Insider Media Limited

Harvard Engineering boss John McDonnell is aiming to expand business abroad after growing turnover at the Normanton lighting manufacturer to £21m. McDonnell, who has been named this month's Insider's entrepreneur of the month, also told Insider of how being made redundant in the early 1990s gave him a "kick up the arse" to start a successful business.

McDonnell, whose business also secured a place in Insider's Growth 100 league in September, said: "The diversity of our range and customers has proved invaluable as we have been pretty immune to the recession and seen sustained growth over the years.

"Our goal is to build exports across Europe and the US. We've tried distributors and have had some success, but they don't have the same impact with customers as our own people, and lacked the passion for the products.

"We are now recruiting our own people in different countries so they can market the products."

McDonnell always had a dream of owning a factory and making something while working as a salesman for an electrical wholesaler, but it wasn't until he was made redundant in the early 1990s that he finally got the inspiration to create his own product.

Armed with a degree in electronics, McDonnell started making electronics for lighting systems from his home in Kingston-upon-Thames in Surrey. His ideas quickly took off, and when a subcontractor let him down he realised he would have to act fast to keep his dreams of business success alive.

While others may have sought another contractor, McDonnell convinced HSBC to believe in his product and headed north to Leeds to set up his own factory. Two weeks later, he had secured enough second-hand machinery and staff to start producing his products and Harvard Engineering was born.

Almost 20 years on, the business is one of the most pioneering in the lighting sector with its LeafNut system which helps councils monitor lighting use receiving critical acclaim.

McDonnell said: "I always wanted my own business and a factory so I could make something, and I still enjoy it today as it’s a lot of fun.

"Finding out what the customer needs and then making it is really satisfying, especially when you are the first to bring it to market.

"When I was thrown out onto the street by the company I worked for it was exactly the kick up the arse I needed. It's really paid off for me."

Read the full interview with McDonnell in December's issue of the Yorkshire Business Insider, out this week.