Closing the health gap: a regional challenge to tackle health inequalities in West Yorkshire

We are thrilled to announce the launch of an innovation challenge to overcome health inequalities in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield, funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. 

Tackling health inequalities: the Mayor’s big ideas challenge will support local businesses to accelerate innovative solutions, products, or services in a wide range of areas, helping to create a fairer, healthier future for communities across West Yorkshire.

Why health inequalities?

Deeply rooted in how people live, work, eat, travel, sleep, exercise and socialise, health inequalities are unfair and avoidable differences in health outcomes across the population and among various social groups. These include how long people are likely to live, the health conditions they may experience and the care that is available to them.

Recent research has found that 89% of what determines one’s health occurs not within clinical healthcare services but through wider social determinants of health, including our genetics, behaviour, environment, and social circumstances. (Source: Goivno).

Disparities in these wider determinants of health stem from structural factors such as income, education, geography, air quality, and access to vital resources such as nutritious food and safe public spaces. Despite this, when it comes to health, the focus tends to be on medical care rather than the underlying factors that shape health and wellbeing. By addressing these root causes we can help prevent health issues and inequalities before they arise, rather than treating them when they are already causing harm. Investing in prevention not only improves individual wellbeing but also eases pressure on public services and strengthens local economies by keeping people healthier for longer.

Why West Yorkshire?

West Yorkshire faces stark disparities in health outcomes, not only between different communities within the region, but also between the region and the UK as a whole, with parts of Leeds and Bradford among the most deprived in Britain (Source: The Health Foundation).

Health outcomes vary due to three main factors; the choices individuals make, such as smoking or exercise; the options available to them, such as access to green space and transport proximity; and factors beyond their control, such as education and cultural background. These factors themselves vary significantly across the region. For example, 26% of children in West Yorkshire live in low-income households, and only 23% of residents have access to green space within a 5-10 minute walk (Source: State of the Region 2023). Addressing these disparities is crucial to ensure better health for all.

The pressing need to tackle health inequalities is coupled with the flourishing innovation landscape in West Yorkshire. The region, which is one of the UK’s leading centres for healthcare and innovation, is home to over 600 health and life science companies, seven regional universities and numerous innovation hubs such as Nexus and the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre. By harnessing this prosperous innovation ecosystem, we can develop and scale solutions that transform health outcomes across the region.

Who can participate?

With so many factors influencing health inequalities, this challenge invites West Yorkshire-based businesses working across various domains, including food, the environment, community engagement, and healthcare access. We welcome a wide range of solutions – whether it’s connecting people living in city centres to green spaces, local food suppliers committing to providing fresh produce to after-school clubs in deprived areas, or a tool to help healthcare providers better address cultural and linguistic barriers to delivering health advice and services.

The challenge will see twenty finalists each receive £20,000 to develop their innovative solution. As well as funding, these businesses will be provided with tailored capacity-building support, including access to training and mentorship with experts in commercialisation, investment readiness, and human-centered design. Later, three winners will be selected and each given £100,000 to commercialise and implement their innovations.

Apply now

The challenge is now open for entries! Interested SMEs based in West Yorkshire should visit the challenge website to learn more, sign up for an upcoming webinar to hear the details, and check out the entry form and requirements.

The deadline for entry is 7 May 2025.

Find out more and apply