Above: Ebac founder John Elliott is helping Andy manufacture his latest invention
Below: Beverage trolley, Andy’s patented beverage trolley which is already being used by the NHS
“How many people are out there who have
ideas but they don’t know what to do with
them?” he said.
“Initial ideas, I think of quite often but most of
them are no good.. I’m constantly looking at
problems, and when you look at problems you
try to think of a solution. There are problems
bouncing at you every day. With every problem
there may be an opportunity.
“I went through a massive learning curve, from
having just a basic concept to taking it into
production. The prototype cost me £6.20. – four
laser pens purchased from Ebay were stripped
and inserted into a piece of wood. Four years
later it’s being sold worldwide. It is possible.
”
Andy has been made one of a handful of
Ambassadors at NETPark.
“I don’t think I’ve been appointed to that role for
my intelligence, he laughs.
”
“But probably more because of my experience
in getting a product from concept to market,
and through my experience as to how Netpark
can accommodate other people in similar
situations.
“It’s all about NETPark, and what it should be
doing to remain one of the best science and
innovation parks in the UK.
“We’re able to access patent searches now
at NETPark, which is a job in itself. It’s a
minefield and you need expert advice to get you
through it. It can be quite a stressful and costly
process.
”
“John mentioned a small problem he had in his
factory and I worked on a solution for him. The
relationship developed from there and John is
always there to speak to. I feel very lucky to
have his ear and advise on a regular basis. He’s
a great bloke and has a great family. I think the
current growth at Ebac reflects their hard work
and determination.
”
Getting his idea from the back of a beer mat to
the mass market was a steep learning curve for
Andy, he admits, but now at NETPark he’s at a
place where a lot of companies have already, or
are trying to do the same thing. Its helps to be
in an environment like this.
Good job, as well, given that he thinks of new
ideas on a regular basis.
As well as his NHS projects, Andy has two
other next big things. One - another “simple”
idea - is making special pedestrian lollypops
more visible using a piece of material from
known as EL paper (electro-luminescent),
which illuminates the lollypop from behind the
traditional reflective material. It’s currently being
trialled in Durham and was recently featured on
BBC Look North.
However, his most exciting more technical
project is one that has attracted the attention,
and now backed by finance by two big players.
Andy has devised a safety invention, initially
designed to market in the oil and gas sectors,
which has already been tested in an offshore
environment, and could potentially save lives.
In a fire, and in a pitch black environment, it
creates a safe illuminated corridor for staff to
evacuate from buildings.
One investor is Bill Scott, North-East
Entrepreneur of the Year winner and also owner
of the huge employer - Wilton Group, which sits
under the shadow of the Transporter Bridge on
the banks of the River Tees. The other is also
successful Newcastle-based businessman
David Frame, and they have invested a six-figure
sum to become shareholders in Andy’s offshoot company Bright Route and its new ‘Fast
Out, Safe In’ system.
The busy businessmen both spend one day a
week at NETPark developing the concept.
“I’ve got a big chunk of their time working on
this and giving the project financial support,
”
says Andy.
“Billl and David bring diverse disciplines the
business, which totally complement the
product.
“You need to realise you can’t go it alone. It’s
no good gettin