LifeLab, University of Southampton
LifeLab, University of Southampton is a non-profit educational research initiative that delivers free, research-based health education to UK children, young people, teachers, and researchers via a Moodle-based online platform and a purpose-built facility at University Hospital Southampton.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What LifeLab, University of Southampton does
LifeLab is a non-profit educational research initiative operated by the University of Southampton, founded in 2008 in collaboration with the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and University Hospital Southampton. Its mission is to empower children and young people through scientific discovery to make positive lifestyle choices, addressing unhealthy behaviours through evidence-based health education. LifeLab serves four user segments via its online platform and physical facility: teachers, students (primary through further education), parents and carers, and researchers. The Board of Directors comprises five University of Southampton professors, and the team totals seven employees.
The core product is LifeLab Online, a free Moodle-based learning management system at lifelabonline.org that hosts downloadable and interactive resources (PowerPoints, videos, PDFs, online learning modules) for health education aligned to the UK national curriculum. The product portfolio includes Early LifeLab (primary), LifeLab Secondary, Experience Medicine with LifeLab, the NxtGen Researcher Programme (HPQ/EPQ-aligned), Vaping Resources, COVID-19 Resources, Young Health Champions (RSPH-accredited), Work Experience, Meet the Scientist, and a Youth Panel for co-creation. Distribution combines the digital platform with in-school delivery and a purpose-built facility inside University Hospital Southampton, which has hosted over 13,000 young people since opening in 2014. International reach is delivered through the LifeLab Global Network with partners in Sydney, Soweto, and Dublin.
The revenue model is non-commercial: the platform is free, and the initiative is funded through university institutional support, NIHR grants (including a randomised controlled trial for the EACH-B research project), RSPH partnership, and a newly launched corporate sponsorship channel. There is no disclosed revenue, no paying customers, and no venture or private equity ownership. Since 2008, LifeLab has engaged over 17,500 students and trained over 800 teachers, with reported outcomes including 83% of students saying LifeLab will influence their health decisions, 100% teacher recommendation, and 93% student approval.
LifeLab, University of Southampton firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LifeLab, University of Southampton
- Legal name
- LifeLab, University of Southampton
- Website
- https://lifelabonline.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- LifeLab, University of Southampton is a non-profit educational research initiative that delivers free, research-based health education to UK children, young people, teachers, and researchers via a Moodle-based online platform and a purpose-built facility at University Hospital Southampton.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LifeLab, University of Southampton industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Health Education and Science Engagement Programmes
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Health Coaching & Lifestyle Coaching Education (EDAAAHAG)
Keywords
LifeLab, University of Southampton business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
LifeLab, University of Southampton product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LifeLab designs, develops and delivers evidence-based health-education programmes for UK primary and secondary schools, hosted on a free Moodle-based learning platform (LifeLab Online). It offers curriculum-aligned modules, RSPH-accredited qualifications, researcher engagement initiatives and widening-participation medicine experiences, supplemented by hands-on learning at its purpose-built facility inside University Hospital Southampton.
Product overview
LifeLab is an educational initiative by the University of Southampton built around a central learning management platform, LifeLab Online, which hosts a portfolio of programmes for different audiences. The platform serves teachers, students (primary and secondary), parents and carers, and researchers. Key programmes include Early LifeLab and LifeLab Secondary (curriculum-aligned health education modules), Experience Medicine with LifeLab (widening access to medicine), the NxtGen Researcher Programme (youth research training for HPQ/EPQ qualifications), Vaping Resources, COVID-19 Resources, Work Experience, Meet the Scientist, and the Youth Panel (co-creation initiative). The platform is powered by Moodle and provides both downloadable resources and interactive online learning modules.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LifeLab Online Free Moodle-based learning management platform hosting downloadable and interactive health-education resources, programmes and self-directed learning modules for teachers, students, parents/carers and researchers.
- Early LifeLab Primary school health-education programme using science-based modules (including the Health Warriors programme) to teach children about health topics such as COVID-19.
- LifeLab Secondary Programme Secondary school programmes aligned to the UK national curriculum, including fully resourced educational modules for in-school delivery and on-site day visits.
- Experience Medicine with LifeLab Programme for students interested in studying medicine, comprising a summer school, virtual medical work experience and widening access to medicine initiatives.
- NxtGen Researcher Programme Training programme that meets HPQ and EPQ requirements, training young people aged 14-18 in research skills to conduct their own research projects.
- Vaping Resources Educational resources co-created with youth panels addressing vaping, including a VR experience and a policy brief on youth perspectives on vaping.
- COVID-19 Resources COVID-19 teaching resources including the COVID-19 Warriors programme for primary school children, saliva testing information and SEND resources.
- LifeLab EACH-B Research Project Programme integrating science and health education into the secondary school science curriculum as part of a NIHR-funded randomised controlled trial.
- Young Health Champions Qualification RSPH-accredited qualification enabling students to become peer mentors, including a COVID-19 Young Health Champions version launched in March 2021.
- Meet the Scientist Programme enabling researchers and scientists to share their work with young people, showcasing career opportunities in science through videos and profiles.
- Work Experience Programme Programme connecting researchers and scientists with young people through work experience opportunities, including the Meet the Scientist initiative.
- Working with Young People in Schools and Communities Continued Professional Development training course providing researchers with essential strategies, ethical considerations and insights for working with young people in educational settings.
- Youth Panel Panel enabling young people to co-create LifeLab programmes, producing outputs such as clinical trial animations, exam wellbeing guides and vaping awareness resources.
Quantifiable outcome
- 83% of students report LifeLab will influence their health decisions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use LifeLab, University of Southampton
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
LifeLab, University of Southampton technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
LifeLab, University of Southampton partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
LifeLab, University of Southampton competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Medical Schools Council: UK body representing medical schools, including running widening-access initiatives. Comparable because LifeLab's Experience Medicine and Summer School programmes overlap directly with the Council's widening-participation agenda.
- Speakers for Schools: UK charity providing free talks and work-inspiration opportunities from professionals to state school students. Comparable to LifeLab's Meet the Scientist and Work Experience programmes that connect researchers with young people.
- British Heart Foundation: UK charity funding cardiovascular research and delivering health education, including school programmes. LifeLab's director Mark Hanson is a BHF Professor, creating direct programmatic overlap with BHF school-education initiatives.
- Wellcome: Major UK health-research charity that funds science education and public-engagement programmes. Operates in the same thematic space of health research for the public benefit and could fund, partner with, or compete with LifeLab for school-based programmes.
Direct peers
- Royal Society for Public Health: An existing LifeLab partner (since 2017) that accredits the Young Health Champions qualification. Operates in the same public-health-education space and provides the formal qualification framework that anchors LifeLab's secondary programmes.
- IntoUniversity: UK educational charity running local learning centres and university-access programmes for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Comparable in mission (engaging young people with health/educational pathways) and in operating from a physical facility with structured programmes.
- The Brilliant Club: UK widening-participation charity placing university researchers in schools to deliver tutorials and university-style courses. Directly comparable to LifeLab's school-based, researcher-led delivery model and similar target audience of students and teachers.
- The Access Project: UK charity supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to access top universities through tutoring and mentoring. Comparable in target audience and educational-outcome orientation, and competes with LifeLab for school and teacher partnerships.
- In2scienceUK: UK charity that promotes widening access to STEM and research careers for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds through university-led programmes. Highly comparable mission and delivery model to LifeLab's NxtGen Researcher Programme and Experience Medicine pathway.
- Primary Futures: UK education charity (part of the Education and Employers network) connecting primary school children with volunteers from a wide range of professions. Comparable to LifeLab's Early LifeLab programmes in targeting primary-age children for early-stage inspiration.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
LifeLab, University of Southampton social profiles
Digital presenceLifeLab, University of Southampton financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LifeLab, University of Southampton leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
LifeLab, University of Southampton funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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LifeLab, University of Southampton M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about LifeLab, University of Southampton
What does LifeLab, University of Southampton do?
LifeLab designs, develops and delivers evidence-based health-education programmes for UK primary and secondary schools, hosted on a free Moodle-based learning platform (LifeLab Online). It offers curriculum-aligned modules, RSPH-accredited qualifications, researcher engagement initiatives and widening-participation medicine experiences, supplemented by hands-on learning at its purpose-built facility inside University Hospital Southampton.
Is LifeLab, University of Southampton a public or private company?
LifeLab, University of Southampton is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was LifeLab, University of Southampton founded?
LifeLab, University of Southampton was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Who are LifeLab, University of Southampton's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Medical Schools Council, Speakers for Schools, British Heart Foundation and Wellcome. Direct peers are Royal Society for Public Health, IntoUniversity, The Brilliant Club, The Access Project, In2scienceUK and Primary Futures.
Does LifeLab, University of Southampton have an API?
No public API is recorded for LifeLab, University of Southampton.
What industry is LifeLab, University of Southampton in?
LifeLab, University of Southampton's product category is Health Education and Science Engagement Programmes. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAHAG, Health Coaching & Lifestyle Coaching Education. Its NAICS code is 54172.