15 September 2017
James Leckey honoured with prestigious Innovation Founder award
As Connect at Catalyst Inc looks forward to the culmination of the Invent Awards 2017 sponsored by Bank of Ireland UK, it announces that Mr James Leckey has been named the Innovation Founder.
James Leckey, Founder and CEO of globally recognised Leckey Design, is the eighth Innovation Founder recognised by Connect and joins an esteemed list of previous recipients – Martin Naughton KBE, Brian Conlon, Dr William Wright CBE, Dr Peter FitzGerald CBE, Tom Eakin, Dr Hugh Cormican and Prof John Anderson.
Established in 1983 with Leckey at the helm, the pioneering Lisburn based company positively changes the lives of thousands of adults and children living with disabilities through its research, design and development of postural supportive products.
Starting out working from his parents’ garden shed, 34 years on Leckey, a civil engineer, now employs over 130 staff and exports to 30 companies worldwide. Leckey has focused on innovation through collaboration with therapists, parents, carers, universities and experts around the world to create postural support products that are therapeutic, comfortable and life enhancing for leisure time in the home, school or in respite care.
With a wide range of products including the Squiggles Seating System, Squiggles Stander and Mygo, innovation is at the forefront of the business, blending inventive and award winning engineering solutions with compassion for people living with disability.
Ian Sheppard, Regional Director NI of Bank of Ireland UK, Invent 2017 sponsor, said: “Innovation is a vital instrument of entrepreneurship and James Leckey is a fantastic illustration of this. His business exemplifies the creative and commercial talent we have in Northern Ireland, highlighting the significant contribution company founders make to the local economy.”
Speaking at a special lunch with the 12 Invent 2017 finalists, James Leckey commented: “It is a great privilege to receive the Innovation Founder award. I feel especially pleased to be included within such a distinguished group of entrepreneurs. Leckey Design is a great company doing amazing work with brilliant people – I see this award as just recognition of all their passion, commitment and hard work.”
Dr Norman Apsley, CEO Catalyst Inc said: “Each year the Innovation Founder award is given to a local innovator who has successfully pushed the possibility of their business idea beyond boundaries and we are delighted to recognise the outstanding success and qualities of James Leckey through this award. James and our other Innovation Founders, come from a wide variety of sectors but they all share a common characteristic; having the tenacity and vision to develop home grown innovation into remarkable success stories. They are all a testament to the fact that in Northern Ireland, we are as capable as anywhere in the world at creating an outstanding breakthrough business.”
The award will be formally presented at the Invent Awards 2017 on 5th October 2017 at the Waterfront Conference Centre, Belfast, where more than 600 investors, entrepreneurs, executives and student innovators will gather to congratulate James Lecky and the Invent 2017 winners.
Tickets are still available at www.invent2017.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
Invent is an annual competition that showcases and rewards local innovations that promise the greatest potential. It’s an opportunity to gain high-profile exposure, to market-validate ideas, to unlock a quality network of influencers and to win a place on the NI Tech Mission to California. There’s also a prize fund of £33,000 shared by the winners.
James Leckey will receive his honour at the Invent Award finals on the night of Thursday 5th October at the Waterfront conference centre in Belfast. He joins an esteemed list of previous recipients including Martin Naughton (2016), Brian Conlon (2015), Dr William Wright CBE (2014), Dr Peter FitzGerald CBE (2013), Tom Eakin (2012), Dr Hugh Cormican (2011) and Prof John Anderson (2010).
For more information on Invent 2017, visitwww.invent2017.com or contact Invent Programme Manager, Kerry McGarvey Kerry.mcgarvey@catalyst-inc.org.
About Connect
Connect is a not-for-profit network of experienced entrepreneurs, business professionals and top research talent. We’re dedicated to the creation and scaling of innovation companies in Northern Ireland. Every year we help over 500 local entrepreneurs to aim higher and succeed faster. Based on the proven University of California Connect model, we run intensive development programmes, track NI’s knowledge economy and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit of young people. We introduce our programme participants to a network of potential investors and help plug gaps in their business knowledge. We’re supported by corporate partners, underwritten by Catalyst Inc and don’t take equity in the organisations we help. That’s because our vision is for Northern Ireland to become one of the most entrepreneurial knowledge economies in Europe by 2030.
Press Contact
Kerry McGarvey, Invent Programme Manager
Kerry.mcgarvey@catalyst-inc.org
Telephone: 02890737792