Ruth Amos

At only 16 years old Ruth Amos made her mark in the world of engineering by developing and marketing The Stair Steady, an invention which won her the Young Engineer for Britain competition 2006.

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The Stair Steady is a cheaper alternative to stair lifts and began as a GCSE coursework project. With the help of a supportive teacher Ruth was able to develop a prototype for her idea and entered The Young Engineers Competition. She then took the idea to a local engineering company - Advanced Engineering Techniques - who supported her in applying for a patent and setting up a company. Financial support came from her family and Ruth has now got manufacturing rights for The Stair Steady.

The Young Engineers Team have been invaluable in inspiring Ruth and providing her with a role model in the form of Tanya Budd, the 2005 winner of the Young Engineer for Britain Competition. She also says she owes a debt of gratitude to Reg Copeland, the Director of Advanced Engineering Techniques, who realised the potential of her idea.

Ruth says: “Running a business is a big responsibility and not something to be taken lightly but it is also a rewarding and life changing experience”. She thinks that fear of failure is the biggest thing holding young people back: “You don’t want to regret in later years that you never took the plunge”. Now that she has taken the plunge, her ambition knows no bounds - she’s determined to continue her education on to university and at the same time make an international name for The Stair Steady brand.