SH:24

SH:24 won the Keele University Science and Innovation Park Company of the Year at the 2023 Breaking the Mould Awards, an accolade that coincided with the firm’s 10th birthday and is helping to bring in more local authority and NHS trust clients.

The Community Interest Company provides discreet and confidential STI testing kits and contraception directly to peoples’ homes.

So far, almost four million people in the UK, Ireland and beyond have benefitted from SH:24’s work, with more than 3.1 million STI tests carried out and more than 172,000 STIs diagnosed.

The company relocated its logistics centre from London to Keele in 2019 and quickly benefitted from the university’s support during the Covid-19 pandemic when the closure of NHS clinics meant that their services were diverted to SH:24 and demand for its STI testing kits more than doubled.

Operations Director Glyn Parry said: “Keele University helped us to open three support hubs when the footprint of our logistics centre increased due to social distancing – we have always received a lot of support.

“Being located in the heart of the University’s Science Park has brought other important benefits including the companionship of other innovative businesses and a highly qualified students who have subsequently joined our teams, including our Product and Engineering Team.

He added: “We were incredibly proud to receive the Breaking the Mould Award and it validated our decision to make that big jump from London to Keele.

“The university is known for its links with NHS trusts and its innovation so to be able to tell our users and prospective clients that we have received recognition from goes a long way.