Active Hands

Active Hands is an award-winning UK manufacturer of gripping aids for people with reduced hand function. The company was founded by Rob Smith, who developed the first aid with his mother at their kitchen table after a 1996 spinal cord injury left him with limited movement in all four limbs. What started as a personal solution became a limited company in 2007, and Active Hands is still family-run today.

The business designs and manufactures a full range of gripping aids that help people hold gym equipment, tools, kitchen utensils, garden implements, game controllers and everyday objects. Core products include the General Purpose aid, the Looped aid, the Limb Difference aid, the Hook aid and the Small Item aid, with bespoke options made to measure. The aids are machine washable and are used by people with conditions such as spinal cord injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, MS, MND and limb difference.

Active Hands sells directly through its website with worldwide shipping, and around 80 per cent of its sales are exports to roughly 60 countries. Its products are used by individuals at home, by gyms, and by occupational therapy and rehabilitation teams. The company has been recognised with a Board of Trade Award and repeated places on the Shaw Trust Power 100, and founder Rob Smith is also a Team GB wheelchair racing athlete.

Customers choose Active Hands for its lived experience of disability, its own manufacturing, and its focus on designing for specific needs rather than offering a single product. Orders are covered by a 28-day money-back guarantee on items returned in resaleable condition. The head office and workshop are in Solihull, West Midlands, and are business premises rather than a public shop.

At a glance

• Established: Limited company since 2007 (products developed from the early 2000s)
• Specialises in: ergonomic gripping aids for people with reduced hand function
• Areas covered: UK and worldwide online retail, shipping to around 60 countries
• Recognition: Board of Trade Award winner, Shaw Trust Power 100
• Guarantee: 28-day money-back on resaleable returns
• Based in: Solihull, West Midlands (workshop, no public showroom)

Frequently asked questions

What does Active Hands sell?

Active Hands designs and manufactures gripping aids, also known as grip cuffs or quad grips, for people with reduced hand function. It also stocks selected hand-function products and can make bespoke aids to measure.

Where is Active Hands based?

The company is based in Solihull, West Midlands, at Rumbush Farm Business Park in Earlswood. This is a business and manufacturing premises only, with no shop open to the public, so it is best to order online or by phone.

Does Active Hands ship internationally?

Yes. Active Hands ships worldwide, with prices shown in pounds, dollars and euros and postage calculated at checkout. UK tracked orders usually arrive within one to two working days, with longer times for Europe and the rest of the world.

Who founded Active Hands?

It was founded by Rob Smith, who developed the first gripping aid with his mother after a 1996 spinal cord injury left him with limited hand function. It became a limited company in 2007 and remains a family-run business.

What is the returns and guarantee policy?

Active Hands offers a money-back guarantee, so aids can be returned or exchanged within 28 days as long as they are in resaleable condition. Faulty or incorrectly supplied items are replaced or refunded, and some products are excluded for hygiene reasons.