This year we celebrate our 10th anniversary; it feels strange to write that down.
How it started
Back in 2016, I had left a global consultancy after 10 years and was managing the Teesside office for a smaller company. Then, rather unexpectedly, the office was closed and I found myself with a choice, go back and work for someone else or try something different.
I’d be lying if I said it was always my dream to start a business, and I wasn’t convinced I could do it, but people around me were and so I decided to take the risk and give it a go.
Starting a business was a new challenge, and I had no idea where to start. I’d spent the 20 years since graduating working across different sectors, for local authorities, contractors and consultants, trying to be the best engineer that I could be. I’d worked on some interesting projects with a lot of talented people and for some good clients; and I realised I had to lean on those relationships to make the business a success.
There was four of us at the start, Wayne and Carl are still here as Directors; but as the Chartered Engineer, the eldest, and perhaps the one most willing to accept that initial risk, it was me that put my name above the door. We set ourselves some targets to get the four of us into the business, and I had a more personal deadline – how long could I afford to not get paid?
We got some excellent support from Redcar and Cleveland Council’s business team, David Hitchen in particular showed confidence in the idea and pointed us towards the funding that was available at the time which got us started with a laptop, a printer and some software.
We had a business plan, a logo, and a desk in my spare room. All we needed now was some work.
On the day that Lynas Engineers was registered with Companies House, I was on holiday on the Isle of Skye, and when I think about that time, I certainly wasn’t sat there thinking, “In ten years’ time we’ll have built a business; developed a team; delivered projects across the country; won awards; and helped people across the North East”
-Rob Lynas
