Celia Gates

After noticing her grandmother struggling with conventional straight handled saucepans Celia invented a range of ergonomic pans while taking the brave step of self-funding her venture.

Like all the best ideas, doctor cook is a simple invention that solves a serious problem. Celia Gates conceived the idea for an ergonomic range of saucepans when she noticed her grandmother, who suffers from osteo-arthritis, struggling with a conventional pan.

The Doctor Cook range features an easy grip handle that allows the user to manipulate a full saucepan without bending the wrist at an awkward angle.

Celia was educated in Italy and the UK and speaks several languages, this coupled with her degree in industrial design and technology has given her the skills and education as well as the confidence to launch Doctor Cook to an international market.

However, developing and fine tuning the product has been a long and difficult journey, from initial prototypes using conventional saucepans and off cuts from broom handles through to extensive research and consultation with doctors, physiotherapists, occupational health therapists, professional chefs and regular saucepan-users to finetune the design.

Alongside this extensive product development there was branding research to do and consultation with various manufacturers about the logistics of getting Doctor Cook made. Celia has funded all of this work herself turning down offers of sponsorship and selling her house to raise capital; as a result she still owns 100 per cent of Doctor Cook.

She has been encouraged and inspired by Kane Kramer organiser of the British Inventions Show and inventor of the MP3 player; someone she describes as her mentor and friend. She has also joined the east London Inventors Club and The British Invention Society, networks that provide her with support and advice. She says she likes “the team spirit that exists amongst members and the friendships and joint ventures that form as a result”.

Celia says that her aim “is to wipe out the pain and strain of cooking caused by straight handles” and with the British design council describing Doctor Cook as “a watershed in cookware design” and numerous awards under her belt, she is well on her way to realising her ambition.