The Health Innovation Programme (HIP) is an intensive, fully funded training programme, delivering high quality coaching, mentoring, and specialist healthcare business development support with experts from SETSquared and the West of England Academic Health Science Network (AHSN).

This immersive and interactive multi-day training course will use Strategyzer’s Business Model Canvas as a basis for exploring and developing your business plan. But don’t worry if you’re not familiar with this model, alongside SETsquared, we’ll take you through it step-by-step. This programme aims to give you a really effective tool to test the validity of your business model and understand and explain the value of your proposition to the NHS and health sector.

Who can apply?

Early to mid-stage healthcare / life sciences innovators or entrepreneurs, (from clinical, lived experience or commercial backgrounds), with a health-based product or service that has the potential to improve patient care, reduce NHS costs and help us to live healthier lives.

Priority will be given to applicants employed in the geographical boundaries of the West of England AHSN. This includes Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, Bath, North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire. However, we also welcome applications from across the rest of the south of England.

To be eligible you need to be one of the following:

  • a healthcare professional or academic
  • a public contributor
  • or a Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) or micro-business.

“This programme has really given our fledgling business the kick-start it needs to turn into a successful, scalable operation. The course leaders were knowledgeable, personable and incisive.”

“A real opportunity to discuss the nuts and bolts of running a healthcare related business with other like-minded individuals.”

What does the course cover?

You will have the opportunity to learn core skills in entrepreneurship, learn more about the health sector in the UK and develop skills in the areas of:

  • market segmentation and understanding the NHS as a market place
  • understanding the all-important problem/solution fit
  • choosing revenue models
  • understanding an investors view
  • evaluating your proposition
  • hints and tips on how to pitch successfully

Who are the course tutors?

As a network organisation bringing together the health and care sector with industry and academia, the West of England AHSN specialises  in helping innovators navigate their way through the complexity of the NHS.

SETsquared has extensive experience in delivering training in entrepreneurship and small business incubation.

“Being challenged to ‘think differently’ about how we innovate our health research and learning new concepts  beyond our comfort zone was extremely valuable.”

“The programme really helped us to focus on the issues facing operational roll out of an innovation in a diverse NHS community trust. Expert feedback on our innovation gave us the encouragement to continue its development.”

Contact

To find out more about the Health Innovation Programme and dates for our next training programme, contact Claire Denyer at claire.denyer@nhs.net.