Driven by first-hand experience on NHS hospital wards and a lifelong passion for supporting vulnerable people, Leah Coles is building Ember Grove, a specialist initiative designed to tackle one of the most pressing challenges facing the NHS today.
"Ember Grove aims to work alongside NHS organisations offering a specialist, scalable support and admission initiative that will reduce prolonged discharges, better patient outcomes and create a solid support network that enables a better relationship between organisation, staff and patients alike." Leah explains.
The challenge Leah is tackling is significant. With Dementia diagnoses set to significantly increase by 2040 (University College London, 2023), pressure on care pathways is only growing. Patients living with Dementia statistically spend an extra seven days in hospital compared to those without the condition, contributing to delayed discharges that cost the NHS an estimated £328 million every year (Alzheimer's Society, 2023). Leah saw this pattern first-hand across multiple trusts and knew there had to be a smarter way forward. That conviction became the foundation of Ember Grove.
The Future Founders Fund gave Leah the tools and confidence to develop her idea into a credible business proposition. She reflects: "The workshop provided really valuable advice and guidance on business structuring. It helped me develop the skills to approach the NHS as a business and buyer all the solid information I retained from the workshop made the process of developing my proposal so much smoother."
Birmingham City University also played a pivotal role in building Leah's confidence as a founder. Having previously struggled with public speaking and presenting on camera, Leah found the support genuinely transformative. "The support and guidance of the team from Birmingham City University pushed me and made a usually anxiety-inducing experience feel like an empowered one," she says.
Access to mentorship, networking events, and entrepreneurial guidance has been central to shaping Leah's journey as a first-time founder. She acknowledges that these opportunities have provided essential footing in an entirely the new world of entrepreneurship.
Looking ahead, Leah sees BCU and the Future Founders Fund continuing to play a significant role in the growth of Ember Grove. With the potential to use STEAMhouse for innovation and access to ongoing workshops and networking opportunities, the vision is clear. "Through investment, time and potential use of STEAMhouse for innovation, both BCU and the Future Founders Fund will play a significant role in the development of Ember Grove," she says.
Leah's story is a powerful reminder of how lived experience, combined with the right support, can spark meaningful change. Through active participation in the Future Founders Fund, she is not only building a business she is working to reshape care for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.
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