TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT Winning work


SAFER MEDICINE WINS: YOUNG ENGINEER REIMAGINES HOW PATIENTS ACCESS MEDICATION


In the second of this year’s Training and Development segment to showcase winners from the 2025 Big Bang Competition, IHEEM is pleased to introduce the winner of Young Engineer of the Year, Aaron Lord, who was awarded the prize for his project ‘Autopill’.


This chat follows on from January’s feature which profiled the winner of the IHEEM Special Award for Innovation in Wellbeing and Healthcare Engineering at The Big Bang Competition, Vaishnavi Rudra. The Institute was delighted to


recognise the talent and innovation of both recipients, inviting them to speak at last year’s Healthcare Estates Conference, as well as awarding them a £5,000 bursary each towards future academic and professional development.


Autopill is a smart, automated pill-dispensing system designed to support people who take regular medication – particularly those living with dementia, memory challenges, or complex


daily routines. Aaron Lord, 2025 Young Engineer of the Year


10 Health Estate Journal February 2026


Aaron receives his Award at The Big Bang Fair last year.


Aaron details more below about the research and design processes for his entry, as well as the challenges and successes of entering the competition, and where he hopes to take his innovation next.


Please give us an overview of what Autopill is/does and how it aims to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals.


Aaron Lord: Autopill is a smart, automated pill-dispensing system designed to support people who take regular medication – particularly those living with dementia, memory challenges, or complex daily routines. The device holds a 14-compartment rotating pill tray


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