Huddersfield Health Innovation Partnership

AUDITSU is a start-up company that secured a grant to help launch its platform to enable organisations to comply with changes to legislation around accessibility. The platform is based around the European Accessibility Act, which allows users to access technology such as websites and mobile apps, regardless of their abilities. CEO and founder Jason Crispin shares how the grant enabled him carry out feasibility studies, kick start a pilot in March and employ a Master’s student from The University of Huddersfield to help take the platform to the next level. #UKSPF 

And that’s a wrap! Today marks the official end date of the UK SPF funded Huddersfield Health Innovation Partnership - and what a year and a half it has been! We’ve built a vibrant community driven by innovation and a genuine commitment to supporting others. It’s been inspiring to see such fantastic businesses and enterprises emerge - and we look forward to continuing to support their growth. You may have noticed that we’ve been sharing some stories across our socials and will be showcasing more over the coming days, so keep an eye out. Some of the team attended the topping out ceremony last week for the Emily Siddon Building that will house a new health and wellbeing innovation centre with offices, labs, co-working and a Maker Space. It was exciting to hear about the next steps for the build – it’ll be open before we know it. A rainbow even made an appearance, which we’re taking as a hopeful sign of what’s to come! 🌈 Tomorrow, our new project commences but please bear with us while we transition between the two projects. We have lots of exciting things in the pipeline, so do stay in the loop. In the meantime, we’d just like to say a massive thank you to all of you that have supported the project, we couldn’t have done it without you. Liz Towns-Andrews OBE | Nikki Hill | Emily Raleigh | Sue Cooke | Janine Downs | James Dennis Allen | Jordan Furness | Maisie Mountcastle | Jane Turner #UKSPF https://lnkd.in/gxCnF48E https://lnkd.in/euGzhNBv https://lnkd.in/eVyWwhQj https://lnkd.in/dAXgMZZz https://lnkd.in/dKvQMEdK https://lnkd.in/erEh9kxa https://lnkd.in/eYJ5F7Zj https://lnkd.in/e92MP23C https://lnkd.in/ehRP7Y4x

A HHIP grant helped Kirklees Local TV and Talking Health TV conduct a survey aimed at diabetic and pre-diabetic sufferers in ethnic minority groups to help remove barriers to health. The aim was to support healthcare providers to provide a more equitable service. Having engaged with thousands of people through the project, they aim to create a digital ecosystem that fosters wellbeing and provides essential education on diabetes management. Dr Milton Brown shares how the initiative has enabled them to learn more about healthcare services and community needs, as well as build new connections, taking away key learnings from other organisations. #UKSPF

Hodgkinson McCambridge became members of the project while the company was relatively new, providing opportunities for it to scale up and grow. Through the project, it was able to publish an obesity report based on sessions focused around lived in experiences. It also hosted a breakfast seminar that brought together healthcare professionals, community leaders and researchers to explore how Patient & Public Involvement and Engagement (PIIE) can drive equitable, sustainable and impactful healthcare innovations. Co-founder Matthew Hodgkinson talks about how the company has benefitted from being a member, opening up opportunities to build connections in a thriving ecosystem. #UKSPF Tom McCambridge

The Silicone Straw Company, known for its innovative and reusable silicone straws, received a grant through the project to kick start a new concept to design and develop a reusable, ergonomic drinking aid for residents in care homes and hospitals to help them stay hydrated more easily. Charlotte has been working closely with the design and technology team at the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre to bring her idea to life. Founder, Charlotte Walsh 🥤tells us more about her innovative product idea and what’s next. #UKSPF 

A key project milestone of the HHIP was the opening of a new Innovation Space at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, operated by Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust and officially opened in October 2024 by the Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire. Since its launch, this dedicated space has become a vibrant hub for innovation, welcoming over 300 visitors, including Trust staff that have participated in internal workshops designed to support idea generation and service improvement. Beyond fostering internal innovation, the space has also served as a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange, hosting six external roundtables and events that have brought together clinicians, academics and industry leaders to explore innovative solutions to key challenges within the Trust and the wider NHS. #UKSPF #HealthInnovation #Healthcare #NHS West Yorkshire Combined Authority West Yorkshire Business and Skills The University of Huddersfield 3M Buckley Innovation Centre Business Kirklees Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber

RAVENSTHORPE COMMUNITY CENTRE LIMITED (RCC) became a member of the project and successfully applied for a grant. The grant has enabled the Centre to work with TSL Kirklees to deliver Health Your Way, a programme of community activity designed to help people improve their physical and emotional health and wellbeing. RCC is an established community anchor organisation which supports the local largely South Asian community and other migrant communities. Community Development Officer, Aysha Ayub, has been telling us what the grant and being a member of the project has meant to the Centre, enabling it to provide much-needed support to the local community. #UKSPF

Last chance to get tickets. If you are keen to improve employee health and wellbeing within your organisation, this event is not to be missed. Hear from key speakers around the power of breaks, the transformative power of flourishing at work and how to grow teams with courage, compassion and curiosity. The University of Huddersfield's Health and Wellbeing Academy will also be doing free health checks from 9am to 11am. Register your place today 👉 https://buff.ly/AmwoOrg #WorkplaceWellbeing #HealthInnovation #EmployeeWellbeing #BusinessEvent #Kirklees #WestYorkshire #UKSPF

Visual Systems Healthcare became a member and successfully applied for a grant to support its project to improve communication between patients and clinicians – with the patient’s journey in mind. Working with stakeholder focus groups within the local community, clinicians within the NHS and digital health companies, they aim to fully understand the requirements of all stakeholders from a diverse and inclusive West Yorkshire community to ensure innovative pathways are aligned to healthcare priorities and pain points. Here Matthew Hunter, Chief Operating Officer, tells us why they joined as members and how a grant has giving them the opportunity to take their project to the next level, working alongside other members of the project. #UKSPF 

Meet the speakers at this year’s Workplace Health and Wellbeing Fair taking place on 26 March. • Ali Khan, SHAPE | Why the Business World Needs Professional Flourishing • Cheryl Devine, Cultivate Courage | Create a Culture of Courage. • Michael Crinnion, Mind Body Goals |The Power of Breaks and Breathwork for Wellness and Performance The University of Huddersfield’s Health and Wellbeing Academy will also be doing free health checks from 9am to 11am. Register your place today 👉 https://buff.ly/cmWggyh #WorkplaceWellbeing #HealthInnovation #EmployeeWellbeing #BusinessEvent #Kirklees #WestYorkshire #UKSPF