A Sheffield-born former plasterer has described starting a new chapter as an app founder in his sixties.
Mick Brown, 62, who now lives in Toronto, says he began developing his first iPhone app at 61 despite having no software-development background.
The result is HeyUp, an app designed around short movement breaks during ordinary parts of the day, including television time and working from home.
A practical idea shaped by experience
Brown told Local Gazette that his Sheffield upbringing and working life were central to the idea. He describes a project built without outside funding, turning a practical problem into something people can use at home.
On the app's website, he sums up his intention as: “I just want to get people moving.”
Rather than asking users to set aside time for a gym session, the app offers reminders for short breaks and lets them choose movements and targets. Its website describes seated and standing options, alongside progress tracking.
Starting something new in later life
For Brown, the Sheffield connection is about the experience he brought to the project, even though the app was developed after his move to Canada. He says the practical thinking shaped by his upbringing and working life helped turn the idea into a usable product.
His story adds a different perspective to conversations about changing careers and trying unfamiliar work later in life, with an everyday idea becoming a first step into software development.
HeyUp is listed on Apple's App Store. The website describes a limited free allowance alongside paid upgrades, so readers should check current terms before downloading or buying anything.
The company describes HeyUp as a general wellness app. This profile does not establish clinical benefits or recommend it as a treatment or rehabilitation programme.
Further information is available on HeyUp's official website.