Bath Lives - Andrew Polson

TGtB spoke business with Andrew Polson, Managing Director of Bath based engineering Company POLAMCO, who design and manufacture interconnection products used in the Aerospace and Defence Industries.

Where is home and why? 

Bath is where I have lived the majority of my life having been born in Yeovil, Somerset.

What inspired you to set up your business here? 

Polamco is essentially a family business which started in the late seventies by my father David, In those days, Bath was an industrial city which in its heyday employed over 12,000 people alone  at Stothert + Pitt who manufactured  cranes . Polamco is currently in its third location in Bath.

Describe Bath in 3 words…

Unique,  attractive , Controversial

Did anyone try to discourage you from setting up your own business?

Back in the day it was difficult to get funding – 30+ years on seems exactly the same for new businesses starting out!

What advice would you give anyone looking to do the same? 

Keep on and on Round-tabling your ideas – the more you discuss and think about an idea the better it will become!

What do you think attracts business people to Bath?

The city and what it has to offer.

If you could do it all again, would you do anything differently? 

Yes employ more Engineering Graduates from Bath University and more Apprentices.

How do you like to spend your time off?

Sport Based – Golf, Cycling , Skiing and watching Bath Rugby

Your phone book must be full of business contacts, but who is the most famous person in there?

There is a few Rugby contacts familiar to most Rugby Fans but it would have to be Harry Fry, the youngest National Hunt Horse Racing Trainer who currently trains Violin Davis for my family. Harry trained the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle third this year “Rock on Ruby”  who won the race back in 2012

What has been your biggest achievement to date?

Growing Polamco to a $20 milion dollar company employing 143 people in the UK, USA and Europe, supplying Polamco product into 50+ countries Worldwide – Key to Polamco growth – invest in Capital equipment and invest in your staff.