Partner Article

Potential life-savers show sign of success

A North East company is reaching new heights with their innovative product which could help to save the lives of lost or stranded hill walkers.

Michael and Susan Timmins, from Washington, have created Walksos, a lightweight package which unfolds to become a large visual signal which will be seen from a long distance by both land and air.

Michael Timmins said: “The device is really very simple, but it will give a huge advantage at a very low cost to lost or injured people who need to be located quickly by rescue services. We believe it has the potential to become an essential item within the kit of walkers and mountain leaders, and a product that will be endorsed by many professional organisations.”

Michael and Susan, who themselves are keen walkers, came up with the idea for Walksos after seeing many TV news reports which showed hill walkers who had either become lost or suffered accidents across the UK during 2008.

Michael said: “Initial research proved that there was no other product or even anything similar on the market. Therefore we began working with advisers at the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) to develop our business plan and ensure the originality, design and trade names were protected throughout the UK and Europe, which took over six months.”

The couple are now preparing to launch Walksos commercially throughout the UK and Europe in late February.

Alan Gillis, Business Adviser at the North East BIC, says: “Walksos, like many of the best business ideas, is such a simple concept that most people’s initial reaction when hearing about it is disbelief that it hasn’t been devised up until now! With the large increase in activity holidays, the couple have developed an inexpensive life-saving product which should become a must for budding and experienced walkers alike.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .