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Mechanical engineering student shows enterprise

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 28, 2006

Brunel University's Tanya Budd has been recognised as one of the country's leading and most innovative young entrepreneurs in the Daily Mail's Enterprising Young Brits Awards on 14th November 2006.

Brunel University's Tanya Budd has been recognised as one of the country's leading and most innovative young entrepreneurs in the Daily Mail's Enterprising Young Brits Awards on 14th November 2006.

Currently reading mechanical engineering at Brunel, Budd won the title for her man overboard recovery device, Hypo Hoist.

Beating competition from over 1000 young people aged between 13 and 30 years old who entered the awards, Budd won the competition's teen category and was presented with the award by Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Praised by marine experts for its innovative design, the Hypo Hoist recovers casualties, whether conscious or unconscious, back to the safety of the yacht in a horizontal position, minimising the possibility of further injury.

In addition to this latest accolade, Budd's invention has previously won her the Young Engineer for Britain 2005, an innovation award at this year's national IKB Awards on 26th April 2006, 4th Award in the Engineering category at Intel ISEF International Science and Engineering Fair 2006 held in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the United States Coast Guard Award for boating and water safety.

The Hypo Hoist is currently on sale for GBP 300 and has sold approximately 3000 units to date.

"It has been a real achievement just to get to the final and rub shoulders with so many other young entrepreneurs", says Budd.

"Winning really puts my name and my Hypo Hoist out there".

The Daily Mail's Enterprising Young Brits Awards were launched two years ago by the Enterprise Insight Campaign, which was established by leading business bodies including the CBI and the British Chambers of Commerce and supported by sponsors the Daily Mail and Lloyds TSB Business.

In addition to the teen group, Gordon Brown presented awards for six categories including business, innovation at work, social and environment, creative and people's choice, from which an award was chosen by over 9000 online votes.

"It is a great privilege to be here".

"Today's British young entrepreneurs are the most talented in history", said Brown.

"The entrants of these awards are energetic, dynamic young achievers who are vital for the economic future of Britain".