A York business that aims to encourage children to use their asthma inhalers has delivered its first shipment to the NHS- his biggest deal by far.

Will Hogge launched the Inhaler Tailor two years ago, creating “colourful and stylish” cases for those who use inhalers.

It followed a family-friend Martha Bartle, 6, from Clifton, refusing to use her own inhaler, until Will created a case with unicorn designs on, which she now proudly carries with her, calling it her ‘unicorn spray.’

The York-born 41-year-old says many users, especially children, do not like using their inhalers, but the colourful covers, making them attractive, makes it more likely they will.

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Overall, one in five people- Will included- need an inhaler, with the NHS prescribing 26 million a year.

Will who attended Bootham School, has had previous roles including developing new brands for Proctor & Gamble in Switzerland and co-founding SQUIG square-shaped sausages, which are sold in Asda and Morrisons.

The entrepreneur appeared on TV’s Dragon’s Den last February, but despite receiving much praise for his invention, none of the Dragons invested into the business.

Some of the designs available Some of the designs available (Image: Pic supplied)

On average around 30 of Will's inhalers are handmade in York every week, using environmentally-friendly vegan leather supplied from Venice, Italy.

Earlier this month, keen to raise awareness of his cases, Will was one of 30 small businesses that appeared at a Meet the Press event organised by York PR and communications experts Jo Leatham and Linda Harrison.

Will told the Press that he has been busy raising awareness of his cases by sponsoring and attending respiratory health conferences and speaking to nurses and other health workers.

It led to two bulk orders last November with two NHS trusts- Barts Health and Colchester Hospital, which were delivered this week.

Will said: “Barts Health are handing out 450 "sets" to children on their wards - a set includes an inhaler case, a spacer case and a carrying strap.”

“We home for more similar deals this year. It’s our largest deal by far.”

In the meantime, Will is working on exporting the cases and has been talking with organisations based overseas.

He expects a deal to be struck in the coming months but won’t say which countries are involved until it is all finalised.

However, the Inhaler Tailor has won a couple of awards in the past month or so. They include "Manufacturing Startup of the Year" in the Made in Yorkshire Awards and being a one of the 2025 winners of the SME Business Elite Awards.

Will added: “It’s been a long road but we are getting there. We are still unique as no-one else is doing this.”

The cases cost £12.99 and are available at: https://www.inhalertailor.com/