Harry Bliss graduated from Leeds Beckett in 2017, with a BSc (Hons) in Physical Activity, Exercise and Health. During his studies, Harry discovered a passion for how technology can facilitate positive behavioural change. With the support of his tutors, Harry went on to launch his own company, Champion Health, which is now a multi-million-pound wellbeing platform.

Course: BSc (Hons) Physical Activity, Exercise and Health

What attracted you to study BSc (Hons) Physical Activity, Exercise and Health at Leeds Beckett University?

Sport and physical activity have always been a huge part of my life, and I know first-hand the amazing impact they have had on my mental and physical health. I studied Physical Activity, Exercise and Health because I wanted to learn more about that, and long-term help others get the same benefits I did.

The course at Leeds Beckett is very engaging and has a practical element that really appealed to me. It gives you the real-life skills to apply your knowledge in the outside world, which is ultimately what going to university is all about.

Very few universities can beat Leeds Beckett in terms of campus facilities and expert course leaders who really invest their time into you.

Since graduating, you’ve gone on to launch your own company, Champion Health. Can you tell us what Champion Health is?

Champion Health work alongside organisations to improve employee wellbeing. We set out with the vision of building 'The Netflix of Wellbeing', a workplace health platform that brings all areas of wellbeing into one place, such as physical health, meditation, and sleep.

What skills / knowledge did you acquire at Leeds Beckett which helped you set up such a successful company?

First and foremost, my course at Leeds Beckett gave me access to some leading experts in the field of physical activity and health. Working with these people gave me a base of knowledge that I still lean on today.

In particular, there was a big focus on behavioural change which is applicable in any area of health and wellbeing. This gave me a grounding to apply these skills in the world of technology, and the skills I developed have played a huge part in the development of Champion’s platform.

Did you feel inspired by your lecturers at university to set up your own business after graduating?

Absolutely, I have a lot to thank the course leaders at Leeds Beckett for. There’s Professor Jim Mckenna, who I still work with now. He really brought the field of behaviour change alive for me, and it was amazing to gain insights from someone with so much knowledge in the area.

There’s Maurice, my mentor, who was one of the directors of Champion. He really believed in me and pushed me to make my idea a reality.

There's Dr Victoria Archbold, who was also a huge help for me personally, and gave me the inspiration to start Champion. I initially approached Vic when I had the idea for Champion Health. Vic gave me the confidence to make the leap, and she has continued support me throughout the last 4 years.

And Dr Andy Smith, who was one of my tutors. He really helped me during my first year at university, when I personally struggled with my mental health. I don't know where I'd be without his support.

You’ve recently sold the multi-million-pound business to Physitrack, a global leader in health and wellbeing. What’s next for you and the company?

In one word – impact. Champion is driven by the impact we can have on people’s lives, and the investment from Physitrack is going increase that impact very quickly. The increased funding will allow us to supercharge the development of our platform, so we deliver a better experience for all the clients we work with. We’re also looking to expand our client base across the world, to have impact on a global scale.

As for my role, I'm staying as the CEO of Champion Health, to see the project through to a global leading tech company. I'm extremely excited for the next phase, and who knows, some of the Leeds Beckett students and alumni reading this may be working for Champion in the near future.

What advice would you give other prospective students who are thinking of studying Physical Activity, Exercise and Health?

For any prospective students, I’d say that you can really count on your course leaders to invest their time into you.

With that in mind, the biggest thing I did was always to be curious and ask questions. If you're paying for people with huge levels of experience and knowledge to teach you, why wouldn't you get everything you can out of them?