The BIG South London Business, Innovation & Growth Summit centred on Future Health gathered healthcare leaders, academics, innovators, entrepreneurs and investors to explore how collaboration can drive meaningful improvements in the region’s healthcare system.

Held at London South Bank University’s (LSBU) Electric House in Croydon, the free-to-attend Summit created an unrivalled opportunity to explain and explore cutting-edge ideas, share best practices and collaboratively shape the future of healthcare through engaging workshops and networking opportunities.

“Health and life sciences are at the forefront of addressing some of the biggest challenges of our time. Whether it’s developing new treatments, creating smarter healthcare systems or working towards net zero transitions. The work being showcased today is transforming how we live,” said the Executive Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, who welcomed attendees at the Summit.

“Croydon’s contribution to this progress is significant. Through partnerships and collaboration, we are building a future in South London that empowers innovation and enhances lives, laying a foundation for long-term health and life sciences success.

“Our borough is home to a diverse, skilled workforce supported by institutions like the LSBU’s Croydon campus, which is training a third of London’s nurses and shaping the leaders of tomorrow,” he added.

LSBU and its Croydon Campus, with its cutting-edge REACT Innovation Centre and advanced hospital simulation wards, are critical in London’s contribution to healthcare training and growth. Professor Rodney Day, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation at LSBU, commented on how vital the Summit was in driving healthcare forward: “Discussions today have underscored the critical importance of partnerships. Health innovation is undeniably a whole system challenge. By working collaboratively across sectors, academia, industry, healthcare and local government – we can derisk that and accelerate and scale transformative solutions and improve social outcomes, foster prosperity and sustain our thriving south London region.”

The summit also highlighted the London Growth Plan, a strategic vision of creating 150,000 jobs and fostering inclusive economic growth across the city. The life sciences sector has been identified as a primary growth area for London, and South London has world-leading health assets, including the recently merged City St George’s University of London, now London’s largest medical educator.

“We’re playing a key part in resolving one of the most significant societal issues of the day, the training and developing of workers and leaders for the NHS and healthcare professions that we so desperately need,” explained Dr Sionade Robinson, City St George’s, University of London’s Vice President of Enterprise, Engagement and Employability.

“We offer more than 200 career-focused degrees, and a key part of our strategy is to focus on employability and supporting our students to enter the workforce. Training and development have been a big part of today’s discussions and are critical to the London Growth Plan.”

Angela Flaherty, Director of Strategy and Development, NHS South West London, commented: “We’ve been working with the South London Partnership to create the Integrated Care Partnership – which brings together the NHS and a broad range of partners to look at health and care in South West London and how we can improve it collaboratively. The Summit extends this work further by bringing together a wider group of stakeholders. One of our key solutions to the burning challenges we’ve got in health and care at the moment is to collaborate, and we need to do it quickly. The energy and enthusiasm I’ve seen at this Summit is incredibly inspiring, and we’ll be building on the ideas and collaborations formed here today.”

Overall, the Summit reinforced the importance of collaboration and highlighted the potential for transformative change within the healthcare landscape of South London. It featured an impressive lineup of speakers and panellists who engaged in thought-provoking discussions on various pressing healthcare topics. Key issues addressed included the future of healthcare, the integration of new technologies such as virtual wards, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, as well as strategies for healthcare workforce retention and upskilling. The Summit also focused on the critical goal of delivering Net Zero in healthcare settings and tackling health inequalities across South London. It showcased emerging innovations and breakthrough ideas from local entrepreneurs and innovators, mainly through the Innovation Zone and lightning pitch sessions. Attendees left with renewed inspiration and actionable insights to further enhance regional healthcare delivery.