Keele University has launched a new Healthcare Business Network, a regional forum for companies in all sectors looking to grow their business and make new contacts in the healthcare and medical supply chain.

The Network, which is open to businesses across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, builds on the success of the University’s Business Bridge* programme. Business Bridge is a partnership between Keele and University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust that enables local businesses to benefit from the expert advice, collaborative working and specialist facilities available within both organisations.

Dr Clare O’Neill, Head of Partnership Development for Health at Keele University, said: “Through Business Bridge, we’ve been able to give local businesses a competitive advantage by providing access to an expert panel of specialist advisors and mechanisms that can support key development areas such as product design, prototyping, testing and regulation, amongst other aspects.

“By providing easy access to researchers, clinicians, academics and other specialists, Business Bridge enables businesses to receive expert advice and potential collaboration partners that they may not have been able to access otherwise, thus increasing the speed, scope and success of their development.

“The success of the Business Bridge programme has led to us developing the Healthcare Business Network, which aims to bring together companies at various stages of the health and medical supply chain. By providing a dedicated forum where like-minded businesses can join together, we’re aiming to create an environment that facilitates shared learning, new connections and exciting collaborations that have the potential to grow their respective organisations. Not only does this help the participating businesses, but it can also bring significant benefits to the local economy and the health of the local population.”

The Business Bridge team is inviting organisations that are interested in joining the Healthcare Business Network to submit ideas that can help to shape the Network going forward. If you have suggestions on aspects such as potential topics, events, members, guest speakers, venues or hosts, please contact Kylie Salmon, Business Bridge Project Manager, on 01782 734467 or k.salmon@keele.ac.uk.

*The Business Bridge programme (Ref: 32R16P00713, Medical Research and Development Centre Phase One) is part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the England 2014 to 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Growth Programme.