Ideas Competition results in win for “Anywayup bin”

Friday 29th July, 2005

UMIC is The University of Manchester’s Facilities and Business Management Company for its growing portfolio of Incubators. With a small team of 6 staff, it has been providing these services for the past 6 years at the world-leading Manchester Incubator Building and will now provide these services across a number of facilities, in all market sectors.

The Ideas Competition was launched in December 04 and by the closing date in April, over 100 ideas had been received primarily from inventors in the North West region.

Through a rigorous appraisal process involving further feedback from the applicants regarding questions on the market, the competition and barriers to entry, a final list of 10 was selected by July 05. The winner, Mr. Terry Singleton a City Council employee, won the £1000 cash prize, certificate and champagne for his concept called the “anyway up bin”, a weight-loaded controlled waste and recycling bin that prevents injury when lifting and handling the contents. Terry is also being provided with business mentoring services by UMIC, as part of their European Regional Development Funding.

Dr Linda Magee, Head of BIONOW (Biotech sector cluster, NWDA) presents Mr Terry Singleton with his award for first prize.

On Monday 25th July, in Hickman’s restaurant at the Manchester Incubator building, on Grafton Street, over 100 invited guests attended the event to showcase the finalists’ concepts and prototypes and to hear the announcement of the winner by Martino Picardo, General Manager, UMIC and presentation of awards, by Dr. Linda Magee, Head of BIONOW (Biotech sector cluster, NWDA). Linda indicated her delight in supporting the event and the overall support that is available through the NWDA for inventors and SMEs through seed funding, consultancy services as well as through specific activities such as Techinvest. Guests included investors, business advisors as well as family and friends of the finalists. Of the evening Jennifer Raffle, Director, Manchester Technology Fund commented “I thoroughly enjoyed it and in particular the showcasing of real products that could all be very close to market”.

Martino took the opportunity to explain how 110 ideas had been narrowed down to the final 10 and how the selection of the winner had proven to be extremely difficult. One finalist, Mr. Akbar Darabi-Ford (who presented his protective face mask concept) had travelled from London to be present. Other runners-up included David Roughley, with an idea for leak detection; Jon Price (Telutami Ltd) with a concept for a lightweight emergency evacuation system for use where standard stretchers cannot be deployed; Benchmark Technologies Ltd., with a concept for an automatic self-flood defence and chemical containment system for domestic and light industrial applications and Nick Rawcliffe presented a concept called the hip chair. Gabrielle Lukes-Mooney (who could not attend) also received a runners up award (certificate and champagne) had developed a novel device for dispensing bin bags.

Moving on to the four winners, Sam Worthington (Worthington Sharpe Ltd.) received an award with special merit, sponsored by B2Binteractive Ltd. for his novel three dimensional mouse; Sam will receive a free technology report to be prepared by B2Bi Ltd. staff, who have assisted with the Ideas Competition throughout.

Gareth Mitchell (Tree2mydoor Ltd.) received the £250 cash prize for his development of the UK’s first sustainable gifts company offering a range of eco-friendly gift products, including trees. Clayton Roudette won second prize for his concept called the Tikki, an easy to erect building unit for domestic outdoor leisure activity, receiving the £500 cash prize.

Finally, Terry Singleton, was presented with his winning award for his “anywayup bin”, a concept that the entire judging panel believed had great potential as a marketable product. Mr. Singleton commented “I’m over the moon at having won this prestigious award, over such obviously talented competitors and I’m sure all those involved in the competition recognise the efforts of Martino and his team at UMIC and would wish to thank them for all their advice and support in taking their ideas to market.”

Aldo de Leonibus, B2Binteractive proposed that the competition had potential to become an important annual event for the region.

All Finalists will be offered further business mentoring services by UMIC, through Martino Picardo’s team and with additional assistance from the North Campus ICT/Hi-Tech Incubator, UMIP and MSEC, these concepts and their respective inventors should be well equipped to deliver their products to the market in the near future. There will also be an opportunity for all the finalists to participate in the Ideas Factory Event that is being scheduled for BEX (Business Exchange Conference) in Manchester, in November. Martino also took the opportunity to thank all UMIC’s sponsors and collaborators with the marketing, management and judging of the event, including B2Bi, UMIP, MSEC, University of Manchester, TIDE, Ideas 21 and the Central Library Patent clinic team.

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