BigBikeBash, I work as a furniture and product designer and I've registered my own designs and agreed several licence agreements to manufacture other people's designs. My advice would be:
Be honest with yourself and talk through what you want to get from your ideas with someone you trust (partner, friend etc). This makes a good deal of difference to how you approach things. Do you just want the buzz of seeing something you came up with made? Do you want to run your own business? Do you want to gain financially?
Get as much free and confidential advice as you can. There is loads out there (in Scotland from the Cultural Enterprise Office and partner organisations, there will be equivalents elsewhere). Don't spend money on an IP lawyer unless there is no other option. I have engaged them in the past and although they are good, they earn the same in an hour as I do in a day.
Non-disclosure agreements (same as a confidentiality agreement) are easily available online in template form, and most manufacturers are happy to sign one before meeting.
Also, be informed about protecting your ideas but don't be scared of going and meeting people - the worst case scenario is that the idea stays in your shed and never sees the light of day. There are plenty of designers who simply get their idea out there first, get it publicized and make some money from it, and never protect anything legally.
There are lots of funding opportunities out there for innovation, knowledge transfer, small business seed funds etc. Make some enquiries and tap into the cash!
