Older People being active

The Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has created a new council of advisors to help the UK seize economic opportunities of an ageing society.

Formed of specialists from across society, the new UK Longevity Council will advise how best to use innovations in technology, products and services to improve the lives of our ageing population, as well as helping to create new technologies.

The council will see business leaders, health experts, policymakers, industry researchers and the public provide advice and new ideas relating to work, finances and housing, leading to new technologies and products that will benefit an older population.

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Andy Briggs, business leader and insurance industry expert, has been appointed as the government’s new Business Champion for the Ageing Society Grand Challenge and will co-chair the UK Longevity Council with Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock.

Andy Briggs, Ageing Society Business Champion, said: “Britain has an ageing society, along with many other developed countries, and this provides challenges as well as opportunities.

“I encourage all businesses to embrace this excellent opportunity, both by developing world-leading products and services, and by employing more older workers.”

To support the Grand Challenge, the government will shortly open the competitions for the £98 million Healthy Ageing Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, to develop attractive products and services that help people of all ages to live better and more independent lives as they grow older.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “More than 10 million people in the UK today can expect to see their 100th birthday, compared to 15,000 current centenarians.

“As more people live longer, we must ensure people can live independently, with dignity and a good quality of life for longer by harnessing the best technological innovation and advances to help.

“Having a dedicated Business Champion in Andy Briggs, working with the new Longevity Council, will ensure that UK companies remain at the forefront of these developments. This is a key part of our modern Industrial Strategy, ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of these new and emerging industries.”

Alongside championing new ideas and the creation of new products and services, the council also aims to ensure that people across the UK enjoy an extra five years of healthy and independent living by 2035, while narrowing the gap between the experience of the richest and the poorest.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said: “Keeping people healthy and independent is absolutely central to our vision for our healthcare system. Living longer should be celebrated but we need to think seriously about how we can adapt society more widely to meet older people’s needs. We must use our industry’s incredible abilities in technology, design and innovation in new, thoughtful ways to support everyone to age well.

“Business has a vital role to play in providing inclusive products and services that are attractive to our older population and can enable everyone to stay living at home for longer and keep active. I look forward to working with Andy Briggs and the rest of the Longevity Council to help the UK lead the way in thinking creatively and originally about ageing.”

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https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/older-people-active.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/older-people-active-150x150.jpgCalvin BarnettGovernment & Local AuthoritiesInvestments & FundingNewsroomAgeing Popularion,Andy Briggs,Business Secretary,Department for Business,Department of Health and Social Care,Energy & Industrial Strategy,Grand Challenge,Greg Clark,Healthy Ageing Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund,Matt Hancock,Uk Longevity CouncilThe Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has created a new council of advisors to help the UK seize economic opportunities of an ageing society. Formed of specialists from across society, the new UK Longevity Council will advise how best to use...News, views & products for mobility, access and independent living professionals