Starting a green manufacturer

Interview with...

Richard McDonald
Age:
Undisclosed
CV:
Ran business for 22 years
Business name:
Bakewell Ovens
Goods/services:
Design, manufacture and installation of bakery equipment, including eco-friendly ovens
Location:
Rossendale, Lancashire
Trading since:
22 years
Bread slicer, bakery equipment

Richard on his work ethic...

"You have to put 100% in to get 100% out, and if that means Saturday and Sunday then that means Saturday and Sunday.

"It’s not a chore to pick up the phone, it’s not a chore to hook up the computer, because it’s such an exciting time with the new product – it just makes you want to come in and get on with it."

On switching off from work...

"One thing we always take are holidays, reason being you have to recharge your batteries somewhere along the line.

"The laptop is a part of your life now – it helps you keep and eye on what’s going on.

"Yes you enjoy your holiday, yes you have a relaxing time, but always in the back of your mind, you’re always thinking what’s happening in work, what’s happening next week, has that been done, has this been done – but that’s part of running your own business, you can’t just turn off for two weeks, come back and expect everything to be right."

On how his product captures the zeitgeist...

"There’s government legislation coming out saying companies have to reduce their carbon footprint and at the moment we’ve got the right product to do that."

Advice for budding entrepreneurs...

"If someone has an idea, the hardest thing to do is walk out of a steadily paid job. It’s a major step to get off that ladder to another one where next week you might not get paid.

"But if you’re prepared to take the chance, you go up, you go down, but if you’ve got a good product and stick by it then you’ll come out good at the end of it."
 

 

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