Yorkshire couple making waves with new invention

A Yorkshire couple, who have invented an ingenious water-saving device, have already won a raft of prestigious awards.

Belle and Jason Richardson, who own and run a farm in Pocklington, have created SealStop, which is an automatic shut-off device designed to plug the gap between water usage and water wastage.

It acts as a portable ballcock, which allows you to keep a tap or hose running and walk away, without the risk of overfilling your container.
After five years in the making, SealStop has now been launched on to the market with spectacular success.

Apart from winning a number of significant awards, the Richardsons have been approached by two major companies to buy SealStop, but they have said no.

Belle explained: “Our ethos is very much people first and profit second - it's about helping people not to waste water. So, we are definitely not going to sell SealStop when we’ve only just launched it. We are on an exciting journey and it would be foolish to abandon it now.

“SealStop could not be timelier. We're in the middle of a hosepipe ban after one of the driest summers on record. We all need to be aware that we're running out of fresh water, and we must be mindful how we use it. I'm not saying don't water your garden, but it's about how you do it. SealStop is the perfect solution.

“We have approached various water companies, telling them about SealStop, including Anglian Water, who are very interested and have been supportive, and Yorkshire Water. There’s no doubt that our invention could save all UK water companies so much water and ease the pressure on their ever-diminishing supply.”

Belle added: “According to Government figures, a significant portion of the global population is projected to face water scarcity by 2050, with estimates suggesting that over five billion people could experience water shortages. This is due to a combination of factors, including population growth, increased demand for water, and the impacts of climate change.”
Encouragingly, SealStop has already won Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday award; the UK Business awards start-up innovation customer satisfaction award; and One to Watch University of York Enterprise Award, sponsored by Uber.

Meanwhile, very recently, 34-year-old Belle took the invention to Climb25, a two-day festival in at the Royal Armouries in Leeds for start-ups and businesses of all sizes, investors and policymakers from across the UK and overseas. On the spot she took part in a Busk Your Business segment and won.

"I hadn't got a pitch, I just completely blagged it, and somehow I won", said Belle who worked as a radiographer for the NHS at York and Malton Hospitals before now devoting her time to SealStop.

While she was “blagging it” at Climb 25, Belle met legendary branding expert Steve Edge, designer of the iconic Star Wars Millennium Falcon and who has also worked on Raiders of the Lost Arc, among other major films. Steve was so impressed with SealStop that he offered Belle a one-to-one branding session.

She explained: “Our invention was born of necessity and, like most of the best inventions, it’s very simple. My husband Jason is a farrier and we live on a small holding with a lot of animals. I was forever over-filling the drinking troughs. Jason's brain is always on and he came up with SealStop. The diaphragm cuts off the water when it reaches the top of a container to prevent any wastage.

"SealStop can also be used in the equestrian world, in farming, for caravaners, everyday gardeners, golf clubs and builders, as well as by people who have hot tubs. As we gain momentum with our sales, we are also approaching retailers and garden centres.

“This is very much a family affair. Our sons Oscar, eight, and six-year-old Seb help pack the products in our workshop at our farm. It’s an exciting venture for them, and for us, too. So far we are delighted with our progress – out of thousands of SealStops sold, only two have been returned.”

Belle added, smiling: “This is only the start of SealStop”.