Virtual Health Shed explains how it benefitted from a placement student and academic support to explore new markets and develop a product to market.
Company Overview
Prof. Stephen Chapman, Chief Executive of Virtual Health Shed, explains that the company stands for simulation, health, education, and a digital package. The company’s aim is to make training for clinical scenarios more straightforward and accessible. For example, it is useful for patients who may not understand the medical information that they have received.
Funded Business Support
Virtual Health Shed accessed free business support through the 'Staffordshire Digital Innovation Partnerships (SDIPs) programme to work closely with Staffordshire University’s lecturers and senior academics with first-hand expertise in programming and animation.
The SDIPs programme offered the business the time and space to explore new markets and opportunities and to develop an end-product which could then be commercialised. This was supported by Staffordshire University student intern Benjamin Johnson, who was hired to work with the company for 6 months. Benjamin worked with AWS avatars, 3D environments, and on projects to educate people on certain products using virtual reality to add a personal touch.
Project Outcome
Virtual Health Shed created a successful product that was theirs, produced independently, giving them the advantage of presenting the final package to clients. The mentoring accessed through the programme gave them a fresh approach and innovative ideas, which led to them developing an engaging environment to educate others.
Virtual Health Shed recommends SDIPs, because the project has been completed, whilst offering the expertise whenever required by university experts. The product has been well-received by a pharmaceutical company, which has offered a contract to move the product to market.
Virtual Health Shed was so impressed with Benjamin during the internship that they offered a permanent position at the company as a 3D modeller and Junior Programmer.
Staffordshire Digital Innovation Partnerships (SDIPs) is a collaborative project between Staffordshire University and Staffordshire County Council; funded by Staffordshire University, Staffordshire County Council and the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020.
We achieved our goal. We have a prototype that we can show to the client. In fact, on the basis of a success story, we have just secured a contract with a pharmaceutical company to take this product to market.