North West Edtech innovator SupplyWell receives £100,000 Innovate UK grant
North West based tech-for-good scale-up, SupplyWell, has been awarded an Innovate UK government grant. The award reflects the company’s vision to create innovative solutions to address a number of issues faced by schools and the wider education sector.
Co-founded by Michael Heverin, a former teacher, SupplyWell has been supporting teachers and schools in the Liverpool City Region and beyond. The company helps schools recruit and retain teachers via its proprietary tech platform, saving schools significant sums of money, reducing teacher absence, while improving teacher pay and wellbeing.
Michael’s experience was what led him to seek ways to bring about positive change. “I’ve seen first-hand the issues caused by teacher absence: the teacher suffering from stress, the huge associated cost to schools, and the adverse impact on student attainment and ultimately social mobility.
“We exist to keep teachers and money in schools and our innovative tech allows us to do this. We are serious about the problems we are solving, and being awarded this grant can help us use our technology to make a real impact on education.”
Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing up to £191 million to fund single and collaborative research and development projects as part of the Sustainable Innovation Fund over the next two years. The aim of these competitions is to help all sectors of the UK rebuild after the effects of COVID-19.
The Sustainable Innovation Fund is funding 1,103 projects, 1189 UK businesses, and totaling over £130 million in support across the UK.
Innovate UK Executive Chair Dr. Ian Campbell said:
“In these difficult times, we have seen the best of British business innovation. The pandemic is not just a health emergency but one that impacts society and the economy.
“SupplyWell, along with every initiative Innovate UK has supported through this fund, is an important step forward in driving sustainable economic development. Each one is also helping to realise the ambitions of hard-working people.”
SupplyWell are taking on partner schools to be part of their Innovate UK project, if you would like to know more, contact innovate@supplywell.co.uk