Last week, the Uccello Team headed off to the Care & Occupational Therapy Show – an exciting event that brings together healthcare professionals, product innovators, and solution-focused thinkers from across the UK. For us, this isn’t just a trade show. It’s a rare and valuable opportunity to speak directly with the people who understand first-hand the everyday challenges their clients face – and the practical solutions they need.
Listening First – Then Solving
Occupational Therapists and other healthcare professionals work on the front lines of support. They see, daily, how tasks that most take for granted – like pouring a simple cup of tea – can become complicated, painful, or even dangerous for people living with mobility, strength, or vision challenges.
Events like this are real, where honest conversations happen. As product developers, we don’t want to guess what people need – we want to hear it straight from the professionals who support them. And when they tell us what’s missing, we’re ready to offer better solutions.
The Hot Water Problem No One Was Solving
When we first entered the market, we noticed a surprising gap. In a country that drinks over 100 million cups of tea a day, there was very little innovation in safe hot water handling for people with limited strength, dexterity, or vision.
The old-fashioned kettle tippers? They were a start – but they didn’t solve the problem. They still required users to lift and manage the full weight of a kettle. That meant pain, discomfort, and frustration. And worse – if the tipper didn’t fit your kettle, you were out of luck.
What Makes the Uccello Kettle Different
The Uccello Kettle was designed from the ground up to remove these obstacles:
- No heavy lifting
- No wrist strain or awkward balancing
- One-finger pour action
- Inclusive design that looks great in any kitchen
- Safe and easy filling
It’s about more than convenience – it’s about restoring confidence and independence to the daily rituals people love.
Helping Professionals Help Their Clients
One surprising thing we continue to encounter – especially at shows like this – is how many Occupational Therapists don’t know that essential aids/medical equipment like ours are VAT exempt in the UK for people living a long-term illness or disability.
In the current climate, with the cost of living still high, this is the kind of useful knowledge that can make a real difference to your clients. If you’re a healthcare professional, this is a great tip to keep in your back pocket.
Can OTs Recommend Specific Products?
Another recurring theme in our conversations with OTs is uncertainty around recommending specific brands or products. Some believe they’re not allowed to. But the reality is different. When a product meets a client’s individual needs and supports their independence, professionals can recommend it – and remain full compliant with the Care Act.
We recently broke this down in a dedicated blog post here.
What We Took Away From the Day
Attending the Care & Occupational Therapy Show was no just about showcasing our products – it was about making meaningful connections. Having the chance to speak one-on-one with Occupational Therapists and other professionals reaffirmed the importance of what we do.
We left the show encouraged by the conversations we had, the challenges shared, and the opportunity to spread awareness about the simple solutions that can transform everyday living. We’re more motivated than ever to continue our mission: to make daily tasks easier, safer, and more empowering for those who need it most.
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