NESCol student wins enterprise competition with life-changing service for people with autoimmune conditions

April 28, 2025

HND Business student Sarah Hoskin won first place at the Sparking Change showcase with her new venture, a service dedicated to helping people with autoimmune conditions.

Held at the University of Aberdeen on 12 March, 25 participants pitched their ideas to the panel of judges with the hope of securing funding. Sarah scooped the top spot and a £3,000 prize to help with the launch of her business, Shallion Support.

Sparking Change is a local programme designed by the University of Aberdeen in partnership with Converge. It encourages students and those out of work to take the first step towards social entrepreneurship and develop a business that will make a positive change in society.

Adult returner Sarah came to NESCol with the concept of Shallion Support and worked on this as part of the Sparking Change programme. The idea was born from her personal experience with autoimmune conditions and the desperate need for tailored support services.

Sarah Hoskin, Founder and Managing Director, Shallion Support, said:

“I have a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with autoimmune conditions. As well as having experienced the struggles myself, I also support my daughter who developed ME four years ago.

“Symptoms like chronic pain, brain fog and extreme fatigue can make daily tasks impossible. Shallion Support matches volunteers with individuals who require practical help in their day-to-day lives. This could be anything from housekeeping and cooking meals to vet appointments and planning coursework. The service is entirely bespoke.”

A 2023 study found that one in ten people in the UK have an autoimmune condition, which is when the immune system attacks healthy body tissue. Despite this, many rely on family and friends and receive no external support.

Sarah presented her final pitch lying down on the ground, demonstrating how people with autoimmune conditions spend a lot of their time.

She said: “The reality for people with autoimmune conditions, like ME, Lupus, Fibromyalgia and PTSD, is that they spend much of their day in bed.

“The loneliness can be as unbearable as the condition itself, and forming a connection with your volunteer who helps with the burden of everyday life could be lifesaving.

“I’m delighted to have secured more funding for Shallion Support, and plan to use this to continue to develop the service and help as many people as possible.”

Heather May Morgan, Dean of Enterprise, University of Aberdeen, said:

“Sparking Change was designed to provide learning opportunities for participants to highlight the importance of mission-led organisations and businesses, and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (a global framework for tackling pressing issues like poverty, inequality, and climate change).

“Sarah’s passion to not only provide much-needed practical help for people with autoimmune conditions, but also to raise the profile of the reality of their daily lives, including loneliness, shone through. By developing a solution to the problems that affect 10% of the population, Sarah’s business will have an impact and make a difference. We are glad that the competition funding will help her to go further on her journey after an impactful pitch!”

Shallion Support was Sarah’s driving force to return to education at NESCol. In 2023, she left full-time work and enrolled on the HND Business course to fill any gaps in her knowledge before she launched her company.

Sarah’s business model involves partnering with Aberdeen educational institutions, NESCol, the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University, offering volunteering and internship opportunities to students.

She is already working with HNC Social Services students at Fraserburgh Campus, who will provide counselling for Shallion Support clients.

Set to complete her course this summer, Sarah hopes to one day roll this out to all major cities in Scotland and develop an app that can match volunteers with clients.

To find out more about Shallion Support, please visit www.shallion.co.uk