Two sport and exercise scientists who established an app to improve employee wellbeing and performance have raised GBP800,000 from the North East Venture Fund (NEVF), supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Mercia, to fund the next stage of growth.
Two sport and exercise scientists, who established an app to improve employee wellbeing and performance, have raised GBP800,000 from the North East Venture Fund (NEVF), supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Mercia, to fund the next stage of growth.
Dr Phill Bell and Dr Paul Smith will use the funds to further develop their platform, One Wellbeing, and expand their Gateshead-based company ART Health Solutions with the creation of 20 new jobs in the next two years.
One Wellbeing assesses employees’ cognitive performance by asking them to complete tasks on their smartphone, and their physical wellbeing by using data from their smart watch or fitness tracker. It also takes account of factors that might affect them such as the working environment and schedule.
The app then makes recommendations to employees on ways to enhance their wellbeing and performance, and provides data insights for employers on how to help them. Experience with current clients – which include pharmaceutical giant GSK, property agents JLL, office furniture specialists Haworth and consultants 4xi – has shown that its recommendations can help achieve significant savings.
