The founder of a housing tech company, which combines ingenious technology with proactive human contact to improve the lives of older people, has been made an MBE.

James Batchelor, inventor of the ‘I am okay’ button and founder of Alertacall, has been made an MBE for ‘Services to Technology For Older People’ in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2025. 

James invented the ‘I am okay’ button – now known as OKEachDay® – over 20 years ago as a way to ensure his own grandmother, Eveline, was protected by having contact with someone each day in a way that she controlled. 

People press the button each day on a touchscreen device to confirm that everything is OK at their property. If they do not press the button, then a member of Alertacall’s specially trained team will get in touch to check and exchange any important information.

Alertacall provides the service to tens of thousands of older and vulnerable people living in social and retirement housing, alongside services via the touchscreen that allow them to have greater two-way contact, report repairs or ASB, and participate in surveys.

Alertacall employs over 110 team members at offices in the Lake District and Cheshire, and works with around 60 housing associations and retirement living providers.

Alongside his work with Alertacall, James also campaigns tirelessly to reduce loneliness and isolation among older people. 

So far this year, he has met with over 40 Chief Executives and other senior leaders at housing associations and local authorities to develop strategies to reduce the number of undiscovered tenant deaths in the UK.

“I am genuinely thrilled, shocked and surprised to be recognised in this way,” said James. 

“I’d like to express my deep gratitude to everyone who made the effort to nominate me and also to my late grandmother Eveline, who first inspired me to use my expertise with technology to help older people. 

“The team at Alertacall improves and saves lives all the time, so this honour is also a huge recognition of the work everyone at Alertacall does on behalf of social housing providers all over the UK.”

This is the second time James and Alertacall have received Royal recognition, after Alertacall received The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation in 2022, the most prestigious award available to a British company. 

James was nominated for the MBE by several people from around the UK who have seen firsthand the huge social benefit of his work, as well as his extensive support for older people’s charities and other community initiatives. 

It was noted that James donates the Alertacall service to many thousands of people living in social housing, who otherwise would not have been able to benefit from it.

Nominees also highlighted James’ and Alertacall’s ongoing support for the planting of tens of thousands of trees in the Lake District, near to its head office in Windermere, as well as his work to mentor other socially focused entrepreneurs. 

To be considered for an honour, a nominee must typically have accomplished one or more outstanding achievements, been of service to the community, had a long-term significant impact and served as a positive example to others. James was made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by King Charles, having demonstrably met all these criteria.

All public honours nominations are assessed by an independent government committee for recommendation to the King, with only a few succeeding each year. Recipients of this particular honour are typically styled MBE after their name and are invited to an investiture ceremony with a member of the royal family at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle.