Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Foundational Economy Innovation Fund has awarded £275,000 to a range of projects aiming to spark innovation in Greater Manchester’s 'foundational economy'.
25 businesses have been awarded grants of up to £11,000.
The 'foundational economy', or the 'everyday economy' refers to the parts of the economy people depend on for their daily needs, including the adult social care, early education and childcare, retail, and leisure and hospitality sectors.
The funding has been awarded to projects that drive innovation and improve productivity and working conditions.
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Lead for Economy, Business, and Inclusive Growth, said: “Our groundbreaking Foundational Economy Innovation Fund is supporting the sectors that underpin our communities and provide the essential products and services we use every day. We received lots of applications and we were really impressed by the ambition and creativity on show. The projects awarded funding are tackling the full range of challenges the foundational economy faces, and we look forward to seeing them turn their ideas into impact.”
CARE+ is developing a digital platform to co-ordinate volunteers and clients for hospital visits, household help and social activities, and a new Community Health and Care Skills Hub.
Citizens Advice SORT Group is building an AI-powered assistant using plain language to help people with disabilities and long-term health conditions complete forms and Health and Education Co-operative is halving the time for non-medical prescribers to train, to improve patient care and optimise healthcare resources.
Meanwhile, Thriving.ai is trialling a digital ‘Carer Stress Index’ platform to identify and reduce burnout in unpaid carers; Wisterias Care Software is prototyping AI-driven rostering and pain monitoring tools to improve dementia care and workforce wellbeing; and Wyncourt Nursing Home is piloting a motorised turning system to reduce carer injury by easing patient repositioning.
