Inventor Ross launches his sea life-saver (From Worcester News)

Inventor Ross launches his sea life-saver

4:20pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in News By Mike Pryce

ROSS Kemp – no not him, but a younger version of the name – who works for Vax, the Droitwich floorcare firm, has won £3,000 on a television show that gives young entrepreneurs a boost with their business ideas.

A junior product designer with Vax, Mr Kemp landed a position on Be Your Own Boss, on BBC Three last night. The programme sees Innocent Smoothies founder Richard Reed choose budding talent in which to invest up to £1 million.

Mr Kemp’s idea of the Asap watercraft originated from a project at Loughborough University, where he studied industrial product design. He produced an electric power assisted alternative to a jet ski, which would allow lifeguards to reach those in the water more quickly and ultimately save more lives.

He took time off his work at Vax to develop Asap watercrafts into a business but has now returned to the firm, where he designs floor care products and continues to work on Asap watercrafts in his spare time.

Mr Kemp said: “I’m delighted to have made it this far in the process. Vax were great with allowing me time off work to foster my skills and business knowledge.

“I made some great contacts to get my product off the ground and I’m now working with lifeguards in South Africa.”

Paul Bagwell, director of new product development at Vax, who also appeared on the show, said: “I was happy to allow Ross time out of the team here to explore this exciting opportunity. “Although we missed him in the team, I knew he’d return with improved design skills which he can apply to designing products at Vax.”