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Tackling health inequalities: the Mayor’s big ideas challenge for SMEs

A £1 million challenge to help SMEs make communities in West Yorkshire healthier.

About the Mayor’s big ideas challenge: tackling health inequalities

The Mayor’s big ideas challenge is helping 19 finalists to accelerate their innovative ideas and drive the health of communities in West Yorkshire. Finalists have been awarded £20,000 each in development grants and are currently working on their final submissions. In March 2026, up to three winners will be selected and awarded £100,000 each.

Finalists

Antidote Medical Ltd

Asclepius MedTech Limited

Body Image Coach

Carly Walter Coaching and Consultancy Ltd

Confidence with SJ Ltd

Featherstone Rovers Foundation with Spectrum People

Harmonai Hub

Health Innovation Ventures LTD

HEROES Programme Ltd

Humant Group Limited

International Mixed Ability Sports (IMAS) with Nifty Sustainability

JGME Consulting UK Ltd

KayHector Consulting Ltd

Key Engineering Solutions Limited

Kids Speech Labs

Mind Body Goals

Safe Space Labs

Third Age Therapeutics Limited

UKind Therapy CIC

Why focus on health inequalities?

We want to increase the years of life that people live well in West Yorkshire. Maintaining this for longer doesn’t just reduce the strain on health services. It promotes good health, active lives, and for life expectancy to align with the national average. Giving everyone the same chance to be healthy improves health outcomes for everyone in the region, not just the most disadvantaged.

Two Older Women Embracing And Smiling In A Sunny Woodland Stock

Why SMEs?

Local SMEs are uniquely positioned to understand these disparities and drive change through innovation. Local businesses have first-hand experience of the needs of our region, along with the expertise and drive to provide novel solutions.

Our diverse economic structure means we are poised to be a test bed of innovation and new ways of working. An idea can spark here, develop, then cascade to the rest of the region and beyond.

Timeline and key dates

12 Feb

Challenge opened for entries in 2025

7 May

Entry period closed

22 Jul

Finalists attend Innovator Academy

12 Feb

Challenge opened for entries in 2025

7 May

Entry period closed

22 Jul

Finalists attend Innovator Academy

31 Jul

Announcement of finalists

1 Mar

Announcement of up to three winners in 2026

31 Jul

Announcement of finalists

1 Mar

Announcement of up to three winners in 2026

Judging panel

Tom Adeyoola [advisory judge]

Chris Herbert

Amy Lochtie

Professor Lisa-Dionne Morris

Gary Stott

Sarah Bowes

Judging criteria

The criteria to evaluate entries to the challenge, select the finalists and choose the overall winners.
All entries for the Mayor's big ideas challenge: tackling health inequalities must demonstrate:

Impact: the innovation will make a positive societal impact in West Yorkshire by reducing a recognisable health inequality.

Innovation: the solution will not duplicate what exists, will increase in maturity Technology Readiness Levels and will result in a change in practice.

Inclusion: the innovation is meaningfully designed for a relevant social cohort or community.

Feasibility: the innovation is feasible to develop within the constraints of the challenge and will result in a viable solution post-programme.

Team capability: the team has access to the skills and experience necessary to develop the innovation as proposed.

Ethics and Safety: the innovation and the process to develop it are safe and just.

Frequently asked questions

If you have questions about Tackling health inequalities: the Mayor's big ideas challenge, which are not answered in the FAQs or elsewhere on the website, please contact us via email.

We regularly update the FAQs based on questions we receive from potential applicants. Please look for the New tag for the latest questions added to this page.

What is a challenge?

What is the Mayor's big ideas challenge?

Can I enter both challenges under the Mayor's big ideas challenge?

What is tackling health inequalities: the Mayor's big ideas challenge trying to achieve?

What is the package of support I will receive as a finalist?

Selected finalists will embark on a tailored 7-month journey to develop, refine, and commercialise their solutions. There will be a flexible support package available, to ensure you can access guidance, information, connections, or training that would benefit your unique journey.

The types of support that will be available across the timeline of the challenge will be tailored and targeted. These practical sessions will cover:

Human Centred Design (HCD)

Why: Successful and impactful solutions truly meet user needs. HCD ensures solutions are practical, impactful, and widely adopted. This approach helps innovators understand real user challenges, reduce risks and test, refine, and improve ideas early.

What: This support will help you to deepen your understanding of user needs and problems, it supports iterative testing and prototyping. It is a practical approach that helps you work on your solution and truly make progress.

How: Workshops and follow up sessions.

Business and Commercialisation

Why: To help you define a clear path to market to create real impact. This support ensures businesses are financially viable, scalable, and sustainable. This approach helps innovators define value proposition, identify market opportunities, and develop strategies for growth.

What: This support will help you refine your business model, understand your market, and develop a clear commercial strategy. It provides practical guidance on funding, pricing, partnerships, and scaling to help you thrive beyond the challenge. Elements of environmental and social governance may be covered.

How: Workshops and coaching sessions.

Subject Matter Expertise

Why:We expect to receive entries from a range of industries. This support will be determined once innovators are selected and will see experts from different fields giving talks and answering questions.

What: Depending on your focus area or needs we may make available specific sessions, for example mental health, environment, food etc.

Other sessions may include impact and monitoring, equity diversity and inclusion etc.

How: Virtual masterclasses or sessions

Expert support and Industry Partners

Why: This support will be needs based and flexible. As we expect a range of innovators with different, expert guidance on intellectual property, law and accountancy will be provided based on innovator needs.

What: Provided through Nexus Leeds’ non-residential membership you will have access specialist guidance in intellectual property, law, and accountancy through partners, including HGF, Squire Patton Boggs, and HSBC, as well as Nexus’s experts-in-residence.

How: Direct support and sessions, or one-to-ones will be provided according to innovator needs.

In addition the programme team will be there to support you along your journey. We will be checking in with you, providing you with updates, reminders, and doing what we can so that you have a smooth and enriching experience participating in this challenge.

What are health inequalities?

Who is running tackling health inequalities: the Mayor's big ideas challenge?

Who is the West Yorkshire Combined Authority?

Who is Challenge Works?

Are there any priority groups or demographics I need to adhere to for this challenge? [New]

Are service-based solutions as likely to be selected as technology-based solutions? [New]

Is there any target age group? [New]

Can our solution start in West Yorkshire and later expand nationally or globally? [New]

How is the funding provided? [New]

Is the funding and final award for organisations to keep, or must it be used to implement the solution? [New]

Does the funding need to be spent within a set period of time? [New]

What will reporting on outcomes involve? [New]

Are there any plans to evaluate the individual solutions? [New]

The judges [New]

Eligibility requirements

Who can enter tackling health inequalities: the Mayor's big ideas challenge?

Is Tackling health inequalities: the Mayor's big ideas challenge only open to organisations in West Yorkshire?

Can I submit more than one entry?

Can I enter as an individual?

What types of organisations can enter this challenge?

What do you mean when you say that organisations entering with alternative business models or charities must be “undertaking economic activity”?

What definition of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are you using?

What definition of employee are you using?

Can I enter with a consortium?

What stage of development do you expect entries to be at?

Can solo founders or sole traders with no teams also apply? [New]

Are Community Interest Companies allowed to apply? [New]

Are charities eligible to apply? [New]

Can SMEs less than 6 months old apply? [New]

How do I determine if my solution is at TRL 3–5? [New]

Submitting an entry

How do I enter tackling health inequalities: the Mayor's big ideas challenge?

What is the selection process?

Can you accommodate reasonable adjustments to support my entry and participation?

Is the application to the challenge confidential?

If I participate in the challenge, will I retain the intellectual property rights for my solution?

Is it acceptable to break my plans into finalist and winner stages? [New]

Will you accept applications from later state ideas i.e. beyond TRL5? [New]

Can I enter with more than one idea? [New]

Do we need to provide a breakdown of how the funding would be spent? [New]

When will I know if my application has been successful? [New]

Are the word counts in the entry form guidelines or strict limits? [New]

What impact reporting would be done? Do we need to have to have done this? [New]

Can I include endorsements from stakeholders or industry supporters in my video? [New]

Terms and Conditions

Introduction

The Mayor's Big Ideas Challenge, Tackling Health Inequalities (the “Challenge”) is an initiative funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (“the Combined Authority”), and run by Challenge Works (“Challenge Works”), part of Nesta. In these terms and conditions “participant” and “participants” means the lead entrant that submits an entry to the Challenge.

Please read these terms and conditions and all additional information on this page carefully before registering or submitting an entry to the Challenge. Please note that these terms and conditions apply at all stages of the Challenge, from its opening on [12 February 2025] through to when funded projects have concluded and an evaluation of the Challenge is completed. By registering or submitting an entry, you accept these Terms and Conditions and agree to comply with them. If you are registering or submitting an entry on behalf of one or more organisations or a team, you undertake to Challenge Works and the Combined Authority that you have the authority to bind each of them and that you will be responsible for ensuring that they comply. References to “we,” “us” and “our” in these Terms and Conditions are references to Challenge Works and the Combined Authority. Please note that Challenge participants may be required to sign terms and conditions with relevant delivery partners, as required from time to time, to access or use certain additional services.

The Mayor's Big Ideas Challenge, Tackling Health Inequalities, an initiative of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, will award £20,000 to selected finalists and £100,000 to selected winners.

The Challenge is looking for West Yorkshire based SMEs to accelerate innovative solutions, products, or services to overcome health inequalities among communities in West Yorkshire. Subject to the terms in this document, for your team to be eligible to enter the Mayor's Big Ideas Challenge, Tackling Health Inequalities, you must meet these requirements:

Entrants must be registered small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including alternative business models and registered charities undertaking economic activity, with a maximum of 249 employees.

Entrants can be single organisations or consortia. All organisations within a consortium must individually meet the eligibility criteria, including qualifying as a small or medium organisation as defined above.

Teams that enter as a consortium must nominate one organisation as the lead entrant. The lead entrant will sign the finalist and winners’ agreements and receive funding.

The lead entrant must be able to receive funds into a UK bank account in the lead entrant’s name.

Entrants must be UK registered organisations with a substantial operational presence within West Yorkshire. Eligibility requires that the entrant be headquartered in West Yorkshire or that they are able to demonstrate that the majority of their economic actives occur within West Yorkshire.

Solutions must be designed for and implemented within West Yorkshire, encompassing the areas of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and/or Wakefield.

Entrants must own or have permission to use any relevant intellectual property.

Full details can be found in the Entrant Handbook. Email us for a copy of this.

1. Participating in the Challenge

1.1 These terms and conditions apply to you and to any partners in relation to your entry to and participation in the Challenge.

1.2 To enter the Challenge, you can register and submit an entry between 12 February 2025 and 12pm BST, 7 May 2025. Entries to the Challenge and all information relating to your entry must be in English, must be legible and complete, and must comply with all applicable provisions on the Challenge website and these terms and conditions. We reserve the right to reject any entries that are incomplete, illegible or in the wrong format.

1.3 Late entries will not be accepted and Challenge Works or the Combined Authority are not responsible for entries which are lost, damaged, or late due to computer, network, or telecommunications failure or third-party telephone or data networks. Please see the detailed timetable included on the Challenge website for further details.

1.4 Entries will be assessed on submission against the eligibility requirements to enter and judging criteria set out on the Challenge webpages and must continue to meet the eligibility requirements at all stages throughout the Challenge. Challenge Works and the Combined Authority’s decision about eligibility and shortlisting, the Judges’ decision on selection of the finalists and the Challenge grants (including in each case the validity of any claims and data submitted) is final.

1.5 Participants must meet the defined eligibility criteria for the Challenge. Participants may submit multiple entries to the Challenge, no participant is permitted to lead more than one finalist team.

1.6 Challenge Works and the Combined Authority shall have sole discretion in assessing the eligibility of the entry both at the entry stage and throughout the Challenge. The lead organisation shall be responsible for making sure all joint entrants are aware of and comply with these terms and conditions and all relevant entry information on the Challenge webpages housed on the Combined Authority’s website. The amount of Challenge grants distributed as part of the Challenge will remain the same regardless of the size of any partnerships.

1.7 We will use the contact details provided to contact you about the Challenge. All communication between us about the Challenge shall be provided in English. If you do not respond to any communication within 14 days, we may at our sole discretion treat you (and your organisation or team, if applicable) as having withdrawn from the Challenge and, where relevant, select an alternative entry in your place.

1.8 Employees of Challenge Works (Nesta, or any company within the same group), the Combined Authority, Nexus Leeds Limited and other individuals working on the project, and their immediate families, are not eligible to enter. Should any conflict of interest, or perceived conflict of interest, between a team, assessor or judge exist, this must be declared and a mitigation agreed with Challenge Works and the Combined Authority. A conflict of interest may arise if an assessor or judge involved in selecting the finalists or winners meets any of the following criteria. While having a conflict of interest does not disqualify them from participating in the selection process, it requires that a mitigation plan be agreed upon with Challenge Works and the Combined Authority.

Involvement in the preparation of an entry. Direct benefit in the case of progression of the entry. Current involvement in a contract or collaboration with the submitting organisation. Current or former employee of the submitting organisation. Current or former Director or Trustee of the submitting organisation. Current or former volunteer of the submitting organisation. Close family or personal relationship with any person contributing to the submission. 1.9 Unless otherwise stated, all participants’ costs of entering and participating in the Challenge are borne by the participant.

1.10 As a part of your entry, you are asked to identify one individual as team leader from the lead organisation. The team leader is responsible for making sure that all other members are aware of and comply with these terms and conditions and all relevant entry information on the Challenge website. You must notify us in writing if the team leader changes and provide us with up-to-date contact details via email.

1.11 We reserve the right at our sole discretion to refuse any entry, and to make no award if none of the entries meet our required standards. We reserve the right at our sole discretion to remove you from the Challenge if you do not comply with these terms & conditions, if you cheat or behave in a way which is disruptive, inappropriate, or potentially dangerous, or if you fail to participate fully or do anything which may damage the reputation of any of Challenge Works, the Combined Authority or the Challenge partners.

1.12 Please notify us in writing if you decide to withdraw from the Challenge for any reason.

1.13 We reserve the right to vary the form or substance of the Challenge (including without limitation the information on this page, the criteria and requirements for success, event dates, the number of entries selected for each phase, these terms and conditions and any deadlines) as we deem appropriate in the circumstances, taking into account the aims of the Challenge. If you are not happy with the changes, you should withdraw from the Challenge; your continued participation will indicate your agreement to all and any changes.

1.14 We also reserve the right at our sole discretion to suspend or terminate the Challenge if:

1.14.1 funding for the Challenge is reduced materially or withdrawn.

1.14.2 we determine in our reasonable opinion that the Challenge will no longer achieve its aims or is no longer relevant or useful; or

1.14.3 there are changes or developments outside our control that affect the Challenge

1.15 No compensation will be paid to participants if the Challenge is changed, suspended, or terminated by us in accordance with these terms and conditions.

1.16 Finalist and/or winning teams will be invited to sign a standard grant agreement setting out the terms of Challenge funding. The terms of the grant agreement are final and not subject to negotiation.

1.17 Acceptance of the grant agreement and funding is a condition of participation as a finalist in the Challenge, and of being selected as winner of the Challenge.

1.18 Subject to the terms within the grant agreement, finalist teams will be awarded £20,000 each team and the winning teams will be awarded £100,000 per team. The purpose of the grant is to support the Acceleration of innovative solutions, products, or services to overcome health inequalities among communities in West Yorkshire

1.19 Any funds awarded by the Challenge must be used for purposes related to your proposal. You must comply with all reasonable monitoring requirements specified by Challenge Works or the Combined Authority to verify the proper use of such funds, and you agree to the sharing of all monitoring information with Challenge Works and the Combined Authority and any third party the Combined Authority may in future appoint in respect of the monitoring of the Challenge.

1.20 Any funds awarded by the Challenge may be clawed back in circumstances defined within the grant agreement, including if used for improper purposes.

2. Your promises to us

2.1 To participate in the Challenge, you represent and warrant, and shall ensure that:

2.1.1 each Participant member satisfies the relevant eligibility requirements to enter the Challenge.

2.1.2 all information submitted by you is true, accurate and complete. We reserve the right to ask for additional evidence of claims made by you, to validate claims by any means we see fit, and/or to reject claims at our sole discretion.

2.1.3 each Participant shall provide promptly any additional information Challenge Works or the Combined Authority reasonably request within 14 days, and shall participate promptly in the assessment, testing, challenges, and presentations required as part of the Challenge.

2.1.4 each Participant has, or shall timely obtain, all authorisations, consents, and permissions necessary to submit your entry, carry out your proposal, and comply with these terms & conditions.

2.1.5 your entry does not and will not infringe or misappropriate any intellectual property or other third-party rights, or breach any contractual obligation (specifically, though without limitation, please see Clause 4 below). We may withdraw your entry if we receive notice that your entry infringes or misappropriate any third-party rights or breaches any contractual obligations.

2.1.6 each Participant shall make no attempt to undermine the Challenge, cheat, or behave in any way which is in our reasonable opinion unfair, disruptive, inappropriate, or potentially dangerous, or which damages or may damage the reputation of the Challenge or of any Partner.

2.1.7 each Participant shall always act lawfully, ethically, and in good faith and comply with the rules of the Challenge and any relevant laws, regulations, guidelines, and codes of practice; and

2.1.8 each Participant shall comply with our reasonable instructions while participating in the Challenge, including in relation to health, safety, and security.

2.2 You agree that if we determine that any of the above has been violated, we may at our sole discretion withdraw your entry, and/or rescind or recover any Challenge grants awarded to you.

3. Information and Publicity

4. Exclusion and Limitation of Liability

5. Force Majeure

6. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

Challenge privacy policy

Visit our Privacy Policy page

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