Care tech company Averio has created six demonstration spaces in further education colleges in Kent and Medway.

The project has been undertaken in partnership with Automated Spaces as part of the government’s ‘Local Skills Improvement Fund’ initiative.

The project spans three college groups: East Kent Colleges Group in Broadstairs, Canterbury and Folkestone, MidKent College in Gillingham, and North Kent College in Dartford and Tonbridge.

The spaces feature Averio’s connected care platform and smart home solutions to help people live independently, showcasing their potential to the colleges’ students. The demonstration spaces have been designed to showcase technologies across three scenarios: supporting a person living at home with dementia, enhancing care within residential care settings, and improving quality of life in sheltered housing environments.

Phil Neilson, chief executive of Averio said: “This initiative represents an exciting step forward in addressing the skills gap within the health and social care sector. These demonstration spaces provide an invaluable opportunity for the next generation of healthcare professionals to engage with cutting-edge independent living technologies in a practical, hands-on way. They also offer local stakeholders and businesses a unique opportunity to experience how these solutions can address real-world challenges and improve outcomes across diverse care settings. By bridging education and real-world application, we are not only empowering professionals but also demonstrating how technology can transform lives, enabling more people to live independently and with dignity.”