Innovation partnership aims to propel Olympic Legacy Park to new heights
A strategic partnership to help early-stage businesses in the sport, health and wellbeing sectors innovate, collaborate and grow has been established at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.
It is being spearheaded by Scarborough Group International (SGI), the development partner responsible for delivering the next phase of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park and Propel Teams.
The partnership will give start-ups and scale-ups access to flexible workspace alongside a community of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, advisors and service providers, and a calendar of events through its membership programme.
Led by a team at the flex workspace at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, ‘Landing Pad powered by Propel’ is aiming to create entrepreneurial opportunities for up to 100,000 individuals, and create a pathway to inspire more than 10,000 businesses to fulfil their potential over the next seven years.
Complementing the growing number of accelerator programmes based at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, which currently includes P4SY and AWRC Wellbeing and, with support from Team SY, Propel Teams will also host its own sports technology accelerator at Landing Pad.
‘Jump’ is a two-month-long hybrid programme specifically curated for founders of sports technology start-ups creating products or services that either improve sporting performance, reduce the risk of injury or improve enjoyment or participation in sport.
Legacy Park Ltd (LPL), a collaboration of seven key public sector partners established to drive forward the vision of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, will play a vital role in the partnership by helping to facilitate innovation pathways with academics and researchers located on the Park and further afield, as well as local and central government, the NHS and major corporates.
Mark Jackson, group development director at SGI, said: “Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park is already home to an extraordinary cluster of health innovation assets and elite sporting facilities, which provide a great foundation for its continued growth.
“We established our partnership with Propel to develop the business and innovation ecosystem within a high quality working environment, and we are delighted to welcome them to the team.
“We know they can bring together entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, advisors, service providers and local communities to maximise the innovation economy, and help us make Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park the nation’s leading innovation ecosystem focused on the sport, health and wellbeing sectors.”
Matt Willcocks, co-founder of Propel Teams, said: “Propel Teams provides opportunities and pathways for entrepreneurial individuals and teams to develop their skills, capabilities and businesses.
“We focus our energy on the sport, personal health and wellbeing sectors and are excited about working with Scarborough Group and Legacy Park Ltd to bring our network to compliment the immense strengths that exist on the park and in the region and to contribute to growing the legacy of 2012.”
Dr Chris Low, chief executive of Legacy Park Ltd, added: “Legacy Park Ltd and our member organisations are pleased to welcome Propel Teams to Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.
“Their ambition, vision and reach is already having an impact through the leading organisations and talented individuals that are being attracted to the Park on their recommendation.”
