MINISTER MEETS GRIPPLE’S
THRIVING YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
Three young entrepreneurs who launched their ‘game changing’ products onto the market in the last year with the help of Sheffield-based Gripple ‘showed them off’ to the Business Secretary at the company which is one of the UK’s most innovative and progressive manufacturers.
After touring Gripple’s manufacturing area and seeing how the company’s unique products are made Vince Cable was introduced to the ‘cubs’, the rising stars of Incub, the company’s scheme which helps budding entrepreneurs to fast-track their product concepts by providing its expertise and facilities. Mr Cable was in Sheffield to speak at the MADE entrepreneurial festival about the Government’s support for young business people with a new start-up scheme.
Lucy Nuttall, of Frontline Forensics, described NuCast180, her quick-drying forensics cast material, Nathan Bestwick, of Yormii, presented his revolutionary pepper mill, Millmii; and André Ferreira explained how VuAir, his remote-controlled aerial video machine, works – all of whom are now managing directors of their own companies.
Vince Cable said: “Gripple is exactly the kind of enterprise which helps to boost our economy – hi-tech, highly skilled with an impressive export record. Sheffield is a hotbed for these kinds of success stories. The Yorkshire region has a wide range of growing businesses, particularly in the manufacturing sector, and we want to see more.”
Incub is always looking to bring more ‘cubs’ to commercial maturity and on Friday November 16th it is holding a product ideas ‘boot camp’ in its ideas and innovations facility when the ideas of up to six potential entrepreneurs will be evaluated from a technical and market perspective. Those considered promising will be offered further support via Incub’s ‘cublet’ or ‘cub’ schemes.
Incub is also offering a flexible support package to four promising entrepreneurs which could help them take their original, problem-solving, B2B idea from drawing board to patented prototype in just four weeks. Successful budding entrepreneurs could then go on to be Incub ‘cubs’ and be supported to see their concepts going onto the market.
Gordon Macrae, Gripple’s special projects manager, said: “”Incub’s collaborative approach to developing young entrepreneurs’ exceptional ideas is unique. We are extremely proud of the ‘cubs which have already been ‘under its wing’ and we wish them every success in the future.”
Anyone who has an idea which could be a ‘game changer’ should visit incub.co.uk and contact Gordon Macrae at [email protected].
