DRONE RACING IS ON THE UP, AS NEW TECH SPORT TAKES HOLD

Apparently drone-racing is a thing. FPV (first person view) drone racing is a fast-growing tech sport where pilots fly purpose-built racing drones at up to 80 miles an hour around obstacle courses.

Born in the USA, it’s now firmly in the UK and one Coventry-based entrepreneur has set up the world’s first university-dedicated drone racing company, the International Universities Drone Racing Organisation (IUDRO). The organisation, which facilitates and regulates inter-university drone racing events, wants to propel the sustainable adoption of drone technology to boost understanding of how drones are used, and their future potential.

It was set up by Aerospace Engineering undergraduate Alejandro Perez-Llabata who is now the company’s CEO.

Alejandro recently took part in a Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Growth Hub Round Table

“FPV (first person view) drone racing is a fast-growing tech sport where pilots fly purpose-built racing drones at up to 80 miles an hour around obstacle courses” held at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) at Ansty Park in Coventry.

From November 30 last year it became illegal to fly a drone or model aircraft without registering and passing a theory test.

Berkshire pet product company rocks — and secures big Canadian contract

A natural pet products company based in Maidenhead has secured an international contract with a Canadian pet supplies company which is set to increase its annual turnover by 20 per cent to £2.4 million.

Founded in 2006 by three ex-athletes with a passion for pets, Podium Pet Products develops and manufactures a wellbeing and grooming range for domestic animals which includes aloeenriched shampoo bars, soothing balms and odour eliminating candles.

The new deal will see the company’s complete range stocked in 600 PetSmart stores across Canada with this expected to extend to the chain’s American stores as well.

Podium Pet Products’ flagship product is

Dog Rocks – a natural solution to prevent dog urine marks on grass. It’s already being sold across the 1,500 PetSmart stores in the United States.

The Department for International Trade has been supporting the company since 2012 with exporting advice, market reports and trade show access grants.

Carina Evans, CEO at Podium Pet Products said: “Exporting was an important part of our business strategy from the very beginning. It was a no brainer as the North American market is huge. International contract wins are always exciting, and to be able to say that we have a relationship with all the major pet buyers in the United States and Canada is something that we are quite proud of.”

Podium Pet Products employs around half a dozen people and outsources warehousing, digital media and consultancy. The company has an annual turnover of more than £2 million, with exporting accounting for 65 per cent of this.