“Our business proposition and earning potential have been transformed as a result of the Innovate programme”. Ian Harrison, Alchemy Healthcare
Background
Ian Harrison established Alchemy Healthcare in May 2005 as an innovation-driven health product company specialising in the development of a needle-free powder delivery device.
The challenge
Ian recognised that Alchemy was a health device led company that needed a change in focus to help it get closer to its potential customer and investor base.
The response
Alchemy is a client of Oxford Innovation’s network of 14 innovation centres. Ian was advised by Oxford Innovation (OI) that the Design Council’s Designing Demand Innovate (Innovate) programme was being rolled out across the South East. OI explained that the programme was fully funded by SEEDA and would be effective in helping him resolve
critical market and company positioning issues. Ian attended a one day Technology Venture Workshop to understand more about the programme and the benefits of strategic design. After attending the workshop Ian immediately saw the value of Innovate, applied and was accepted to the 12 month programme.
The outcome
Ian was supported on a monthly basis by meetings with a Design Council appointed Design Associate, Chris Thompson, who mentored him on key strategic design issues over a 12 month period. As a result, Alchemy became more customer and end-user focused; improved its communication and engagement of investors; refreshed its branding, website and presentations; invested £1,500 in design and experienced significant returns on its design investment; and improved mindset, culture and vision for the company.
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