The founder of a plastics fabrication business which started life in a barn near Bristol Airport more than 30 years ago has retired after selling the company to new owners.
Colin Vye established Marcol Fabrications (Plastics) with business partner Mark Godfrey in 1990, helped by a loan of just £9,000, in a farm building on Row of Ashes Lane in Redhill.
The company, now based in Nailsea, North Somerset, has a 14-strong workforce and was turning over more than £1.5m when sold to Safety Critical Plastic Solutions Group for an undisclosed sum.
Mr Vye, who lives in Portishead, retired aged just 59 following advice from accountant Tim Bowden at Bristol SME specialists Haines Watts.
“It’s the last leg of an amazing journey in business,” said Mr Vye. “When Mark and I started we were like a lot of entrepreneurs – great at what we could do but winging it a bit on the business strategy and doing whatever we needed to do to survive.
“We didn’t want our clients seeing our premises so we’d drive up to places like Yorkshire for meetings, pretending we were in the area anyway. We did lots of overtime, sacrificed a great deal but never let go of our belief and our passion. We’ve been supported by some great advice along the way and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved.”
Mr Vye has said he is now planning to spend more time at home, in the gym and travelling.
“We’re delighted to have helped Colin exit the company he founded and to have reached a satisfactory conclusion to his business career," added Mr Bowden.
“We wish Colin and Mark all the best and hope their story can be an inspiration to other entrepreneurs looking to start or finish business careers of their own.”
