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Better2Know, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, United Kingdom: Better2Know

Company: Better2Know
Company Description: Better2Know is the worlds largest private provider of sexual health testing services. The business helps patients who want fast and confidential STI and HIV testing. They serve the UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa, India and Australia. Founded in 2011, they have won multiple awards, grown at 30% for the last three years, and have offices in the UK and South Africa.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year - Health Products & Services - Medium-size
2023 Stevie Winner Nomination Title: Better2Know
  1. Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated organization since 1 January 2021, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
    Written answers to the questions
  2. If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.

     

  3. If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated organization: its history and past performance (up to 200 words):

    Total 186 words used.

    Better2Know is an award-winning global provider of sexual health testing services.  It was founded in 2011 by Michael Asher and Anthea Morris, who saw an opportunity to disrupt the way that STI tests were provided. 

    By designing a service for customers to get what they want: Better2Know came up with their innovative approach.  There was an awareness amongst sexually active professionals, that getting an STI test was a good idea.  However, it was difficult to find time, they did not want to wait in a public health waiting room for hours, and it was embarrassing to talk about why you needed to be there.  Everyone knows you are meant to use a condom.  No one wants to admit they had unsafe sex.  There had to be a better way for people to access STI testing to get the advice and tests they needed and wanted quickly and easily. Better2Know delivers this and more.

    Better2Know now operates in 20 countries around the world.  Providing confidential fast STI test results and treatment. Better2Know has previously won Gold Stevie Awards for a healthcare company in 2019, 2020, and 2022.

  4. If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2021 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):

    Total 213 words used.

    This year Better2Know has re-focussed on its core values of delighting patients.  Work began by looking at the whole Better2Know Eco-system to understand our community and our reach.  This helped us to bring a coherence to our messaging to patients, our suppliers and partners and new contacts to help us grow.

    A new senior team reviewed the existing data and patient pathways.  They looked at getting the data to work for us, using predictive AI to forecast demand for sexual health, covid and health and wellness testing.  This has meant that we get the right person responding to the patient at the right time, first time, every time.

    Better2Know’s skills audit and team dreams surveys helped to understand where individuals enjoyed their work most and how they wanted to grow.  We helped them get there with new skills, new ways of working, new tech all to make life easier, faster and better, and to further improve the service to our patients.

    The whole Better2Know team is now engaged, committed and ready to deliver beyond patient expectations.  Sales have increased 34% on the previous year, response rates have improved 27%, and productivity has increased 23% with number of hours worked falling 35% as we become more efficient, leaner and getting it right first time.

  5. If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):

    Total 236 words used.

    Better2Know started this programme by asking the team what they wanted to do to help patients more and to develop at Better2Know.  This “team dream” started with individual feedback, but has gathered momentum over the year.  It is now the cornerstone of the new three-year growth plan.

    Putting the team at the heart of growth has meant that everyone has wanted to shine and take responsibility for their suggestions.  This has led to offering more tests to patients with the Better2Know Health and Wellness tests, launching new regional languages on the website, and developing plans to deliver instant STI testing in a unique way in Malaga, Spain.

    The team dream is unique to Better2Know and in healthcare is improving the patient experience every single day.  The whole team learns more, grows, shares and is focused on helping each other and never saying no to a patient request.

    Better2Know has thrived on innovating its service, removing barriers to testing and looking for new ways of helping people get tested. 

    Better2Know has developed a CSR Strategy to complement its service.  The 2022 programme focussed on staying local.  We helped three local schools to get more computers so that some of their children without access to a home computer could research at home.  Our employment programme focussed on people who had been out of work for some time, helping single mothers get back to work, and rehabilitation of offenders.

  6. You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):

    Total 67 words used.

    The attachments include the Better2Know team presentation on what we have achieved in the past year to improve team skills, patient experience, and sales.  The team has transformed as it has grown and is now lean and efficient.  It is providing an excellent professional service to patients.

    Winning Gold Stevie Awards over the last three years has helped to reward the team for all their hard work. 

Attachments/Videos/Links:
Better2Know
URL Better2Know UK website
URL Better2Know Australia website
URL Better2Know Europe Website
URL Better2Know Africa website
URL Press coverage
URL Better2Know Awards
PDF 2_What_Customer_Service_means_to_me.pdf
PDF 1_patient_reviews_and_photos.pdf
URL Better2Know HM Government Department and Trade and Industry Video
URL Better2Know Meet the Team (You Tube)