Sheffield's Westfield Health launches support programme for startups and entrepreneurs

Westfield Health, the Sheffield-based health insurance firm, is now inviting startups and entrepreneurs from the health and wellbeing sector to pitch for partnership, investment and business support opportunities.

As part of a new strategy to address developing markets in health, wellbeing and care, Westfield Health is urging startups to identify ways it can support new business growth, and how they could work together to benefit the health and wellbeing of the population.

Westfield Health’s new headquarters, Westfield House on Charter Row in Sheffield city centre, includes three enterprise hub spaces which have been allocated to support the growth of health and wellbeing startups.

David Capper, commercial director at Westfield Health, said: “Westfield Health has been helping people access and pay for health treatment so they can stay at their healthy best since we were formed almost a century ago.

“Now we’re inviting startups to come forward and tell us how we can support their organisations and the wider sector to grow. This might be through office space within our enterprise hubs, but the support could also take several other forms, too.

“We can offer a range of help and advice, not only from Westfield Health itself but also from our network of partners, many of whom have experience of running a business or supporting new and early-stage start-ups.

“As well as strategic business support, there could also be the prospect for long-term investment in the startup. The potential opportunities are wide-ranging and we want to explore a number of ideas.”

The process will involve an initial 500-word application outlining details of the startup business. Shortlisted applicants will then have the chance to pitch their business plan, which will be evaluated by a team at Westfield Health.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on 31st December. Applications will be assessed in January, and successful applicants will be invited to meet Westfield Health representatives to pitch their business proposal in the new year.

David added: “This is an exciting time for our business. We’re settling into our new HQ, have a new-look senior team, and can now take the next steps to progress our future health and wellbeing strategy.

“Investing in health and wellbeing start-ups is a key part of this and we look forward to hearing ideas about how we can work with new businesses to develop pioneering solutions to benefit the health and wellbeing of the population.”

Westfield Health’s new headquarters in the heart of Sheffield is an eight-storey development close to some of the city’s highest levels of investment and is immediately adjacent to the Retail Quarter, as well as The Moor area currently undergoing redevelopment.

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