News: Rotherham Entrepreneur named Young Designer of the Year 2012

Nathan Bestwick, designer of the innovative Millmii spice mill has been named as the Young Designer of the Year 2012 at the recent Plastics Industry Awards.

Launched in 2001 and now firmly established as the most respected accolade for the plastics industry, the Plastics Industry Awards reward excellence in materials usage, design and manufacturing as well as training and environmental performance.

The awards ceremony in London recognised a diverse range of plastic products and innovations, from the Trunki suitcase and safer scaffolding boards to cheap spectacles for the population of Rwanda.

Nathan, who grew up in Rotherham and studied at Sheffield Hallam University, designed the spice mill 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.

The playful and stylish design received one of the coveted awards at this year's red dot awards for product design, which were given by a 30-member jury after an evaluation process lasting several days. The product got an honourable mention due to its particularly successful detail solution.

His Yourmii business recently moved into RiDO's Matrix @ Dinnington business centre and with firm interest from John Lewis and Lakeland, sales of 15,000 units are predicted for its launch year.

Steve Crowhurst, organiser of the Plastics Industry Awards. said: "Once again we received a really high standard of entries from companies and individuals whose expertise and vision have helped to develop products which push the boundaries of what can be achieved in manufacturing.

"It was a really uplifting evening, which celebrated the versatility of plastics and the innovation driving our industry forward. The winners are to be congratulated on their achievements."

Yourmii website

Images: Yormii