Entrepreneur makes Intelligent move as broker

Sean Mallon, 24, left his engineering degree at Liverpool University and gained experience working for a national business broking concern before deciding he could do it better himself.

Now Intelligent Business Transfer, which is based in Harrogate, expects to turn over 500,000 in 2010, its third year of business.

Mr Mallon, who went to King James School in Knaresborough, said: "I worked for national brokers since I was 19 and decided I could do a better job.

"I was not happy working for everyone else. They were big companies so it was quite difficult to make a mark. You were a dot on the landscape."

Intelligent Group, set up by Mr Mallon and his business partner, Andy Hughes, 25, is made up of several arms – Intelligent Business Finance, Intelligent Energy Services, Intelligent Corporate and the business transfer company.

They specialise in the acquisition and disposal of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), such as newsagents, coffee shops, hotels and guesthouses as well as more niche operations including energy

rating and conservation firms.

"There is a large market for us. There are always people wanting to buy or sell – people who are running or want a change from running their own business."

Intelligent began trading from a three-man office in Claro Road Business Park, Harrogate, and has since moved and is now in The Inspire at the town's Hornbeam Park.

The firm's core market is selling businesses worth around 100,000. The freehold sales business has been "fairly slow" Mr Mallon said but it showing signs of picking up. The leasehold side has "never been better", he added.

The group has 12 staff currently but Mr Mallon – who once had a brief spell working in sales in Harrogate for Johnston Press, owner of the Yorkshire Post – said they hope to increase that to 20 by the end of the year.

Intelligent has an office due to open soon in Bristol with satellite offices coming in Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and London. Mr Mallon and Mr Hughes also hope to have an overseas operation by 2014.