Codebase, the UK’s largest technology incubator is based in Edinburgh is active in 27 hubs across the UK using worldwide start-up best practice to accelerate tech innovation. Today Codebase focusses on large scale programme delivery such as Tech-scaler, Law-Tech UK and Digital Growth Grant contracts for Scottish Government providing an eco-support system, education and network community.
Jim has had a rich and varied career in user experience research and design, worked with very successful start-ups that brought him to Edinburgh and now to Codebase leading on start-up education.
Healthier Working Lives is very pleased to be partnering with Codebase and has benefitted from two experienced mentors - Andy and Callum, who have had a huge impact on our innovation projects and featured in previous HWL bulletins.
HWL is fortunate to be working with some inspiring entrepreneurs, all of whom lead businesses, and are working with us to progress several projects. Jim and John discuss innovation in care, funding for start-ups and the importance of design to developing sustainable propositions
Why is Codebase involved in Healthier Working Lives?
“This Programme fits in with one of our key tenets - that start-ups are for everyone not just techies. We’ve been exploring what that means … so we do a lot of programmes in different sectors, like Care.
We feel we can bring a real understanding of how innovation can, and should, operate in these different sectors … understanding both the commonalities and the aspects specific to the different sectors.”
Describe how you see innovation in the care sector?
“In particular we’ve been fostering bottom-up innovation, the sort of innovation which start-ups feed off. Care is interesting because it’s a mix of private and public sectors - which creates a really challenging mix.
You could look at these challenges in the Care sector in a negative way but, equally, this is where opportunities for innovation get thrown up. Understand the constraints, for sure, but adapt and be creative.”
Why is funding so difficult to get for startups?
“Obviously, the pandemic … but interest rates, in particular, have changed the sourcing for funding … at least in the short term. Longer term perspectives are becoming the norm.
Companies have to focus much more on the fundamentals … what is going to make them a sustainable business in the long-term.”