One Health ENTERPRISE NETWORK

‘One Health' is an approach to design and implement programmes and research in which multiple sectors communicate and work together to achieve better public health outcomes, recognising the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in achieving this.

Since 2019, Dorset LEP have hosted a national One Health Conference and set up the One Health Enterprise Network in 2023 – to bring businesses together to find commercial solutions to global health challenges.

The One Health Approach – An introduction

What is One Health?

One Health is an internationally established approach that acknowledges the interconnectedness of human, animal, plant, and wider environmental health. Globally recognised, the ‘One Health’ approach is advocated for by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its international partners.

The One Health Approach offers a framework for industry, academia, and policymakers to guide the design, development, and implementation of new ideas and products. It ensures 'green' and 'clean' innovation to tackle global challenges like sustainable food production, pollution, and climate change.

How does Dorset LEP supports this?

Dorset LEP works in partnership, recognising that interdisciplinary collaboration - between business, government, academia, third sector, finance, and the broad spectrum of innovation agencies - is needed to find solutions to the problems affecting our health and the health of the planet.

About Dorset LEPs One Health Initiative

The Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership’s One Health Enterprise Network (OHEN) supports businesses to connect with research institutions and wider partners across industry and government to design and develop clean, green solutions to global challenges arising from changing environments (including from climate change), such as:

  • Achieving Net Zero

  • Air and Water Quality

  • Biodiversity Restoration
  • Disaster Management
  • Disease Transmission Control
  • Food Safety and Supply
  • Greening Aerospace
  • Greening Construction
  • Greening Fashion
  • Greening Life Sciences
  • Greening Marine
  • Invasive species control
  • Renewable Energy Adoption
  • Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance

Responsible Innovation for Businesses – A One Health Enterprise Network

Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been exploring how to support and encourage businesses to tackle some of complex modern problems affecting human, animal, plant, and environmental health.

We are working with businesses across the region to inform them about the One Health approach and to encourage the adoption of this through our One Health Enterprise Network (OHEN).

The OHEN will support businesses that follow this approach to responsible innovation. Businesses that agree to incorporate the One Health Approach into their design and development processes can be said to be One Health Businesses and can be part of the One Health business cluster that the OHEN supports.

Our Vision

Our aim is to transform the South West and Wessex into a leading hub for One Health innovation, where collaborative efforts between enterprises, academia, and government lead to a thriving business cluster generating commercial solutions to global problems that benefit Dorset, the region, and our global community.

What We Do

  • Facilitate Partnerships: We build connections across industries and disciplines to foster innovative collaborations that add value to product design, aiming to accelerate products to market.
  • Facilitate Funding Support: We engage with business cluster members about funding opportunities and directly provide or facilitate grant writing support services.
  • Accelerate Knowledge Transfer: Our events and seminars spread cutting-edge ideas and practices across the One Health business cluster to underpin new business development.
  • Support Responsible Innovation: We offer resources to business to develop responsible innovations, including challenge panels to provide invaluable business innovation insights, and guidance on aligning product design with the One Health Approach.

Current Work of Our One Health Enterprise Network

  • DEFRA, the Department of Business and Trade, and Innovate UK: These agencies are collaboratively working to develop and implement policies that enhance disease surveillance and control, promote responsible natural resource use, and support initiatives to mitigate climate change.
  • Efeca: Provides specialised advice on issues relating to responsible sourcing, sustainable trade, and use of forest risk commodities, including cocoa, palm oil, soy, beef, and leather. They are a Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) partner, a World Economic Forum (WEF) approved supplier, AFi partner, and a UN Global Compact signatory, working with a range of clients across public, private and NGO sectors to develop, implement and monitor sustainable agricultural and forestry practices.
  • Synergy Health Vets: Providing veterinary care solutions that integrate environmental and public health considerations, focusing on reducing the spread of zoonotic diseases through innovative animal health practices. They are involved in the provision of external consultancy to the farming, veterinary and pharmaceutical industries, both at home and abroad.
  • Universities of Bristol, Bournemouth, and Southampton: Collaborating on research projects that, e.g., tackle zoonotic diseases, promote disaster management, improve biodiversity through restoration ecology, and innovate in green construction technologies.
  • Wessex Health Partners: Developing new frameworks for integrating environmental health (with an initial focus on air quality) into public health strategies and into practice.

Get Involved

We invite businesses, researchers, and individuals passionate about One Health to join us in creating a sustainable future. Here’s how you can contribute:

  • Partner with Us: Join our collaborative projects that are shaping the future of health and environmental sustainability.
  • Attend Our Events: Connect with thought leaders and innovators at our seminars and workshops.
  • Invest in Innovation: Provide financial or resource support to help advance our impactful projects.

Contact Us

Learn more about our One Health Initiative and explore partnership opportunities. Contact us at dorsetlep@bournemouth.ac.uk


Annual One Health Conference Showcases

Since 2019, the One Health Initiative has hosted an annual conference showcasing the collaborative efforts and innovations of businesses, academia, government, and charities. These events serve as a pivotal platform for sharing knowledge and showcasing cutting-edge business and research innovations.

One Health 2024: We Mean Business Conference

The One Health 2024 Conference took place at Bournemouth University on 10 July. Participants had the opportunity to engage with leading experts and explore the latest advancements in One Health. 

One Health 2023

Hosted by Dorset LEP, One Health 2023 brought around 100 experts and senior decision makers to Kingston Maurward College near Dorchester to share advice and insight on sustainability and our shared environment.

Delegates agreed that a steering group will be formed in autumn 2023 to progress the One Health Enterprise Network (OHEN) by defining the scope of collaboration and developing investment metrics adapted to the needs of changing priorities.  

OHEN will initially have a focus on the Great South West and Wessex regions. These include Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Somerset, South Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, with further strategic partners being sought from industry, government and academia.

A copy of the slides from the event can be found here.  

One Health 2022

Our fourth national One Health conference, One Health 22: Sustainable Agri-innovation and Foodtech, brought more than 60 senior decision makers from academia, industry, and government together for a day of advice, knowledge sharing and planning.    

A copy of the slides from the event can be found here.  

One Health 2021

In March 2021, Dorset LEP hosted the third One Health Conference as a virtual event.

During the event, Dorset LEP announced the ambition of the One Health Nucleus. This is to be a knowledge exchange and support network for one health innovators, supporting start-ups to large companies to establish, stabilise and grow. These companies will be carbon-neutral or carbon-reducing, contributing to the fight against climate change.

One Health 2020 - Aquaculture Expo

OH20: Aquaculture Expo - Commercial Solutions to Global Problems was again held at Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester, on 4 March 2020. Delegates included businesses, buyers, investors, government support agencies and universities.

We designed the event to encourage businesses and investors to capitalise on Dorset’s position as a great place to run and grow an aquaculture business while addressing One Health problems such as food supply and environmental protection. Attended by over 90 delegates our event received fantastic feedback - #AquaExpo20 successfully showcased Dorset aquaculture

One Health 2019

In September 2019, Dorset LEP hosted the inaugural One Health Conference at Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester. The event both provided the launch focus for the One Health Accelerator.

Delegates explored One Health problems such as food safety, supply and security, pollinators versus pests and antimicrobial resistance.