Today's story from the Advertiser's archives goes back 15 years to the news that an innovative young designer brought up in Helensburgh had won a major Scottish competition – and the £500,000 prize that went with it.

Here's how we reported on Peter Inglis' award win in the Advertiser on February 5, 2004...

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A PRODUCT designer who grew up in Helensburgh has won a Scottish Executive competition for young entrepreneurs.

Peter Inglis, 28, of 4c design was awarded a £50,000 SMART Award to allow him to develop an innovative new product for the boating enthusiasts and mountaineers.

The money will allow Peter, along with business partners Nick Lonie and Robin Smith, to produce Hot Blade, a cutting device for the climbing and maritime industries.

Peter, who was born in Helensburgh and moved to Stuckenduff when he was two, attended Rhu Primary and then Lomond School.

After graduating from a product and design course at Glasgow University and Glasgow School of Art, he turned down job offers and went into business in February 2002.

The company has since picked up several awards.

They were runners-up in the Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year, a regional finalist in the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust/Royal Bank of Scotland Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards and have picked up numerous design awards.

They now also work with major companies including Land Rover, and many of their products relate to the maritime industry.

Peter, whose family still live in Shandon and Helensburgh, started learning to sail when he was six and is also working with another company to get an award-winning life-raft design into production.

He said: “I have got a bit of a sailing background so that’s probably helped with the products that we do, rather than being the reason for them.”

And it might not be long before the company’s products become widely available.

“We would like to see the products reaching markets and becoming successful, although we’ll probably keep the consultancy angle going as well,” Peter added.