Oldham's Ascroft Medical lifts turnover 33% with £17,000 AI grant

What's the deal? Oldham-based Ascroft MedicalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → secured a £17,000 innovation grant from GM Business Growth Hub to build an AI-enabled diagnostic platform. The specialist laboratory testing firm reports annual turnover up 33% since engaging with the hub.

What's the endgame? The platform guides patients from choosing a blood test to receiving personalised clinical guidance, letting users access results in one place and connect with healthcare professionals. For clinicians, it promises insights and more efficient workflows.

Why now? Healthcare is becoming increasingly digital, with patients expecting faster services and providers seeking efficiency. Ascroft Medical spotted a commercial opening in that shift towards AI-driven care.

By the numbers: Beyond the turnover gain, the innovation has opened growth opportunities across Europe and the Middle East through partnerships with private healthcare providers.

Co-founder Kris Zemlik, a former Business Person of the Year finalist at the Oldham Business Awards, said the firm needed outside help to navigate the commercial, technical, and regulatory hurdles of AI in healthcare. "We knew we couldn't do it all ourselves," he said.

Working with the hub's Health Innovation Service and specialist Dr Yousef Taktak, the company refined its plans and found a technology development partner. "The combination of scientific expertise, commercial insight and funding support helped us move from concept to delivery much faster than we could have achieved alone," Zemlik said.

The signal: Small sums from public growth programmes can still move the needle for regional health-tech firms, bridging the gap between concept and a market-ready product in a sector where AI development is resource-intensive.

Read more: oldham-chronicle.co.uk

Image credit: Neeta Lind