Wellbeing start-up expands following investment

Sheffield-based organisation Champion Health is expanding its digital wellbeing platform after receiving an increase in enquiries, and new investment from global educational publisher, Twinkl.

Launched by social entrepreneur Harry Bliss, Champion Health helps businesses optimise the health and wellbeing of staff by offering proactive health assessments, data-driven solutions and online mental health training.

The company has recently seen a surge in enquiries as businesses seek to do more to support the wellbeing of their employees during the pandemic.

Since March, Champion Health has had 7,000 new individual registrations and over 400 businesses and company sign-ups. This is compared to 1,500 signups the business had at the start of 2020.

Champion Health is a resident at Twinkl’s business accelerator, TwinklHive, which offers space, investment, and support services to start-ups that are set to make a difference in society.

TwinklHive, in Sheffield, has been home to the company since March but this month it also invested in the platform. This will enable Champion Health to expand its team over the next few months.

Bliss, who founded Champion Health when he was just 24, said: “We have seen a significant increase in demand since the lockdown in the UK began.

“Employee wellbeing is now at the forefront of business leaders minds. There has definitely been a shift in attitude towards workplace health in the past three months and we can only see the need becoming greater.

“Due to home working, many employers are finding it difficult to spot the warning signs of employees struggling and may not be equipped with how they can support them.

“With our platform being digital, it has been ideal for organisations to launch whilst remote working is taking place. The platform enables businesses to build wellbeing strategies off the back of real data, which is essential for any organisation to perform at their peak.”

The investment from TwinklHive will support Champion Health to push ahead with its growth plans by expanding its platform and creating an app.

Paul Berwin, founder of Berwins Solicitors, supported Champion Health throughout the investment process.

Twinkl and TwinklHive are now using the Champion Health platform to support staff, who are based at its two offices in Sheffield, an office in Australia and remotely across the world.

Jonathan Seaton, co-founder and CEO at Twinkl, said: “At Twinkl and TwinklHive, we are, and always will be, mission-driven and we put people at the core of what we do.

“We were absolutely delighted to be able to offer an investment opportunity to Harry and his team so they can continue transforming how people view and support mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.

“It is also wonderful to be using Champion Health to support our own team. We know just how impactful and insightful their services are.”