CodeBase is an Edinburgh-based tech ecosystem support organisation active in 27 hubs across the UK which uses worldwide start-up best practice to accelerate tech innovation. In July 2022 CodeBase was awarded The Tech Scaler contract, one of the largest investments Scottish Government worth up to £42 million to establish seven new tech scaler hubs across Scotland to help tech founders scale-up their businesses by accessing advice and mentorship from industry experts at the hubs.
John Mathers, former Design Council CEO and Healthier Working Lives advisor, asks Stephen why he believes the care sector is a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs and how Codebase will support the programme.
Why is HWL important today?
I’ve become aware of the huge scale and broad range of the problems. There’s a big mantra we have at Codebase – fall in love with the problem and not the solution. We like to start with the question - what’s the problem that needs to be solved? So, having a large and diverse range of problems is an opportunity for innovation to potentially alleviate the issues.
Why is Codebase involved in HWL?
What excited me about the Healthier Working Lives approach is that it is about empowering people who are on the ground, at the coal face and aware of the problems. We want to create a culture of looking at problems and working to with the tech sector to see how start-up thinking can be employed. Our job is to help founders of all shapes and sizes, from all backgrounds, turn their ideas into businesses, help them scale and access customers and investment globally.
What can Codebase bring to the care sector?
With an understanding of this world, start-ups can open people’s eyes to possibilities and ways of seeing problems differently. You’re talking about a cultural shift with large incumbent organisations that have legacy solutions and smart and caring people who deeply want to do things differently. The task can seem so huge that its insurmountable, but if you approach it in this particular way, you can achieve wins and successes.