West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has officially opened two new research and education facilities in Birmingham. Historic, family-owned Birmingham company Salts Healthcare has invested over £2M in the Salts Academy – a new education venue for health care professionals, and the Central Skin Sciences Institute, an independent skin research facility, as it continues to grow in its fourth century of operation.

The Salts Academy is a dedicated facility providing high-quality educational courses up to and including masters level for healthcare professionals specialising in stoma care. Founded in 2012 it is the only one of its type in the UK and, due to its continued success, and commitment to offer quality education to nurses that will ultimately improve the lives of patients, Salts has now invested further in creating a new purpose-built space. This space now includes a lecture theatre, library, and clinical skills room for specialist nurses to visit and further their knowledge, skills and understanding of stoma care.

The Salts Academy has partnered with De Montfort University for ten years, and more recently Birmingham City University, providing stoma care education for healthcare professionals and other healthcare workers in the form of workshops, study days and courses leading to qualifications at degree and masters level.

The Central Skin Sciences Institute (CSSI) is a new purpose-built facility that will generate scientific data through research and testing to advance knowledge in the area of skin health and skin adhesives.

These new insights and understanding of skin health will have numerous benefits for people living with a stoma, manufacturers, and medical professionals. From improving medical provision to driving innovation in the development of medical adhesives, the knowledge will ultimately help enhance the quality of life for people living with a stoma.

Commenting on the dual-launch Andy Street said,

“The West Midlands is at the heart of the UK’s life science sector and so I’m delighted to help officially open these two impressive venues. Salts’ continued investment in R&D, training and education is helping the development of the life sciences industry across here in the West Midlands and beyond, and ultimately helping to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients across the globe.”

“Salts Healthcare has been at the forefront of healthcare manufacturing for over 300 years, right here in the heart of Birmingham. Having seen the Salts Academy and Central Skin Sciences Institute in action I am in no doubt that the company will be making a positive contribution to people’s health, the life sciences sector, and the local economy for hundreds of years to come.”

Angie Perrin, Clinical Education Lead at The Salts Academy said,

“This new venue means we can expand our educational services for nurses that will, in turn, assist in helping patients. The specialist facilities will create the perfect platform for educators to connect with students and practitioners and provide high quality evidence-based care education.”

Mireille Hamson, Clinical Research Manager at the CSSI said,

“We believe that the Central Skin Sciences Institute will combine skin health research, with reliable, innovative testing methods and clinical expertise to generate both questions and find answers that can make a real-life difference.”

“Our clinical investigations will generate robust skin health data and knowledge that will support the research and development of new adhesive technology for medical devices and will ultimately change people’s lives.”

Founded in 1701, Aston based Salts Healthcare designs and manufactures products for people living with a stoma. Family-owned, two brothers Peter and Robert Salt are the tenth generation of the Salt family to be at the helm.

Robert Salt, Managing Director said,

“I am so proud of this initiative, and the wonderful team that has not just delivered but has surpassed what I hoped was possible. The thought, the attention to detail, the care that they have put into creating the venues, I can do no more than thank and applaud."

Peter Salt, Chief Executive, continued by saying,

“Both the Salts Academy and Central Skin Sciences Institute are unique and are game-changers for the stoma care industry and, most importantly, will have a huge positive effect on patients not just in the UK, but across the World.”

For more information on the Salts Academy visit www.salts.co.uk