In a new unLTD feature, an established business leader turns the spotlight on an emerging entrepreneur they are mentoring or working with to discuss their work in a little more detail and explain why others should consider using their services.
In this first article, MD of Universal Office Products Steve Manley introduces Harry Bliss, founder of Champion Health, who Steve believes is the ‘next big thing in Sheffield’ – and Harry shares the moment he and the team knew they’d built ‘something special’
Introducing… Steve Manley
I’m joint MD of Universal Office Products and was Sheffield Chamber of Commerce President 2018-19.
I took the Chamber President chains of office in 2018 on a mission to encourage young entrepreneurs. I became involved with non-profit organisation Young Enterprise as a student at Loxley College – I was the MD of our Young Enterprise company, an office supply firm and it’s how I got into what I’m doing now.
Just 10 months after pledging to support young entrepreneurs as Chamber President, I was thrilled to establish a national first with Sheffield College as we opened the Business and Enterprise Academy.
Through the Academy, I met hundreds of talented young people in our great city. However, Harry Bliss of Champion Health not only has an exceptional talent, but I truly believe he can make a significant contribution to people’s lives, both regionally and nationally.
In 2018 Harry lost a friend to suicide following an acute bout of workplace stress. Following this tragedy, Champion Health was galvanized to drive positive change, with services designed with this at the forefront.
They are already working with impressive blue-chip organisations and getting regular enquiries from well-known brands and I truly believe Harry and Champion Health will be the next big thing in Sheffield.
Introducing … Harry Bliss, Founder Champion Health
Tell the readers all about Champion Health
We are workplace health and wellbeing specialists, focusing on all areas of wellbeing from mental wellbeing to musculoskeletal health. Our focus is on prevention and early intervention. Workplace health traditionally focuses on how to get people back to work after an absence. Our focus is on preventing health conditions occurring – or getting there very early – to offer proactive support.
Our intuitive online health assessment provides each employee with a personalised health report driven through algorithms. We then produce fully anonymised and confidential company health reports, from which businesses can make data-driven decisions.
This has been built by a mission-led team of world leading academics, GPs and technology professionals. As CEO and founder, I’m still the least qualified member of the team!
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
I wanted to found Champion Health to deliver cost-effective and time-efficient workplace health solutions.
A true inspiration in my life is my mother, Ros, who has run Rosalind Watchorn Solicitors in Sheffield for over 26 years
She set up the company while pregnant with me and worked incredibly hard to build jobs and prosperity in South Yorkshire. She is also a Champion Health director and provides me with a lot of brutally honest mentorship – as you’d expect a mum to do!
Share with us the company’s key milestone achievements to date
More than 400 organisations signed up to our platform
Direct feedback from at least four companies that we have saved an employee’s life
Partnered more than 35 leading UK organisations
Helped thousands with mental wellbeing during COVID-19.
Setting up UniHeads side venture – a student mental health platform.
What support have you had from the Sheffield City Region?
An incredible amount – from the Twinklhive through to the likes of Steve, we’ve been very fortunate in the expertise we’ve benefited from. I would love to be able to put back what I’ve been fortunate in receiving. We’re working with more than 35 companies in the city region so hopefully we’re repaying by optimising their employee wellbeing.
What sort of reaction have you had to Champion Health’s services?
Just after lockdown, we decided to make our Online Mental Health Training platform free. Although we’ve sacrificed revenue, it was the easiest decision I’ve made as CEO. Since then, we’ve signed up more than 400 organisations and helped thousands of people. My inbox is inundated with organisations thanking us, and even asking if they can pay us! Our team feel very fortunate to be here for people when they need it most.
Have you had to adapt Champion Health during COVID-19 and for the ‘new normal’ and if so how?
Pre COVID-19 we were operating in a very similar way – we have a remote workforce and allow our team to work the hours they choose. Low and behold, we get the best outcomes from them.
The only difference has been organisations’ approach to mental wellbeing and making a core part of our business free. Many companies have been talking about mental wellbeing for a long time without necessarily acting upon it. If there’s one positive factor from COVID-19, it’s that many have realised their people are the most important aspect of their company, and action is being taken.
Proudest moment of your career so far?
The second organisation we worked with fed-back that we had saved an employee’s life – I broke down in tears.
It took over 12 months to build the platform, after going through more than 10,000 research papers, and I naturally experienced imposter syndrome and self-doubt, as almost every entrepreneur I’ve spoken to has. But that was the moment we knew we had built something special.
Where do you want Champion Health to be in 5 years?
My dream is to be the market-leading organisation for proactive workplace health solutions in the UK and globally. A specific target the team have is to reach 1 million users within the next five years. There is a lot of hard work to go, but I’m extremely fortunate to be surrounded with such an excellent team. This is just the start…
