British Airways is looking for British talent

WashDryIron is a washing machine that IRONS clothes.

Dirty clothes go in and come out on a hanger crease free and ready to wear. It is green too, sharing water and electricity.

I have built over 1000 prototypes in the last 4 years. However I am still in need of some key industrial information from a business situated on the other side of the world. The science works, although the prototype has to be reformed to make the project commercially viable. To do this I need to visit two businesses in New Zealand. One is a manufacturer of component parts and the other is a large commercial laundry.

The information I need cannot be obtained over the phone or by email - I've tried! I need to be on the ground and see the machinery working and talk with the operators and engineers.

You could say I was meant to be an inventor- My early inventions were at a young age. The first one that comes to mind is the ‘24hr toaster’ - a toaster that took all day to cook your toast - great if you remembered the day before! Next was a magnetic roof rack…that slid off the car when it rained! From the age of 13 I studied on an Art and Design Scholarship, wishing to pursue architecture. However, after my GCSE's this was highly discouraged (by my maths teacher!) so my new focus was Industrial Design. Having completed my A-levels (A A B) I went to Brunel University to study Industrial Design and Engineering. After 6 months I found myself on the wrong course and enjoying neither the studying nor the university life, I returned home. The following day I found myself in an interview for a factory worker job, gluing and painting. There I was, somewhat disappointed to say the least. After a couple of weeks I was invited into the office to help out the designer, and there it all started. I then moved to Finland for the installation of an aquarium for the UK Company. On my return home, I found that the company was bankrupt and I was jobless. At this point I figured that a degree would be the best move. I spent the next 3 years studying Industrial Design at Plymouth University. 3 years went by very quickly especially as I only had a few hours contact time a week. So I thought, why don't I set up my business now and really utilise the time. Oliver Blackwell Design began that day. Since graduating I have worked on everything from agricultural machines through to luggage.

In 2005 I was awarded ‘The Daily Mail Designer of the Year’ (James Dyson won the same award in 1995). The product I designed was WashDryIron, the World’s first drumless washing machine that irons clothes.

I have set up production lines in both China and New Zealand and have managed a $12m project. Summer 2009 I am launching another of my products, Revolution Ball, (www.revolutionball.com)