Local students recently spent six weeks designing new health technology that older people can trust in the White City Innovation District.
"The first thing I did was speak to my grandfather," said Evangelina, 14, from Ark Burlington Danes Academy in White City. "He told me he doesn't trust AI. So, I designed a device to make him feel safer and build confidence."
Evangelia is part of H&F's first-ever 'SuperSquad' – a six-week programme of paid work experience for 30 students to solve real-world problems while picking up new skills and entrepreneurialism.
Evangelina created a tablet with a paper-like screen. "Some older people still read newspapers and use flip phones," she explained. "It keeps things simple."
Fellow student Max, 15, from Fulham Cross Academy, focused on family connections. "My grandad told me family was the most important thing," he said. "So I looked at how health tech could help families track inherited conditions together."
Watch H&F young people presenting their health tech innovations at Scale Space, White City
Innovation in action
Maryam, 14, from Fulham Cross Girls School, also took part in the programme. She developed an AI-powered health app that sends daily reminders to help older people live independently.
"Some older people feel left behind by technology," said Maryam. "We wanted to create something that puts them first and makes their daily life easier."
The initiative is part of H&F Council's economic growth plan, called Upstream London. Since 2017, our pioneering industrial strategy has helped attract £6billion of investment and 13,000 new jobs to the borough.
H&F Leader, Cllr Stephen Cowan, said: "What you've done working with Sherpas, looking at your area of life sciences, is one of the key things that are going to shape the future."
"Our mission is to create a generation of trained innovators, trained entrepreneurs and confident, career-ready teenagers," said Kathy Walker, Co-Founder and CEO of start-up Sherpas. "We were thoroughly impressed by the innovative ideas the H&F squad developed."
Meeting science leaders
The drive to connect young people with future careers continued on Monday (13 January) where more than 100 students met top scientists at Fulham Cross Academy.
They heard from experts at leading biotech companies including Autolus Therapeutics, Quell Therapeutics, and Medidata Solutions. The life sciences themed 'Reveal' event offered students pathways into one of the world's fastest-growing sectors.
The event series has now connected more than 500 young people with 50 local businesses.
Both events are born out of our Upstream London Pathway Bonds which connect local talent with Science, Tech, Engineering, Maths, Medicine and Media (STEM³) industries and opportunities on their doorstep.
