Rob’s grasping big Paralympics business chance
AN INTERNATIONAL West Midlands wheelchair athlete who designs and manufactures gripping aids for people with disabilities is hoping to expand his global reach by meeting investors in Rio during the Paralympics.
Rob Smith, who founded Birmingham-based Active Hands, will present his company’s gym pack, in a bid to crack new markets.
The pack comprises exercise and gripping aids for people with arm and hand disabilities and will be showcased to a panel of business leaders in the hope of securing orders and attracting distributors across South America.
He is one of just five UK businesses selected to take part in the event at the British House in Rio de Janeiro after he won the Pitch At The Paras competition, run by Department for International Trade Brazil and Innovation Forum.
Mr Smith said he was excited to have the chance to showcase his products at a time when all eyes are on sporting excellence in Brazil.
“We are thrilled to represent our products and country at the Pitch at the Paras event,” he said.
“Exporting is great and has enabled us to support disabled athletes around the world. It will mean we can get information out to end users about our products so they can buy directly from us.
“We would also like to find a number of new distributors and resellers to sell our products for us into those markets.”
He began developing gripping aids following a fall in 1996 in which he suffered devastating spinal injuries which led to a ninemonth stay in hospital.
“My hand function was severely affected by the spinal cord damage so holding any items was nearly impossible,” he said.
“I couldn’t find any products on the market that allowed me to grasp items in the gym and other areas of life so I invented my own gripping aids with the help of my mother Marion and her sewing machine.”
Mr Smith began to play wheelchair rugby, winning UK and European club honours, as well as being selected for the GB development squad. He then decided to try wheelchair racing.
He is now a T52 wheelchair racer and has won the Dubai marathon four times and has represented team GB in the European championships.
My hand function was severely affected by the spinal cord damage so holding any items was nearly impossible Rob Smith