North East entrepreneur designs clock to help people with dementia

An entrepreneur in the North East is developing an innovative clock to help people with dementia and special educational needs.

Suzanne Andrews is the brains behind the Now and Next Clock, which uses an LED progress bar and magnetic photographs to let users know what their schedule includes for the day.

Suzanne came up with the idea while working at a special needs school and took it to a startup workshop at RTC North.

From there, she joined the organisation’s Pathways to Innovation programme, which helps businesses protect and commercialise new technologies, products and services.

Now and Next Clocks are used in Washington Grange Care Home, which wants to roll the technology out to its entire UK care home network.

Suzanne said: “Once the clock was developed I realised it would work for people suffering from dementia. I initially attended a startup workshop at RTC ran by Mica MacInnes.”

Suzanne was then introduced to business innovation and growth manager Carl Brown, who works on the Pathways programme. He put her in touch with US-headquartered Microchip Technology and together they built a functional prototype. showcased at the Great Exhibition of the North.

Suzanne continued: “It has proved very successful and everyone I have worked with have been so helpful, including P&D Caterfab who produced the framing for the clocks.

“Carl has been very helpful with advice regarding intellectual property protection, as well as making introductions to companies who I can work in synergy with.”

A prototype Now and Next Clock was showcased at the Great Exhibition of the North earlier this year.

Carl commented: “When we first met at RTC North, Suzanne had a concept for a mechanical clock. It has been a fantastic journey to turn this concept into a digital reality.

“It has been particularly pleasing to see this product develop from prototype to first sales. Suzanne should be proud to have produced such a high-quality product, and to making it available to markets in as diverse sectors as education and care homes. It has been a pleasure to have supported her in this process.”