Our former Chairman - Professor David Nicholas MBE sadly died in December 2004. He was renowned across the country for his work and achievements in encouraging and developing British innovation. In the 2003 New Year's Honours List, David was appointed MBE for services to business. His enthusiasm and faith in the potential of British inventors lead them to hail him as their 'dream' - 'an extraordinary man', 'an essentially practical and no-nonsense connector'.
David established a considerable reputation with his creation of the 'Virtual Company' concept. A Virtual Company being a unique and successful system for surrounding an inventor with all kinds of expertise, without the inventor having to provide substantial up-front funding. With the help of the Club and Business Link Wessex, WRTI Members established an enviable record of obtaining SMART awards.
David trained as a naval architect and gained considerable experience in the design and development of hovercraft concepts as a member of Sir Christopher Cockerell's original team. He later formed a company to exploit hovercraft design and became a director of Hovermarine International, helping to find funds to underwrite the project, before the business was sold to a defence-based group.
David then spent five years running the Petter Marine Division - a Hawker Siddeley group company. This involved developing and marketing a new range of lightweight diesel engines and generator sets.
Following the postion of Chairman of Impex Southern Limited, providing strategic business advice to numerous SMEs, completing over 70 innovation-based projects on behalf of the DTI. David joined Business Link Wessex in 1996 and became their Innovation and Technology Counsellor, bringing valuable experience in the preparation of business plans and forecasts and in restructuring and refocusing company objectives.
As well has his award of an MBE, David received many awards for developing innovations and inventions, including numerous SMART awards, the Archimedes Prize and the Sunday Times/Honeywell Innovation Award.
