A recent roundtable hosted by The Boda Group and Shakespeare Martineau echoed what we at Medilink Midlands have long recognised: the East Midlands’ healthtech and life sciences sector has no shortage of ambition, but to unlock its full potential, we need to invest in people, not just products.
A ‘rebel’ spirit will help to fuel innovation in the East Midlands’ HealthTech industry and unlock new growth opportunities, according to a panel of experts.
They say entrepreneurs need to be able to nurture talent, develop products and expand into new markets via digital communities – without having to rely on the established networks seen in cities like Oxford, Cambridge and London.
Their comments were made at a roundtable event hosted by Nottingham-based marketing collective The Boda Group and national law firm, Shakespeare Martineau. It was chaired by BioCity founder Glenn Crocker.
Panel member Martin Sandhu, from digital HealthTech consultancy Nuom, said Nottingham’s reputation as a ‘rebel city’ could motivate people to build their own communities.
“Cities like Birmingham are doing amazing work and attracting investment – and I believe we can do the same here,” he said.
“The first thing we need to do is build stronger communities. At the moment, many businesses are working in isolation, often just trying to stay afloat, which is understandable. But we have to invest in the next generation by giving them opportunities to create businesses here and contribute to the local economy.”
Stefan Ogrodzinski, from life sciences company Biostatus agreed, adding that traditional networking models are already being upended by changing behaviours:
“We need to rethink how we build meaningful networks in HealthTech. The traditional models no longer fit a digitally native generation. What I am reminded of daily – even on the tram ride here – is that people connect differently now. We must embrace a digital-first, decentralised and perhaps even disruptive way of fostering collaborations if we want to unlock the sector’s full potential.”
However, the panellists believe that in-person communities are still essential. Deborah Knight, from customer success consultancy Kaptive CX, said:
“What attracts people to London are the big communities – we need to replicate that here.
“If someone stays in Nottingham after university, many of their friends may have moved away. So if they return or choose to stay, it’s crucial to help them build new networks. We can do this by introducing them to other businesses through a gradual, structured networking approach – perhaps a programme that connects them with professionals across the wider East Midlands. This gives them the exposure and learning opportunities they might otherwise miss.”
Speaking after the event, Martin Stone, Managing Director of digital and PR agency Tank, part of the Boda Group, said:
“The East Midlands is home to a thriving HealthTech industry, which develops life-saving and life-improving products, and supports high-quality jobs and economic growth both regionally and nationally. As well as building communities within the sector, which foster talent and innovation, businesses also need a communications strategy that allows them to build awareness and trust in their market.”
Roger Harcourt, Partner and Head of Nottingham office at Shakespeare Martineau, who works with healthcare businesses, said:
“We work with highly-ambitious HealthTech businesses, and events like this really demonstrate the level of expertise and innovation in the sector. The message from the panel was clear: communities that foster innovation and entrepreneurship will be key to engaging the next generation and driving growth. It was evident from our roundtable that there is a genuine appetite for HealthTech business and advisers to come together to help foster the regional ecosystem in this sector – and, at Shakespeare Martineau, we’re keen to be part of growing that.”
Panellists at the event included founders and representatives from start-ups and established businesses, such as Nuom, Streets Heaver, Biostatus, Kaptive CX, 4D Biomaterials, Intelligent Omics Ltd and Future Health Technologies.
Article provided on behalf of Shakespeare Martineau. For further details please contact: [email protected]
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