Meet EnviroVent boss Andy Makin who is helping to create cleaner air in our homes

The thought of investing £10m in new headquarters might fill some directors with horror during the current pandemic but Andy Makin is excited.

The managing director of ventilation systems manufacturer EnviroVent has been searching for a suitable site for his 230 staff for the last five or six years but in Harrogate, development opportunities are scarce.

He finally found space to create a new building at Burley Bank Road and towards the end of last year submitted a planning application for almost 17,000 sq ft of office space, over 13,000 sq ft of assembly space and over 30,000 sq ft of storage space.

EnviroVent, which is the major sponsor of Harrogate Town Football Club, currently operates across two sites at Hornbeam Park. Makin, 54, said: “Those sites are struggling now for space so we needed to find a way of future-proofing the business and bring everybody under one roof, which is important for our culture and values.”

The new plans would bring its training suite, manufacturing, storage and head office into one purpose-built unit which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.

He added: “It would have been very easy to hold fire to see how the world was going to come out of Covid but we believe very strongly that our sector and our business can continue to grow so hence why we’ve continued with the investment in the way that we have.”

Turnover growth plans for EnviroVent, which manufactures and installs ventilation systems for the residential sector, primarily social housing, were put back slightly last year due to the pandemic.

The figure for 2020 is expected to be £27-28m, down from the £35m-plus figure it predicted at the start of the year and down from £31m in 2019. This year it expects to grow faster and end the year at £33m.

Makin’s ambition to grow beyond £40m turnover in the next five years remains. “We see this year as hopefully a year of getting back on track given what happened in 2020,” he said.

The business, which is owned by ventilation specialist Soler & Palau, is even recruiting for eight or nine new staff across the country.

Further growth within the social housing and private residential developers sectors are key to achieving its turnover targets. Makin also believes that targeting individual homeowners provides a huge opportunity. “There are probably 20m-plus homes that fall outside of building regulations where ventilation is an issue for people,” he said.

He added: “The Paris agreement and the Government’s carbon zero agenda filter down into new product developments. There’s growth in all of the sectors we work in and behind all that is legislation. Building regulations are being tightened and ventilation itself is being seen more seriously now.”

Creating cleaner indoor air is also a major part of the Government’s message to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

“Ventilation is something that people have been aware of in the past but maybe not considered,” he said. “That’s changing now and as a result of that the whole industry stands a good chance of growing.”

The industry is replacing visible fans on walls with more sophisticated hidden ventilation systems.

EnviroVent’s best-selling products are its low energy filterless extractor fans and positive input ventilation systems, which increase the circulation of fresh air around the home and improve the indoor air quality.

“These sorts of products and heat recovery systems are what the next generation of buildings and refurbishment projects will be looking for,” said Makin. “The next generation of these products is what we’re developing now.”

He added: “Ventilation systems are quite simple things. I see the next industry breakthrough being the use of renewables and data and bolting them on to the technology that already exists.”

And if anyone can predict the future of cleaner indoor air, it’s Makin. His career in the industry has spanned nearly 35 years.

Born and raised in Liverpool, his first move into the industry came at the age of 21 when he went to work for his first ventilation manufacturer.

He worked his way through business development and sales roles at various companies, joining EnviroVent, then called Farmer Controls, in 2006 as special projects manager.

He went on to become sales director, distribution director and, finally, managing director, in 2014.

Career highlights include travelling the world as export manager of Vent-Axia, EnviroVent winning a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2009 for the design, development and manufacture of the EnviroVent filterless extractor fan, and supplying millions of products into the UK market. “I’d say, humbly, that we’ve improved the indoor air quality in many homes,” he said. “We’re a prominent business, not only in our community but also in our industry. We’re one of the major brands now and in a position to go to the next level.”

The father of two grown up daughters who lives with his partner in Harrogate, describes himself as approachable. “I take my role and responsibilities seriously but I try to not take myself too seriously,” he said. “I like to take on board other opinions and try not to make too many knee jerk reactions without falling into procrastination.”

Looking to the future, Makin said he is excited about the challenges ahead at EnviroVent and isn’t planning to jump ship any time soon.

“I’ve been here 15 years next month. It’s the longest time I’ve ever spent at any organisation,” he said.

“Often the challenge for business leaders is that they will get a business to a certain stage and then there are fewer challenges for them, which makes them naturally curious about what’s next.”

He added: “The challenges of the pandemic and people challenges are stretching business leaders at all levels. Add to that the opportunity to grow and set the business for the next decade, that is more than enough to challenge me and get excited about.”

Curriculum Vitae

Title: Managing director of EnviroVent, based in Harrogate

Date of birth: September 29, 1966

Education: Cantril Comprehensive School, Liverpool; HNC in business and finance at Liverpool John Moores University

First job: Warehouse assistant for an electrical wholesaler.

Favourite holiday destination: Italy. This one was a nightmare to answer

Favourite film: The Godfather

Song: My favourite song at the moment is Detroit, by Gaz Coombes

Last book read: Street without a name, by Kapka Kassabova

Most proud of: Relationships with loved ones