THE EARLY DAYS
In the early 1980s, at Salford University’s Human Performance Laboratory, we were already writing software to analyse and improve athletic performance — long before most people had ever seen a computer.
In 1985, we launched CATSS (Computer Analysed Training Sports Science) at London’s Olympia. It was groundbreaking for the time — using data to help top athletes understand and push their limits.
I spent those days side by side with legends like Fatima Whitbread, Brian Jacks and Lynn Davis, all of us eager to see just how far technology could take human performance.
CHANGING LIVES - EARLY DIGITAL HEALTH
By the 1990s, what began as sports science had grown into something far bigger.
We launched CALM — Computer Assisted Lifestyle Management — one of the very first comprehensive digital health systems.
It expanded quickly to cover:
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Lifestyle, Health & fitness assessments
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Stress & work-related mental health
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Nutrition & cardiac rehabilitation
By the late 90s, our platforms were fully web-based, linking NHS primary and secondary care in real time over NHSNET.
More than 40% of the UK’s cardiac rehab units relied on our systems, with over 2,000 installations on 24-hour support.
We screened hundreds of thousands of employees across BP, Cadbury, Rover, British Steel, airports, banks, the military, police, fire, ambulance and hospitals.
A GLOBAL IMPACT
In 1999, at the height of the dot-com boom, we sold the company to a London Stock Exchange listed group.
It grew rapidly, opening offices in London, New York, Jerusalem and Manchester, and building a team of more than 60 programmers, project managers and technicians.
Together, we supported:
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Over 9 million covered lives in US HMOs
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More than 15 million people in EAPs across the globe
All from a small spark of software that started in a university lab.
Watch the Journey
A QUIET THOUGHT
“Looking back, it was never just about technology. It was always about helping people see what was possible — and maybe live longer, happier lives because of it.”