Wherever you live or work, we’re pretty confident you’ll have used at least one of his inventions today but we’re pretty certain you won’t know it was developed by Buxton-born Dr John C Taylor OBE.

Thanks to Dr Taylor there’s no need to keep your eye on the time (or the kettle) when boiling water because back in the 1970s the clock expert invented the thermostatic control which turns a kettle off once it has boiled, making kettles safer and saving energy. If you’ve ever wondered why your kettle clicks when it’s boiled, that’s Dr Taylor’s invention.

Dr Taylor’s invention is proof that a simple idea, coupled with a desire to make things better for people and a passion for innovation, can translate into long term business success. At the head of Derbyshire based company Otter Controls, he began exporting his small thermostatic control to Germany during the 1960s and it took off in a big way. Now, still being made, it is estimated that almost one billion of the metal devices have been manufactured. Dr Taylor has continued to innovate throughout his life, and has over 400 patents to his name.

Local businesses, students and inventors who would like to hear Dr Taylor’s story will have an opportunity to meet him on his visit to Nottingham in November. He will be the key speaker at a special event on 14 November, held at Nottingham Sustainability & Enterprise Centre in Cinderhill, Nottingham.

This special event is run in partnership with the D2N2 Growth Hub, supported by the European Regional Development Fund and is part of the GreenTechTalks programme, a regular, free networking and business advice session run by Nottingham City Council’s Growth Hub team and local intellectual property experts Patent Outsourcing Limited.

The GreenTechTalks programme benefits local manufacturing and low carbon businesses by providing them with sector-specific support about recruitment, training and funding. Businesses can also arrange a free one-to-one with the Growth Hub’s Tracey Hylton-Burows an experienced account manager who can provide bespoke advice to businesses.

Councillor Sam Webster, Portfolio Holder for Business, Education and Skills at Nottingham City Council, said; “Nottingham City Council is committed to supporting local businesses to develop in Nottingham’s growing economy by providing free events like these. The message to local businesses is that these events give them access to free advice about reducing their costs through adopting carbon-efficient technology; I hope that many of them will consider coming along.

“What makes GreenTechTalks so special is their small scale which makes it possible for local businesses, from start-ups to established SMEs to speak to their peers and spend quality time in the company of industry experts who can help them access the funding available to support them to grow.”

Dr John C Taylor said; “I’m always happy to share my thoughts on innovation, so I’m very pleased to have been invited to speak by Nottingham City Council.  Innovation is the lifeblood of our economy and it’s of the utmost importance that we nurture those students, entrepreneurs and businesses who will provide the original, sustainable ideas of the future.”

Book your place at the next GreenTechTalks here – https://bit.ly/2y4MQLZ

Dr John C Taylor’s website: https://www.johnctaylor.com