Latest news with #AndrewFlynn
STV News
7 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Scottish start-up transforms discarded fishing gear into plant pots
A Glasgow business has created the world's first plant pot made from traceable marine plastic waste. POTR developed the 'Ocean Pot' in 2019 using discarded fishing gear recovered from UK coastlines. It comes amid concerns over marine pollution, with Scotland generating significantly more plastic waste from the fishing and aquaculture industry than England. The Ocean Pot's origami-inspired design ensures it can be shipped flat-packed, reducing transport emissions by up to 100 times compared to traditional ceramic or plastic pots. Once unfolded, a self-watering system using a cotton cord helps plants control hydration with minimal waste. Each created pot has a QR code linking it to the specific beaches and harbours where the material was found. POTR's initial Ocean Pot release in 2022 sold out quickly, but scaling production proved challenging due to fragmented supply chains. However, a new partnership with Waterhaul – specialists in recovering, recycling, and manufacturing adventure products from marine plastic in the UK – has enabled POTR to meet increasing demand. Andrew Flynn, POTR's founder, said: 'I was in Skye recently, and while it's one of the most beautiful places in the world, the amount of marine waste on the west coast is staggering. 'Waste is choking our shoreline – surely there is something that can be done to make it useful. 'We're huge admirers of Waterhaul and the work they do, and to partner with them is a major step forward. Traceability makes it real for people. 'The more transparent the journey, the more it sparks conversations and makes people realise they can be part of the solution.' Since its creation POTR has shipped to over 50 countries and secured retail partnerships with Uncommon Goods, John Lewis, and Bloom & Wild. Harry Dennis, co-founder of social enterprise Waterhaul, said: 'Ghost gear is the most damaging form of plastic in the sea. 'Working with POTR means we can take that material and turn it into something useful, something beautiful, something people want in their homes. 'They care about the process as much as the product. These pots are traceable back to the beach the net came from. 'That level of transparency matters. It shows what's possible. 'This could easily be one of the most efficient recycling-to-product models in UK consumer manufacturing.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Glasgow Times
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow start-up POTR create Ocean Pot using marine waste
POTR, based in Glasgow, developed the Ocean Pot using discarded fishing gear recovered from UK coastlines. Each pot has a QR code linking it to the specific beaches and harbours where the material was found. This comes amid concerns over marine pollution. Read more: Band behind Teenage Dirtbag to perform iconic debut album in full in Glasgow Scotland generates significantly more plastic waste from the fishing and aquaculture industry than England. Andrew Flynn, POTR's founder, said: "I was in Skye recently, and while it's one of the most beautiful places in the world, the amount of marine waste on the west coast is staggering. "Waste is choking our shoreline – surely there is something that can be done to make it useful. 'We're huge admirers of Waterhaul and the work they do, and to partner with them is a major step forward. "Traceability makes it real for people. "The more transparent the journey, the more it sparks conversations and makes people realise they can be part of the solution." The Ocean Pot's origami-inspired design ensures it can be shipped flat-packed, reducing transport emissions by up to 100 times compared to traditional ceramic or plastic pots. Once unfolded, a self-watering system using a cotton cord helps plants control hydration with minimal waste. POTR's initial Ocean Pot release in 2022 sold out quickly, but scaling production proved challenging due to fragmented supply chains. Its new partnership with Waterhaul – specialists in recovering, recycling, and manufacturing adventure products from marine plastic in the UK – enables POTR to meet increasing demand. Read more: 'Wildly excited': Date revealed for award-winning musical's Glasgow premiere Harry Dennis, co-founder of social enterprise Waterhaul, said: "Ghost gear is the most damaging form of plastic in the sea. "Working with POTR means we can take that material and turn it into something useful, something beautiful, something people want in their homes. 'They care about the process as much as the product. "These pots are traceable back to the beach the net came from. "That level of transparency matters. "It shows what's possible. "This could easily be one of the most efficient recycling-to-product models in UK consumer manufacturing." Since its creation in 2019, POTR has shipped to over 50 countries and secured retail partnerships with Uncommon Goods, John Lewis, and Bloom & Wild. Its new Ocean Pot will be available for purchase from Friday, 16 May, with prices starting at £22, available exclusively on the POTR website.
Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Brit vying for World's Strongest Man - 8,000 calorie diet and insane gym routine
Meet Andrew Flynn, the British dad, railway worker and strongman smashing 8,000-calorie days and epic garden workouts as he takes on the world's elite at World's Strongest Man 2025 A British powerlifter is gearing up for the fight of his life, taking on other titans of strength at the 2025 World's Strongest Man competition. Andrew Flynn, from East Sussex, has officially made his debut at the iconic contest, which kicked off in Sacramento, California, on 15 May. The man behind the massive lifts and even bigger meals i s a down-to-earth dad juggling it all. Andrew has a full-time day job in materials control at Southern Railway and a homegrown training regime that's anything but conventional, The Sun reports. From trains to tyres Born on 12 April 1992, Andrew stands at an imposing 6ft 2in and weighs in at around 138–142kg (22 stone). He lives in Peacehaven but is from nearby Lancing. The 33-year-old only entered the strongman scene nationally in 2021, coming seventh in UK's Strongest Man. But he quickly made waves, rising to fourth in 2023 and bagging back-to-back third-place finishes in 2024 and 2025, which earned him a spot on the world stage. At Britain's Strongest Man 2025, Andrew came out singing, winning the medley event, taking second in the log lift, and finishing a solid fourth in the iconic Atlas Stones challenge. He's also been making a name for himself in Europe's Strongest Man and the Giants Live Strongman Classic. Dad first, then strongman Despite the brutal demands of training and competing, Andrew is a devoted family man, he regularly credits his wife and children as his driving force, saying their support has been vital in helping him climb to the top. Gruelling training routine Andrew keeps things simple, there are no glitzy gyms as Andrew trains four times a week in his back garden. Each session stretches beyond three hours, and often follows a full shift at work. Andrew consumes between 5,200 and 8,000 calories a day to keep up with the physical toll. His meals are jam-packed with protein, carbs and fats, with hefty portions of meat, veg and complex carbs to power through punishing routines. Early in his career, Andrew was sidelined by a major bicep injury, but instead of stopping, he came back stronger. Dubbed 'Flying Flynn' in the strongman world, he's earned a reputation for speed, grit and surprising resilience. Andrew said: 'My nickname in strongman is Flying Flynn. When I first started, I'd been playing rugby, so I was a lot lighter, a lot more mobile. I've still got that speed there, so I've always been good at the moving events. I don't really feel pain if I'm doing an event like that.' Just a lad from East Sussex Andrew admits stepping onto the World's Strongest Man stage still feels surreal especially going toe-to-toe with global icons of the sport. He said: 'It's easy to put people on a pedestal and think people are larger than life. On one hand, it's hard to tell people it's attainable because it's obviously very hard to get to that level and it's taken me ten years to do it, but they're human as well.' With the likes of strongman royalty including Scotland 's Stoltman brothers, Luke and Tom also vying for the crown, Andrew knows the competition will be fierce. Regardless of the legends around him, Andrew has proven he can hold his own and isn't there just to make up numbers.
Scottish Sun
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Who is Andrew Flynn? Meet the powerlifter competing in World's Strongest Man 2025
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITISH strongman and powerlifter Andrew Flynn is making his debut at World's Strongest Man 2025. The qualifying round of the competition in Sacramento, California kicked off on May 15 — here's everything you need to know. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Andrew Flynn is competing at World's Strongest Man foe the first time in 2025 Credit: Instagram @flynnflyflynn Who is Andrew Flynn? Andrew Flynn was born on April 12, 1992 and stands at 6ft 2in tall, weighing approximately 138–142kg. He hails from Lancing and currently lives in Peacehaven, both in East Sussex. Andrew balances his strongman career with his day job in materials control at Southern Railway. He began competing at the national level in 2021, initially placing seventh in the UK's Strongest Man. Over the next few years, he consistently improved, achieving fourth place in 2023, third in 2024 and 2025 at the same event, securing qualification for the World's Strongest Man. At Britain's Strongest Man 2025, he excelled in the medley, winning the event, placed second in the log lift, and also finished fourth in the Atlas Stones. He has also competed in Europe's Strongest Man and the Giants Live Strongman Classic, regularly placing in the top half of the field. Family man Andrew is a devoted family man, balancing his demanding strongman career with his responsibilities as a husband and father of two. He often credits his family as his greatest motivation, emphasising how their support and encouragement have fuelled his journey to the top of the strongman world. Despite the rigorous demands of training and competition, he prioritises spending quality time with his loved ones. Shock moment ex-World's Strongest Man & MMA fighter Eddie Hall chases driver screaming 'I'll rip your f***ing head off' Unconventional training Andrew's training approach is a bit different to most competitors — he trains four times a week in his garden. His sessions are intense, often lasting longer than three hours after a full day's work. Nutrition is a critical part of Andrew's regimen — he consumes between 5,200 and 8,000 calories daily, with a diet rich in protein, carbohydrates and fats. His everyday meals are substantial, with large portions of meat, vegetables and complex carbohydrates, reflecting the immense energy requirements of elite strongman athletes. Overcoming injury Andrew overcame a significant bicep injury early in his career, which sidelined him from major competitions. It's still odd. Especially now when you're meeting World's Strongest Man finalists and then I'm there like 'hi'. It's easy to put people on a pedestal and think people are larger than life Andrew Flynn But it also ultimately fuelled his determination to return stronger. Known as the 'Flying Flynn' in the strongman community, his resilience and work ethic have earned him a reputation as an underdog who consistently exceeds expectations. Andrew said: 'My nickname in strongman is Flying Flynn. When I first started, I'd been playing rugby, so I was a lot lighter, a lot more mobile. "I've still got that speed there, so I've always been good at the moving events. I don't really feel pain if I'm doing an event like that.' 2025 World's Strongest Man Andrew's debut at World's Strongest Man 2025 marks a significant milestone in his career. As he explained: 'It's still odd. Especially now when you're meeting World's Strongest Man finalists and then I'm there like 'hi'. It's easy to put people on a pedestal and think people are larger than life. "On one hand, it's hard to tell people it's attainable because it's obviously very hard to get to that level and it's taken me ten years to do it, but they're human as well. "It's about taking the veil down really. You understand the hard work that everyone's put in." He'll be facing off against the biggest names in the game, including 'Strongest Brothers in the World' Luke and Tom Stoltman, ads well as newcomers including
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Who is Andrew Flynn? Meet the powerlifter competing in World's Strongest Man 2025
BRITISH strongman and powerlifter Andrew Flynn is making his debut at World's Strongest Man 2025. The qualifying round of the competition in Sacramento, California kicked off on May 15 — here's everything you need to know. 1 Who is Andrew Flynn? Andrew Flynn was born on April 12, 1992 and stands at 6ft 2in tall, weighing approximately 138–142kg. He hails from Lancing and currently lives in Peacehaven, both in East Sussex. Andrew balances his strongman career with his day job in materials control at Southern Railway. He began competing at the national level in 2021, initially placing seventh in the UK's Strongest Man. Over the next few years, he consistently improved, achieving fourth place in 2023, third in 2024 and 2025 at the same event, securing qualification for the World's Strongest Man. At Britain's Strongest Man 2025, he excelled in the medley, winning the event, placed second in the log lift, and also finished fourth in the Atlas Stones. He has also competed in Europe's Strongest Man and the Giants Live Strongman Classic, regularly placing in the top half of the field. Family man Andrew is a devoted family man, balancing his demanding strongman career with his responsibilities as a husband and father of two. He often credits his family as his greatest motivation, emphasising how their support and encouragement have fuelled his journey to the top of the strongman world. Despite the rigorous demands of training and competition, he prioritises spending quality time with his loved ones. Shock moment ex-World's Strongest Man & MMA fighter Eddie Hall chases driver screaming 'I'll rip your f***ing head off' Unconventional training Andrew's training approach is a bit different to most competitors — he trains four times a week in his garden. His sessions are intense, often lasting longer than three hours after a full day's work. Nutrition is a critical part of Andrew's regimen — he consumes between 5,200 and 8,000 calories daily, with a diet rich in protein, carbohydrates and fats. His everyday meals are substantial, with large portions of meat, vegetables and complex carbohydrates, reflecting the immense energy requirements of elite strongman athletes. Overcoming injury Andrew overcame a significant bicep injury early in his career, which sidelined him from major competitions. It's still odd. Especially now when you're meeting World's Strongest Man finalists and then I'm there like 'hi'. It's easy to put people on a pedestal and think people are larger than life Andrew Flynn But it also ultimately fuelled his determination to return stronger. Known as the 'Flying Flynn' in the strongman community, his resilience and work ethic have earned him a reputation as an underdog who consistently exceeds expectations. Andrew said: 'My nickname in strongman is Flying Flynn. When I first started, I'd been playing rugby, so I was a lot lighter, a lot more mobile. "I've still got that speed there, so I've always been good at the moving events. I don't really feel pain if I'm doing an event like that.' 2025 World's Strongest Man Andrew's debut at World's Strongest Man 2025 marks a significant milestone in his career. As he explained: 'It's still odd. Especially now when you're meeting World's Strongest Man finalists and then I'm there like 'hi'. It's easy to put people on a pedestal and think people are larger than life. "On one hand, it's hard to tell people it's attainable because it's obviously very hard to get to that level and it's taken me ten years to do it, but they're human as well. "It's about taking the veil down really. You understand the hard work that everyone's put in." He'll be facing off against the biggest names in the game, including ' Strongest Brothers in the World ' Luke and Tom Stoltman, ads well as newcomers including
