Tech
Revolutionary Bath-based business EarSwitch has an exciting year ahead , having spent 2022 refining its in-ear biometric and switch sensor technology .
BUSINESS REVIEW OF THE YEAR
With a range of potential applications , from gaming to communication , Earswitch is on the cusp of empowering new ways to control and interact with the world .
The EarSwitch technology uses the tensor tympani , one of the smallest muscles in the human body , to monitor the movement of the muscle , resulting in an ‘ earclick ’ that unlocks complex control , acting as a ‘ switch ’ or ‘ button ’.
The technology is globally applicable across multiple sectors as a complex control device in health , lifestyle , fitness and medical monitoring from your earphone or hearing aid .
Founder and CEO Dr Nick Gompertz developed the concept after witnessing people with Motor Neurone Disease lose their ability to communicate .
Alongside a team of researchers from the University of Bath , EarSwitch progressed with preliminary research and product development in 2022 thanks to additional funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research .
With the technology now in production , in 2023 EarSwitch is looking forward to raising further investment and growing the team to develop human to environment interaction , and switch the way we interact with the world .
For more info : www . earswitch . co . uk
Creative
Brand design agency Osborne Pike this year celebrated a milestone of 20 years in the industry .
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Located in central Bath , the company works on the creation , extension and refreshing of consumer brands , including packaging design .
With an impressive portfolio of clients including Nestlé and Danone , Osborne Pike works largely with clients across Europe , especially The Netherlands . It ’ s more likely you ’ ll come across the agency ’ s work in Albert Heijn than Tesco .
After an up and down 20th year , Osborne Pike is gearing up for a busy 2023 .
Managing Partner , Steve Osborne , said , “ For Osborne Pike , 2022 did not start well when a growth plan stuttered at birth , not helped by resigning an important client based in Russia and Ukraine .
“ After reorganising our smaller team , a
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key internal promotion and some serendipity ( an essential part of any agency ’ s success ), we ’ ve got our mojo back and are looking to grow more sustainably in 2023 , despite the economic headwinds .
“ One of our 2022 highlights was the September launch of a 6th edition of a limited release barrel-aged beer . Having created the branding in 2017 , we ’ ve worked on the packaging designs for all six editions . Though limited in volume to around 30,000 bottles , the PR and activation around the annual launch at the picture postcard Arcen brewery has seen interest snowball .
“ This success has had unprecedented knock-on effects . The popularity of the super-premium barrel-aged , limited edition has helped the parent brand Hertog Jan
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surge to become the second largest beer brand in The Netherlands , hot on the heels of Heineken .
“ That ’ s because the brand has long been known by its pay-off line uit liefde voor bier ( for the love of beer ), a consumer proposition that spans both the Pilsener and barrel-aged ‘ quadruppel ’.
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“ Though a unique example , it ’ s this kind of brand value through meaning that we try to bring to all of our projects .”
For more info : www . osbornepike . co . uk
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Charity
Dorothy House has had an exciting 2022 and has once again received huge support from the local community .
Community and Events Fundraiser , Dan Varley , said , “ Firstly , our retail teams have had a strong year , continuing to bounce back after the pandemic . There are plenty of bargains to find across our 25 shops across our patch and feedback from customers continues to be great !
“ Back in June , we received a surprise visit from the Care Quality Commission and after a short inspection we were delighted to be awarded an ‘ Outstanding ’ rating again . The report noted : People received outstanding care from highly motivated staff who developed exceptionally positive , caring and compassionate relationships with them .
“ At the beginning of November we launched our 36 hour Always Here appeal and raised just over a staggering £ 450,000 to expand our Community Care across the 700 sq miles that we cover . This was raised thanks to a team of over 200 Champions who reached out across their networks to ask for support and all donations were then doubled by a group of very generous match funders . “ 2023 promises to be another big year for the Hospice , with the return of our huge Christmas Tree Collection scheme in January , the Men ’ s Walk to Support in March and our work with the Bath Half Marathon as one of their charity partners .
“ As always , we will continue to deliver outstanding care to those patients and families in our community . Thank you again to all those who support us and allow us to do that .”
For more info : www . dorothyhouse . org . uk
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