In this episode of All Things Business – The Podcast, Ben and Nick welcome Ryan Evans, Director at MK Loft Boarding. The business offers loft conversion services: creating raised loft boarding, installing ladders and adding mains light support. Their boarding method, where the board is fixed directly to the joist, allows for better air flow and greatly reduces issues such as damp and condensation, much more suited for lofts with insulation or wiring installed. This makes their lofts much more usable as storage spaces.
Entrepreneurial endeavours
Ryan’s early career didn’t necessarily predict his future entrepreneurial endeavours. After school he says he had ‘no direction’ and eventually joined the army, spending five and a half years in the rifles regiment including tours in Afghanistan and training exercises all over the world.
After returning, he began working at Anglian Water and continued there until he started MK Loft Boarding in 2020.
Raising the roof
The business’s genesis came when Ryan wanted to board his own loft. A couple of weeks research and a weekend’s work later, he was very happy with the results. His friends and family were interested, and so he ended up spending most of his weekends boarding lofts for friends, family and people around his estate. Interest only grew, so he handed in his notice at Anglian Water.
Four months of notice later, he left work on a Friday ready to start his business properly on the Monday. Unfortunately, that was the exact weekend that lockdown was implemented in 2020.
Lofty ambitions
While the first few weeks were scary for him, he eventually spent time fleshing out his business plan and making it as robust as possible. As soon as tradespeople were allowed to work as part of lockdown lifting, he got to work. Now, five years later, he’s Entrepreneur of the Year.
Ryan’s plans for the future are to continue to scale. He would like to be able to get in front of key decision makers of home builders, as loft boarding is an easy upsell to a potential buyer that can be lucrative for all involved. He’s also developing a product for loft boarders in partnership with another local business.
The podcast draws to a close with the dinner party question. Ryan chooses his Grandad, Steven Bartlett and Tyson Fury.
Watch and listen to the episode:
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