An Aberystwyth entrepreneur who was supported by the Welsh Government to establish a niche healthcare business now has plans to quadruple the company’s turnover – thanks to a little help from easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou.
Huw Thomas established Promove UK four years ago with support from the Welsh Government’s Business Innovation Support programme, a £28m project part funded by the EU that provides an integrated package of support for innovation, design and manufacturing.
He has now received £50,000 prize money from Sir Stelios to boost his business after being selected as the joint winner of the prestigious 2011 Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK.
The annual competition run by Sir Stelios, the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, highlights the barriers disabled people face in the workplace and recognises the outstanding achievements of disabled entrepreneurs.
Huw, who has muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair, set up Promove UK with his partner Dana four years ago. The company designs, manufactures and supplies a range of specialist lifting slings used to rescue, evacuate and transfer sick, injured, disabled or incapacitated people.
The products are designed to ensure the safe, comfortable and dignified manual lifting and handling of individuals in confined spaces where a hoist cannot be used.
Originally designed for his own use Huw, a 64 year old former research scientist in genetics, quickly realised the sling had commercial potential in a niche market and was supported by the Welsh Government to set up a business and develop the products.
Huw plans to use the prize money to expand the business and is redesigning the website, entering the e-commerce market and driving forward trade on-line to boost sales in the UK and overseas.
“The business has been steadily growing – our turnover has continued to double over the past two years – we aim to double it again this year to £150,000 and believe sales will quadruple once our e-marketing strategy kicks in. We want to increase sales in both the domestic and export markets,” he said.
Business Minister Edwina Hart said she was pleased to hear of Promove’s success and expansion plans.
“It’s always good to hear of successful innovative companies from Wales making their mark and being singled out for recognition.
“Entrepreneurship is high on our agenda – we need entrepreneurs and innovative companies bringing new products and processes to market to help stimulate the economy and I am pleased the Welsh Government has been able to support the development of Promove UK.”
Promove’s customers include the emergency services, schools and colleges, airport ground handlers, holiday organisations, shipping, care homes, social services, charities and disabled individuals.
The company also provide slings for humanitarian aid operations, which were used recently in Haiti and India.