29 October 2009
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, in
partnership with the Bristol Enterprise Network and SETsquared
Business Acceleration Centre, is inviting small- to medium-sized
enterprises to take part in a pioneering advice clinic. The
Healthcare Business Clinic is being held at the Trusts
headquarters, in Marlborough Street, Bristol, on Monday 9 November
to provide a forum for companies to receive expert advice and
strategic direction from NHS and business experts.
Those who attend the clinic will discuss their business
challenge with Graham Rich, Chief Executive of UH Bristol; Martin
Bell, Director of Information Management and Technology at North
Bristol NHS Trust; Richard Ward, Director of Purchasing and Supply
at Bristol Weston NHS Purchasing Consortium; Jonathan Bloor,
Director of Doctor Communication Solutions; Nick Sturge, Centre
Director of SETsquared Business Acceleration in Bristol; and Martin
Coulthard, Director of Bristol Enterprise Network (BEN).
This expert team has been chosen for its knowledge and insight
into the changing policies and priorities of the NHS and its
ability to offer support to small and medium size enterprises to
position their products or services in this context.
The Trusts involvement stems from a desire to support the local
business community of Bristol and Bath and it has joined forces
with the Bristol Enterprise Network, a network for the technology
business community in Bristol and Bath, and SETsquared Business
Acceleration Centre, which helps early-stage, high-tech,
high-growth potential ventures on the road to success.
Speaking of the Trusts involvement, Graham Rich, Chief
Executive, said: This Trust initiative is a unique - and
free - opportunity for an early-stage local company to get
feedback from a top-level panel of NHS and other business experts.
The Business Healthcare Clinic demonstrates the Trusts strong
commitment to working closely with smaller businesses to help them
develop innovative healthcare products and bring them to
market.
His fellow panellist, Martin Coulthard, of BEN, said: We are
delighted that BEN is working with UH Bristol to offer the
Healthcare Business Clinic. A small business may have a fantastic,
innovative product or service for healthcare, but can find engaging
with the NHS to be a tough challenge. The clinic will give a
great opportunity for the entrepreneur to short-circuit the usual
channels of communication and discuss a key challenge with senior
executives under conditions of confidentiality. The insights that
they gain could make a key difference to the future prospects of
the enterprise.
BEN has already invited applications for the clinic from our
nearly 2,000 members, as well as from other businesses that are in
contact with our supporters, the Universities of Bath, Bristol and
the West of England.
Any business interested in being considered for the clinic
should apply now using the web form accessed from
http://www.bristolenterprise.com/events/healthcare-business-clinic.
Applications close on October 31.
