Bristol-based entrepreneur Rob Law, the inventor of the Trunki ride-on child’s suitcase, has received an honorary degree from the University of Bath.
Rob – who was famously turned down on Dragons’ Den – received his Doctor of Engineering degree in recognition of his exceptional achievements, including building a company which turns over £7.5m a year. A Trunki is now sold every minute somewhere in the world.
The business, which now exports to over 97 countries, moved production back to Britain from China two years ago – a decision which meant it could introduce more green measures as well as slash its shipping costs.
Prof Veronica Hope Hailey, Dean of the university’s School of Management, told at the ceremony at Bath Abbey: “Rob’s determination and success are inspiring, but all the more remarkable given the fact that he has cystic fibrosis.
“He has only relatively recently spoken publicly about living with the condition and his twin sister who lost her life to the illness when they were 15.”
Also graduating at the same ceremony was award-winning Bath student entrepreneur Tom Dewhurst who is trialling his innovative Ordable eating-out app at Bristol’s Engine Shed innovation hub, where users can order food and pay for drinks from its in-house café without leaving their table.
Tom now plans to take the idea to a number of Bath eating places.
