Member Article

Green entrepreneur wins Marks and Spencer backing after pitching competition

Innovate UK grant-winning company Waterblade has scooped another award, and a chance to work with a major high-street retailer, after winning Ecobuild’s Big Innovation Pitch competition.

The competition, organised in association with Marks and Spencer, was held at the ExCel London Arena in front of an audience of 500 people, and saw five businesses pitching their innovations to a panel of judges.

Victors Waterblade, who are based in East Sussex, were founded by entrepreneur Nigel Bamford and specialise in a device for mixer taps which modify the flow of water to create a ‘jelly fish-shaped’, paper thin sheet of water which makes hand washing more ‘luxurious’ and water efficient.

Nigel and his firm will now have the opportunity to work with Marks and Spencer in trialing their device across the nationwide retailer’s stores.

Following his win, Nigel explained the boost that Innovate UK’s innovation vouchers, which are worth up to £5,000 and allow a business to pay for an external expert, provide to his business early on.

He said: “At the time I invented the Waterblade I was working full time on a different business venture and did not have any spare time or design capacity.

“This all changed when I won an innovation voucher to work with Brighton University’s product design department. I now have international intellectual property protection for the Waterblade and we are actively exploring markets in the UK, Europe and globally.”

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