/source/timer_native.c b/source/hal/source/platform/native/source/timer_native.c
index 590975f..7cd832c 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/platform/native/source/timer_native.c
+++ b/source/hal/source/platform/native/source/timer_native.c
@@ -32,25 +32,21 @@
 
 void platform_reset_counters() { /* Nothing to do */ }
 
-pmu_counters platform_get_counters(void)
+void platform_get_counters(pmu_counters* counters)
 {
     struct timespec current_time;
-    pmu_counters platform_counters = {
-        .num_counters = 0,
-        .initialised = true
-    };
+    counters->num_counters = 0;
+    counters->initialised = true;
     clock_gettime(1, &current_time);
     uint64_t microseconds = (current_time.tv_sec * MICROSECONDS_IN_SECOND) +
                             (current_time.tv_nsec / NANOSECONDS_IN_MICROSECOND);
 
 #if NUM_PMU_COUNTERS > 0
-    platform_counters.counters[0].value = microseconds;
-    platform_counters.counters[0].name = "Duration";
-    platform_counters.counters[0].unit = "microseconds";
-    ++platform_counters.num_counters;
+    counters->counters[0].value = microseconds;
+    counters->counters[0].name = "Duration";
+    counters->counters[0].unit = "microseconds";
+    ++counters->num_counters;
 #endif /* NUM_PMU_COUNTERS > 0 */
-
-    return platform_counters;
 }
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
diff --git a/source/hal/source/platform/simple/include/platform_drivers.h b/source/hal/source/platform/simple/include/platform_drivers.h
index 31bb682..7d075e7 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/platform/simple/include/platform_drivers.h
+++ b/source/hal/source/platform/simple/include/platform_drivers.h
@@ -39,10 +39,9 @@
 void platform_release(void);
 
 /**
- * @brief   Sets the platform name.
- * @param[out] name     Name of the platform to be set
- * @param[in]  size     Size of the input buffer
+ * @brief   Gets the platform name.
+ * @return  Pointer to the name
  */
-void platform_name(char* name, size_t size);
+const char* platform_name(void);
 
 #endif /* PLATFORM_DRIVERS_H */
diff --git a/source/hal/source/platform/simple/include/timer_simple_platform.h b/source/hal/source/platform/simple/include/timer_simple_platform.h
index 40acd03..20006cc 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/platform/simple/include/timer_simple_platform.h
+++ b/source/hal/source/platform/simple/include/timer_simple_platform.h
@@ -31,10 +31,10 @@
 void platform_reset_counters(void);
 
 /**
- * @brief   Gets the current counter values.
- * @returns A populated instance of pmu_counters struct.
+ * @brief       Gets the current counter values.
+ * @param[out]  Pointer to a pmu_counters object.
  **/
-pmu_counters platform_get_counters(void);
+void platform_get_counters(pmu_counters* counters);
 
 /**
  * @brief   System tick interrupt handler.
diff --git a/source/hal/source/platform/simple/source/platform_drivers.c b/source/hal/source/platform/simple/source/platform_drivers.c
index 177ba70..3e04323 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/platform/simple/source/platform_drivers.c
+++ b/source/hal/source/platform/simple/source/platform_drivers.c
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@
 
 #endif /* ARM_NPU */
 
+/* Platform name */
+static const char* s_platform_name = DESIGN_NAME;
+
 int platform_init(void)
 {
     SystemCoreClockUpdate();    /* From start up code */
@@ -72,7 +75,7 @@
 #endif /* ARM_NPU */
 
     /* Print target design info */
-    info("Target system design: %s\n", DESIGN_NAME);
+    info("Target system design: %s\n", s_platform_name);
 
     return 0;
 }
@@ -82,7 +85,7 @@
     __disable_irq();
 }
 
-void platform_name(char* name, size_t size)
+const char* platform_name(void)
 {
-    strncpy(name, DESIGN_NAME, size);
+    return s_platform_name;
 }
diff --git a/source/hal/source/platform/simple/source/timer_simple_platform.c b/source/hal/source/platform/simple/source/timer_simple_platform.c
index 94af308..3bb91d0 100644
--- a/source/hal/source/platform/simple/source/timer_simple_platform.c
+++ b/source/hal/source/platform/simple/source/timer_simple_platform.c
@@ -63,12 +63,10 @@
     debug("system tick config ready\n");
 }
 
-pmu_counters platform_get_counters(void)
+void platform_get_counters(pmu_counters* counters)
 {
-    pmu_counters platform_counters = {
-        .num_counters = 0,
-        .initialised = true
-    };
+    counters->num_counters = 0;
+    counters->initialised = true;
     uint32_t i = 0;
 
 #if defined (ARM_NPU)
@@ -78,20 +76,20 @@
                 npu_counters.npu_evt_counters[i].counter_value,
                 npu_counters.npu_evt_counters[i].name,
                 npu_counters.npu_evt_counters[i].unit,
-                &platform_counters);
+                counters);
     }
     for (i = 0; i < ETHOSU_DERIVED_NCOUNTERS; ++i) {
         add_pmu_counter(
                 npu_counters.npu_derived_counters[i].counter_value,
                 npu_counters.npu_derived_counters[i].name,
                 npu_counters.npu_derived_counters[i].unit,
-                &platform_counters);
+                counters);
     }
     add_pmu_counter(
             npu_counters.npu_total_ccnt,
             "NPU TOTAL",
             "cycles",
-            &platform_counters);
+            counters);
 #endif /* defined (ARM_NPU) */
 
 #if defined(CPU_PROFILE_ENABLED)
@@ -99,7 +97,7 @@
             Get_SysTick_Cycle_Count(),
             "CPU TOTAL",
             "cycles",
-            &platform_counters);
+            counters);
 #endif /* defined(CPU_PROFILE_ENABLED) */
 
 #if !defined(CPU_PROFILE_ENABLED)
@@ -109,8 +107,6 @@
     UNUSED(i);
 #endif /* !defined(ARM_NPU) */
 #endif /* !defined(CPU_PROFILE_ENABLED) */
-
-    return platform_counters;
 }
 
 void SysTick_Handler(void)