Saturday 6th August 2016 - Our USP? What is our Unique Selling Point?

Posted 6:15pm,

According to the website: www.entrepeneur.com:

"A unique selling proposition or otherwise known as USP (unique selling point), is a factor that a business has that makes it different and or better than others out there. It makes a business stand out from the rest in a market"

There is a great deal of research from the Department of Health, Universities, and Health studies that clearly shows people who exercise more, maintain a good routine, and eat healthily, are fitter and have a better mental health.

One of the reasons this whole concept popped into my head came about following a bout of depression I went through around 12 years ago.  My doctor was able to prescribe visits to my local gym.  It was a scheme called Exercise on Referral - and is still being run. However:

Patients need to meet the following criteria:

·         18 years or over and have consented fully to take part

·         Live in Islington

·         Have an Islington GP

·         BMI ≥30.0 - ≤39.9

·         Q Risk score ≥20% (as indicated by NHS health check)

·         Controlled Diabetes I or II

·         High Risk of Diabetes II

·         Stable cardiovascular disease

·         Hypertension

·         COPD

·         Asthma

·         Mental Health condition

·         Musculoskeletal conditions

·         Older people 65+ at risk of falls

You have to be referred by a health professional,  And there can be a six week wait, although it is free, and you get 20 visits to a gym, where you are monitored.  It is very good.  It certainly helped me.

My idea, here, is that when you are unemployed you very quickly get in bad habits, and develop issues that affect your health, finances, and social life.  You need access to this kind of help, but there is nothing around to assist.  I also ascertain that you do not have to go to a gym.  You can do various exercises and procedures, at home or outdoors, on your own or in a group.

We have a couple of USPs.

We would be the only company working with people as soon as they sign on.  Yes, out program will help the long term unemployed, people on health benefits, people on probation, and NEETS (people Not in Education, Employment or Training), but one of our main outcomes is to lower the number of people reaching long term unemployment with early intervention.  There seems to be an unwritten directive that when you first sign on you are fine to be left to your own devices.  Clearly that is not always the case, but I was told this by Islington Council's Employment Team.  So by pre-empting problems we can get people back to work quicker, healthier, fitter and happier.

We are the only company offering a bespoke look on well-being, health and fitness to those out of work.  From my experience, and from talking to many people out of work, it is clear that mental health deteriorates quite quickly.  There would be no waiting time for those entering our program.

We would offer appropriate and relevant advice to each individual based on their needs, and not generalise them.  They should be made to feel important, and not just one person among many.