National Care Forum (NCF) has taken over the running of Care Innovation Hub (CIH) after the latter suspended operations in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
CIH was established in 2018 to create a platform for exploration and innovation in the social care sector, initially launching the Care Innovation Challenge - an annual incubator programme putting university students and care sector colleagues together to create predominantly digital solutions.
Teams of young entrepreneurs went head to head in the challenge, which hosted a Dragons’ Den style final at the Department of Health and Social Care with cash prizes for the top spots.
Former CIH chairman Alex Ramamurthy, founder of Mirthy, said: “We are thrilled that NCF are excited by our vision and are going to take forward the concept of an annual innovation challenge as a channel to drive new ideas into the care sector.
“I’m especially excited to see NCF grow on the great work we did with universities and use this as an opportunity to encourage more young people and entrepreneurs into a sector that is often overlooked by this demographic,” he added.
NCF said its taking over the running of CIH is a great opportunity.
“We are an organisation that has shown leadership in transformation across the care and support sector as co-chair of the government Digital Advisory Group, strategic leaders in Digital Social Care and engaged in a range of transformation agendas around data, housing, workforce, and wellbeing,” added chief executive Vic Rayner.
“This means that NCF is in a good position to take forward the CIH programme to stimulate aspiring innovators to develop solutions for the benefit of providers and those receiving care and support.”
CIH sponsors and founding supporters include Hallmark Care Homes, Home Instead, QCS, apetito, Royds Withy King, Hilton Nursing Partners, Person Centred Software, Greensleeves Care, and Borough Care.
