News: Rotherham entrepreneur partners with Gripple to launch Millme
A Rotherham graduate is on the brink of launching his unique range of kitchen implements on the world market.
Nathan Bestwick, 25, who grew up in Rotherham and studied at Sheffield Hallam University, is setting up his new kitchenware brand in partnership with Sheffield-based company Gripple, under its "Incub" programme which nurtures local inventors with the aim of creating future jobs in South Yorkshire.
With several enterprise awards already under his belt for his "Millme" spice mill, Nathan is on track to put his first products into manufacture within a year and take on the big brands of kitchenware. The spice mill has been designed so that it can be used by people who have limited strength or dexterity in their hands and works by being rolled in the hands without any need to grip or twist.
Shortly after graduating Nathan launched a product and graphic design consultancy called If? Works, which grew from RiDO's Fusion @ Magna Business Centre in Rotherham. He has since set up an employee-owned kitchenware company for which a name has yet to be chosen.
He says that the invaluable support he has received both from the Entrepreneur Exchange at Business and Education South Yorkshire (b&e) in Rotherham and Incub has helped him along the difficult journey of protecting and promoting his unique design.
Nathan said: "The most exciting aspect of it all is that the company will be testament to South Yorkshire's prowess in manufacturing and design, and because it will be employee owned, it will serve our region for many years to come, and hopefully become a company that Sheffield can be proud to say is theirs. But first I have got to get my premier product to market and hope that it sells like hot cakes!
"I have started developing my products for manufacture and will be setting up meetings with retailers like John Lewis in the next few months, with the aim of getting the products into the shops by the end of this year."
Nathan's business dream began while he was a student on the industrial design course at Sheffield Hallam University and came up with the idea for his spice mill which works by being rolled in the hands without any need to grip or twist – making it ideal for people who suffer from arthritis and other conditions which restrict the movement of the hands.
He went on to work on a range of kitchen items which can be used by people with limited dexterity, but which are so attractive and practical they will be sought after by all types of consumer.
Nathan was listed in the Shell Livewire Hot 40 2010 and was voted Most Enterprising Student in Central England in 2007.
Jim Lawson of the Entrepreneur Exchange added: "This new company is a great achievement for Nathan and also demonstrates the importance of the Entrepreneur Exchange's contribution to boosting the economy of the Sheffield city region."
If?Works website
Images: B&ESY
Nathan Bestwick, 25, who grew up in Rotherham and studied at Sheffield Hallam University, is setting up his new kitchenware brand in partnership with Sheffield-based company Gripple, under its "Incub" programme which nurtures local inventors with the aim of creating future jobs in South Yorkshire.
With several enterprise awards already under his belt for his "Millme" spice mill, Nathan is on track to put his first products into manufacture within a year and take on the big brands of kitchenware. The spice mill has been designed so that it can be used by people who have limited strength or dexterity in their hands and works by being rolled in the hands without any need to grip or twist.
Shortly after graduating Nathan launched a product and graphic design consultancy called If? Works, which grew from RiDO's Fusion @ Magna Business Centre in Rotherham. He has since set up an employee-owned kitchenware company for which a name has yet to be chosen.
He says that the invaluable support he has received both from the Entrepreneur Exchange at Business and Education South Yorkshire (b&e) in Rotherham and Incub has helped him along the difficult journey of protecting and promoting his unique design.
Nathan said: "The most exciting aspect of it all is that the company will be testament to South Yorkshire's prowess in manufacturing and design, and because it will be employee owned, it will serve our region for many years to come, and hopefully become a company that Sheffield can be proud to say is theirs. But first I have got to get my premier product to market and hope that it sells like hot cakes!
"I have started developing my products for manufacture and will be setting up meetings with retailers like John Lewis in the next few months, with the aim of getting the products into the shops by the end of this year."
Nathan's business dream began while he was a student on the industrial design course at Sheffield Hallam University and came up with the idea for his spice mill which works by being rolled in the hands without any need to grip or twist – making it ideal for people who suffer from arthritis and other conditions which restrict the movement of the hands.
He went on to work on a range of kitchen items which can be used by people with limited dexterity, but which are so attractive and practical they will be sought after by all types of consumer.
Nathan was listed in the Shell Livewire Hot 40 2010 and was voted Most Enterprising Student in Central England in 2007.
Jim Lawson of the Entrepreneur Exchange added: "This new company is a great achievement for Nathan and also demonstrates the importance of the Entrepreneur Exchange's contribution to boosting the economy of the Sheffield city region."
If?Works website
Images: B&ESY
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