ABHI and Johnson & Johnson SME Partnership Programme Launches
Topic : News and Press Type : Briefing
ABHI and Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices are pleased to announce the launch of a small business mentoring initiative, which provides SMEs with a structured programme of practical support and resource to aid their growth.
Over 80% of businesses operating within the UK's HealthTech sector are SMEs, a make-up that is replicated within ABHI membership.
At the heart of this community is the desire to research, develop and market innovations that make a real difference to patients. Often though, the resources to enable business growth are limited, which is why ABHI is delighted to partner with J&J Medical Devices so that smaller companies can take advantage of our respective expertise.
The #MentoringMedTech programme is designed for ABHI’s SME members and is a 12 month support package, providing scheme participants an action-orientated curriculum to help them learn and develop quickly. This blog from Hugo Breda, Managing Director, J&J Medical Devices UK & Ireland and ABHI Board Member, underlines the genesis of this partnership.
The first two ABHI members to enter the #MentoringMedTech programme are 3D LifePrints and Emblation. The feedback and experience of these two businesses will inform how we recruit and interact with future cohorts.
"Emblation is an ambitious, innovation-led organisation with market-leading technology, but from an early stage we identified our ability to build partnerships as a core competency and a source of competitive advantage. The work programme with ABHI and J&J will not only be an opportunity to improve our knowledge and skills, but a catalyst for the growth of our company."
Jonathan Williamson, Chief Commercial Officer, Emblation
“3D LifePrints provides Point of Care 3D Printing services. While the NHS is a great partner, it’s complicated. If we are to succeed with our aims we need to understand how to engage with the various departments. That’s a tough ask for an SME. I was therefore delighted to hear that Johnson & Johnson was setting up an SME Mentoring scheme with ABHI, and honoured that 3D LifePrints were invited to participate."
Henry Pinchbeck, CEO, 3D LifePrints
All parties recognise the mutual benefit of this programme, from the opportunity for J&J mentors to hone and learn new skills, to strengthened organisational capability in the participating companies. Our ambition is that this initiative stimulates greater collaboration and engagement between large and small businesses on a sustainable and long-term basis.