We are proud to share that our flagship Spread & Scale Academy was highly commended in two categories at the MediWales Innovation Awards 2025: Scaling Up Innovation and Industry Collaboration. These commendations recognise the impact the Academy is having across Wales and beyond, as well as the strength of the partnership that underpins it.
Since launching in 2021, the Spread & Scale Academy has supported more than 1,000 professionals from health, social care and the third sector to accelerate innovations that improve outcomes for patients, staff and the environment. Together, our participating teams have delivered over £8.5 million in reported savings, avoided more than 10 million kilograms of CO₂e, and strengthened leadership capacity across
Scaling Up Innovation: Recognising national and international influence
We were highly commended for our ability to help local innovations take root at national and international scale. With participants representing every Welsh Health Board, Social Care Wales and many third-sector partners, the programme enables teams to spread proven improvements rapidly and sustainably.
Impact includes:
- £2.4 million saved through improved palliative care
- £1.3 million saved through redesigned outpatient pathways
- £1.1 million saved by preventing tracheostomy-related harm
- Over £2 million saved through energy optimisation in 2024
These projects have improved safety, reduced waste, shortened care pathways and enhanced patient experience. They demonstrate what is possible when compassionate leadership and practical skills for large-scale change are brought together.
Industry Collaboration: Celebrating our partnership with global reach
We were also highly commended for our long-standing partnership with the Billions Institute in Los Angeles. Together, we co-design and co-deliver every Academy, blending global expertise in large-scale change with the principles and values of NHS Wales.
Our collaboration has:
- Developed a Welsh-adapted model of spread methodology grounded in the Well-being of Future Generations Act
- Supported over 230 projects delivering measurable improvement
- Strengthened leadership across NHS Wales
- Influenced international practice through the Commonwealth Leadership Institute
This partnership continues to evolve and reflects our commitment to learning, sharing and building capacity for change across borders.
Keeping the spirit of collaboration alive
We created the Dragon’s Heart Institute to preserve and build on the collaborative spirit that emerged in the aftermath of the pandemic. These commendations reflect not just the success of a single programme, but the strength of that founding belief: that when people are given space, support and community, they can transform services for the better.
As one participant shared, “The Academy achieved in three days what would have taken me my whole career alone.”
Join us at the next Spread & Scale Academy
We are now inviting applications for the next Spread & Scale Academy, taking place 10 to 12 March 2026 in Cardiff.
If you have a promising idea or improvement that is ready to grow, we would love to work with you and your team. You can find full details and apply here:
https://dragonsheart.org/programme/spread-and-scale/
