Alastair Brown

BSc. (Hons) PG Dip.RSA, Grad.IOSH

The project could in many ways be seen as a combination of all of the various elements of my career to date: following completion of a BSc (Hons) Industrial Design at Napier University in 1996, I began my career with Applied Sweepers Ltd, as a development engineer working on street sweeping machines.


This work primarily related to the development of production ready solutions capable of being manufactured efficiently in house (fabrication works), or by subcontractors (Plastics and GRP). Following redundancy, I was almost immediately offered a position as a self employed designer by Applied’s sub­contract design consultant, Dawson Sellar, where I continued this previous work alongside a greater involvement in aesthetic / styling solutions and pattern making.

After several years, a career change appealed, leading to several years in London in the fast paced and challenging world of classic car sales and auctions. As well as valuable experience in sales this also afforded fantastic experience in marketing and advertising.

On returning to Scotland, a further change in direction beckoned, and the beginnings of a long association with Health and Safety and the Construction Industry whilst developing a career as a regulator with HSE, with all the challenges which accompany the role.

I have developed VEPS alongside this full time work, and whilst in my current employment with Edinburgh University as a  safety adviser.

My extensive experience of product development leads me to believe that licensing the IP to a suitably placed partner organisation is the most effective means of bringing VEPS to market.

In combining my experience and training in each of these fields I am perhaps uniquely placed to recognise and develop the identified opportunity addressed by VEPS, and to understand the legal, practical and business benefits offered.