The Power of Passion, People, Purpose & Positivity

We caught up with Strathallian, Robbie MacIsaac to find out what inspired him to become an inventor, the people who helped him along the way and how since leaving Strath he has continued to embrace new learning opportunities, develop his business and pursue entrepreneurship as a career path.

It's never too early or late to have the next big idea. You can begin your journey to success at any age.

ROBBIE MACISAAC, (F ’19) ENTREPRENEUR AND INVENTOR OF THE FLUX BLOWPIPE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA WHILE STILL AT SCHOOL. To date, Robbie has received a variety of awards and accolades for his business idea including ‘UK’s Most Innovative Young Engineer 2017’ by the Manufacturing Technologies Association; Scottish Wild Card Edge Winner 2019; Scottish Young Edge Winner 2020; SIE Fresh Ideas Winner 2020; Converge Creative Runner Up 2020, and Business Insider Made in Scotland Award Finalist.

He is currently in his final year at Strathclyde University on the BEng Product Design Engineering course and during his time at the university has received support from “Strathclyde Inspire” a programme that encourages entrepreneurship and helps students on every stage of that journey. He was also invited to join the university’s Accelerator Programme and it was through this that he won a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style pitching competition funded by Santander Universities. By securing a grant of £7,300 he was able to grow MacIsaac Ltd. The company was registered in 2019 in his upper sixth year, to manufacture and bring the FLUX Blowpipe to market. Robbie has continued to receive a variety of practical advice from Strathclyde Inspire Supporters, many of whom still work with MacIsaac Ltd today.

Tell us about the FLUX Blowpipe

In a nutshell it’s every bagpipers solution to condensation from their breath’. Over time, a build-up of moisture in the pipes can pose respiratory risks for pipers, so it’s a real health issue. The moisture can also seriously affect the sound quality and condition of the pipes. The technology works to control moisture levels in the bagpipe by using differences in temperature, pressure and absorption before it can start circulating in the bag. We now manufacture and distribute the product across the world with retailers in Canada, USA, Germany,France and New Zealand, alongside The National Piping Centre and McCallum Bagpipes in Scotland. It retails at £90 which is an affordable attachment for the expensive instrument.

What inspired you to invent the FLUX?

I was a schoolboy at Strathallan when the idea first came to me. As a piper under the tutelage of Craig Muirhead, Director of Pipes & Drums, I got the chance to play all over the world in many different venues. Piping was my passion and Craig took me under his wing and believed in me, spurring me on to be the best version of myself. It was while playing one day at the Highland Games in South Uist, that I had a eureka moment and the idea for the FLUX Blowpipe was born. It was cold and wet and there was so much moisture in my bagpipes that I struggled to get them going and the sound just wasn’t right. Up to this point I had tried everything that was available on the market to remove moisture, and nothing seemed to solve the problem. So, I had to be resourceful and invent something. I went home and in the family garage I took a piece of wood and started making several prototypes. Which worked!

How did the idea and the protypes develop?

Strathallan continued to support me and Craig Wiles, Head of Design Technology at that time opened the door to invaluable resources. He was a firm believer in engaging with employers and industry partners to bring to life the world of work and offer pupils at Strathallan access to cutting edge technology. I began to use 3D printing to build on my initial design. Mr Gallier in the science department then worked closely with me on the calculations required to develop the prototype and create something that was backed by science and expertly engineered. At Strathallan there really was a true sense of belonging, of family, with everyone rooting for you.

What happened next?

It was a bit of a whirl wind and to this day I look back and can’t quite believe what happened. I was entered into the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship, the most prestigious scholarship of its type in the UK and went on to win the National MTA Technology Design and Innovation Challenge. Right up to the night before the challenge we were waiting for the patent application to be submitted. Without the help and support of a network of people around me this wouldn’t have happened including the help of a patent lawyer who was the brother of a Freeland Tutor, Mr Hamilton, at Strathallan.

I finally went on to become Captain of School at Strathallan and was proud of the fact that this was based on merit. I wasn’t a purely academic pupil, and for me being given the opportunity to take on such a responsible role instilled me with great pride. I wanted to help inspire the next generation of pupils and demonstrate through actions, hard work and with a lot of help from your friends and the Strath family you can go on to achieve.

What’s being going on since you left school?

I didn’t go to university straight away as I didn’t get the grades required so instead, I joined the Engineering Academy and went to college to study for a HNC in mechanical engineering. This meant I was then able to enter the BEng Product Design Engineering course at Strathclyde university directly into the second year. This path gave me the best opportunities for growth going forward. I’m a great advocate for perseverance, and it is to this I owe a lot of my success to. I have really enjoyed my time at Strathclyde, and they have been incredibly supportive. By joining their entrepreneur programme, Strathclyde Inspire, I was able to successfully secure funding to take my business idea for the FLUX to the next level. Also, being part of the RBS Accelerator programme there gave me access to office space, mentorship and a range of workshops on how to run a business. I have left the programme now MacIsaac Ltd is off the ground and running with a new product just released, and I am now acting as a mentor for all the upcoming entrepreneurs who are starting on their journey, and I absolutely love it. Being able to give back and contribute is something I am passionate about. One of the key things I have learnt over the years is to value, build and sustain active, vibrant networks of people. I have another company which supports young entrepreneurs who are in a similar position as I was throughout school and university, and this vibrant network is invaluable. By helping and supporting each other we can learn and grow greater.

I’ve recently come back from Denmark where I had the absolute privilege of being part of the Erasmus Exchange Programme, studying at the Danish Technology University, one of the top universities in the world for entrepreneurial skills. This exchange was supported by the Harry Riley Trust, which shows the level of support present too, for Strath alumni. Whilst there I took part in a project, Lion’s Den, it’s a little bit like Dragons Den where you pitch a business concept with the chance of winning 20,000 Kroner. I was part of a multi-cultural team who were tasked with coming up with a business idea that uses waste to create quality, long-lasting and sustainable products. Our product was a specialist work light made from recycled LCD monitors. The product itself creates uniform light of a certain colour and is perfect for intricate work as it creates very little shadow. We ended up winning the competition and since then a business has been set up called Revenant Design in the hopes that it can be developed and taken to market.

Being at Strath helped me enormously when it came to working as part of a multicultural team. During my time there I was part of a rich and diverse family from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures, and nationalities.

Do you have a top highlight?

I think one of my top highlights was when I entered the Scottish Wild Card Edge Award and ended up winning. That night I sat on a table next to Scottish businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Sir Tom Hunter. I had no idea who he was, I was a young 18-year-old and naïve. I just chatted away to him, totally oblivious. He was so generous and humble. I rattled on about my invention and he listened attentively and offered some fantastic words of wisdom. During our conversation, I asked for his email address, and he looked really surprised. He said he didn’t usually give it out but at the end of the evening he slipped me a piece of paper and low and behold his email address was on there. It wasn’t until later that I realised who he was and when I look back now, he must have thought I was very bold!

And Challenges?

On reflection, the time that presented the most challenge was during COVID-19. Having just got the FLUX Blowpipe out to market, like any business, there was a period of time where sales dried up and we went without a sale. I started to wobble a wee bit and thought that was the end of the business. I think part of my DNA is about making money and suddenly when no money was coming in, I panicked and felt really frustrated. It’s not that I am totally money orientated but I have been brought up to go out in the world and grasp the opportunity, to make your own way and as a family we have always worked hard for everything we have achieved. It was tough to keep up the positivity and believe the business was going to get through this. Thankfully once things started to open up again and pipers were back to competing, the situation started to improve and in the last 6 months sales are up consistently, at a record high and we are growing rapidly.

What’s

next Robbie?

I am looking forward to graduating from Strathclyde in May 2023. Even when I say that I can’t quite believe it. The last few years have been a whirlwind. My plan is to continue focusing on growing MacIsaac ltd by expanding the product range, penetrating new markets and building a team in sight of acquiring other businesses in the sector to be able to grow bigger and faster. Our most recent product launch which is a musical instrument humidity-controlled case is relevant to this growth and expansion. True to form though I have also been exploring other avenues. I have recently been working with a property investment company in acquisitions, helping them to find suitable property for investors to grow their portfolios. As a next step I would really like to set up my own investment consultancy focusing on property and looking at ways to guarantee investors a great return. With a strategy in place, my plan is to raise in excess of £100,000 and get to action.

As well as inventing new things I truly believe that innovation and growth is about taking what is already there and finding creative solutions to problems and being flexible. There’s an age-old adage that succeeding at something isn’t always easy but not trying is even worse. Its something I live by every day.

Robbie can be contacted at robbie@fluxsolutions.co.uk or to connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbiemacisaac

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