Greenborough Management has continued to support the delivery of Thrive, a specialist start-up programme helping early-stage health, wellbeing and life science innovators develop their ideas and move towards creating sustainable businesses.
Delivered as part of the Huddersfield Health Innovation Incubator (HHII), Thrive supports entrepreneurs at the early stages of their innovation journey, providing structured support through workshops, mentoring, networking and opportunities to test and refine their ideas.
The programme is delivered in partnership with Kirklees Council, the University of Huddersfield and 3M Buckley Innovation Centre (3M BIC), bringing together expertise from across the region to support the development of new health and wellbeing ventures.
Following the success of the first cohort, the second Thrive programme under the new funding launched in early 2026, supporting a new group of entrepreneurs as they work through the challenges of developing and commercialising their ideas.
Throughout the programme, participants have taken part in workshops, mentoring and opportunities to test and refine their ideas, supporting them as they move from early concepts towards building new ventures.
Greenborough’s Role
Greenborough’s role within Thrive focuses on delivering the workshop element of the programme, helping founders develop the practical business knowledge and confidence needed to move their ideas forward.
Drawing on more than 23 years of experience supporting start-ups, scale-ups and innovation-led businesses, Greenborough delivers sessions designed around the challenges early-stage businesses face – from understanding customers and developing a clear proposition, through to building stronger foundations for future growth.
The programme workshops have covered key areas including:
- Customer insights and profiling, helping founders better understand their target audiences and refine their approach
- Business modelling, supporting entrepreneurs to consider how their ideas can become sustainable ventures
- Marketing and branding, helping businesses communicate their value more effectively
- Innovation and commercial development, exploring how ideas can move towards real-world opportunities
- Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, looking at how new tools can support business growth
The focus throughout has been on providing practical sessions that founders can apply directly to their businesses.
Turning Ideas Into Action
For many entrepreneurs, the early stages of building a business can be challenging. Having a strong idea is only the beginning — understanding the market, defining the customer, developing a commercial model and knowing what steps to take next are all important parts of the journey.
Through Thrive, participants have been able to develop their thinking, challenge their assumptions and connect with other entrepreneurs facing similar challenges.
Russell Copley, Director at Greenborough Management, said:
“A lot of early-stage businesses start with a great idea, but the next steps can sometimes feel unclear. The right support can help founders take a step back, look at their business from a different perspective and make more informed decisions.
“It has been great to work with the Thrive cohorts and support entrepreneurs as they develop their ideas and think about how they can turn them into something that creates real value.”
Celebrating the Thrive Cohort 2 Pitch Final
The second Thrive cohort recently completed the programme with a live pitch final held at the Huddersfield Business Innovation Centre.
The event gave participants the opportunity to showcase their progress and present their ideas to a panel of judges, including Frank Zagajewski, Sian Greenley and Amber Kershaw.
Congratulations went to VIIITAL Ltd, who were announced as the overall winner.
The pitch final highlighted the progress made throughout the programme, with entrepreneurs demonstrating how their ideas had developed from early concepts into more defined business opportunities.
Feedback From The Cohort
The impact of Thrive has been reflected in the feedback from participants, with founders highlighting the value of having dedicated time, practical support and a network of people working through similar challenges.
Sonya Braddock, Founder of Mindfit, from the first Thrive cohort, said:
“I joined Thrive because I reached a point where I knew I needed more than passion and instinct. I’m confident in the value and impact of my work, but as a first-time business owner I wanted clarity, strategy, and a solid framework to build something sustainable.
“The standout part of this experience has been working with my business mentor. They’ve helped me make sense of my messaging, sharpen my focus, and put structure and strategy around my vision. The clarity I now have around direction, planning, and next steps has been transformative.”
Kate Hemingway, Founder of Kate Hemingway Media, said:
“I joined Thrive with a clear objective: to accelerate the growth of the healthcare arm of my business.
“Thrive has been instrumental in helping me establish a solid commercial foundation. It has provided a unique insight into the needs and opportunities within the health sector, alongside the clarity and professional community needed to transition from a corporate media career to a thriving, independent business venture.”
Building Stronger Innovation Across West Yorkshire
Thrive forms part of wider work to support entrepreneurship and innovation across the region, helping create stronger pathways for early-stage businesses within the health and wellbeing sector.
For Greenborough, the programme is another example of the importance of partnership working — bringing together organisations with different expertise to provide businesses with the support they need at the right stage of their journey.
It’s been great to see the ideas develop throughout the programme and see the confidence grow across the cohort. We’re looking forward to following the next stages of these businesses.
If you’re an early-stage health, wellbeing or life science innovator looking for support, applications are now open for the next Thrive cohort starting in October. Click here to find out more.
