Everyone has ideas. They may be too busy or lack the confidence or technical ability to carry them out. But I want to carry them out. It is a matter of getting up and doing it.

The important thing is to learn from mistakes - something graduates are adept at. Our graduate engineers are working on new technology - from uncharted applications for our digital motor, to a new take on the hand dryer. With an unhindered mind, nothing is off limits.

Enjoy failure and learn from it. You never learn from success.

Fear is always a good motivator.

Cordless vacuums are designed for quick jobs, but you need enough power to do the job; you don't want the power waning over time.

Designing aircraft and racing cars is an extremely exciting thing.

Having a good idea is one thing, but persuading other people to buy it is quite another. Good inventors are polymaths: they think with their hands and their brains. They're experts in design, engineering and business.