A new health and wellbeing business support programme designed to accelerate product and service development across West Yorkshire launched in September 2025.
The Huddersfield Health Innovation Incubator (HHII) has been created to support new and emerging enterprises in the health and wellbeing sector. It is being delivered through a strategic partnership between Kirklees Council, the University of Huddersfield and the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre (3M BIC), and forms one of three incubators within the West Yorkshire Investment Zone.
It was officially unveiled at the pioneering Daphne Steele Building on the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus. Key stakeholders in attendance included the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Kirklees Council, the University of Huddersfield, the NHS, regional health innovation partners and local health and wellbeing innovators.
Open to all with an interest in health and wellbeing innovation, HHII offers a fully funded, inclusive membership that unlocks access to expert networks, events and collaboration opportunities.
Eligible members can also apply for tailored support designed specifically for early-stage start-ups and growing businesses in health and wellbeing (subject to criteria), including:
- Hands-on product development – from concept, prototype to testing, with access to expert support and specialist technical facilities.
- Thrive – tailored workshops, mentoring, free workspace and funding access for pre-start-up to early-stage businesses.
- Support for growing SMEs – tailored guidance, co-working space, mentoring and connections to partners like the University of Huddersfield, Business Kirklees and the NHS.
Operating across three key sites in Huddersfield – The Glass Box, 3M BIC and the newly opened Health Business Innovation Centre (HBIC) – HHII connects members to a vibrant ecosystem of academic, clinical and industry partners, as well as co-working and opportunities to rent commercial office and lab space.
The Health Business Innovation Centre (HBIC) houses state-of-the-art offices and labs, co-working, meeting and event space and a dedicated Maker Space for health and wellbeing product and service development. It is based in the Emily Siddon Building on the National Health Innovation Campus (NHIC), co-locating alongside the NHS, diagnostic and dentistry expertise.
The HHII builds on the success of the Huddersfield Health Innovation Partnership (HHIP) and Business Kirklees’ Thrive programme, both funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Combined, the programmes supported over 400 businesses to start and grow in the health and wellbeing sectors.
By uniting this support into one cohesive offer, HHII will continue to provide tailored and in-demand support for early-stage and growing firms in the health and wellbeing sector, aligning with wider strategies to enhance health innovation throughout West Yorkshire.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
“Bringing together our world-class universities, dedicated NHS partners and innovative businesses, the new Health Innovation Incubator is our Investment Zone in action and how we’re growing our local economy.
“By nurturing innovation right here in Huddersfield, we’re creating skilled local jobs and developing life-changing medical technologies.
“This is how we’ll tackle health inequalities and cement West Yorkshire’s reputation as a global leader in healthtech.”
Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet member for Finance and Regeneration at Kirklees Council, said:
“Huddersfield is fast becoming a powerhouse in the North of England for innovation, health and digital tech and product development.
“With cutting-edge facilities, high quality business sites and premises, expert support and a collaborative ecosystem – backed by over £1 billion of investment coming into the district – there’s never been a better time to start a health and wellbeing business right here in Kirklees.
“Having successfully secured Investment Zone funding to deliver the Huddersfield Health Innovation Incubator (HHII), and by partnering with the University of Huddersfield and 3M BIC, we are proud to offer tailored support to the health, wellbeing and digital tech industries, and especially our local businesses who choose to create, innovate and grow within these sectors.
“The HHII creates the optimal environment for our start-up businesses to create, learn, connect, grow and thrive. We are proud to lead the way in health innovation and are committed to driving that forward for many years to come.”
Professor Tim Thornton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Huddersfield, said:
“This new Incubator is directly addressing a longstanding gap in our region for dedicated start-up to scale-up support in the health and wellbeing sector by helping early-stage innovators access the resources they need to succeed to develop new products and services.
“By nurturing these ideas from concept to market, we’re not only supporting entrepreneurs and innovators but also strengthening the region’s capacity to deliver impactful, user-centred health and wellbeing solutions.”
