CEO of Hesco Bastion takes up Connect Yorkshire role

The chief executive of manufacturer Hesco Bastion, Michael Hughes, has become the 80th entrepreneur in residence at Connect Yorkshire, the not-for-profit support group for people running high growth businesses in Yorkshire.

Hesco Bastion was founded in 1991 by the late Jimi Heselden and its main products are the Concertainer barrier systems which were used to create Camp Bastion which was the UK’s biggest base in Iraq.

After Heselden’s death in 2010 Hughes, who is a chartered accountant, came to help the family run the business initially for a few days a week, then full time, becoming CEO in 2012.

At about this time the UK and the US started to withdraw from Iraq and the demand from Hesco’s two biggest customers, the UK and the US military, declined rapidly.

Turnover fell from £120m to £23m and a drastic rationalisation plan was put in place which led to a more than 50% reduction in the workforce.

Since then the company has invested in new products and sought new markets such as oil and gas and is moving its business into new area which are less hostile environments than their traditional markets.

Turnover has increased to £60m and the company has been recruiting new staff for the last few years. It still exports 98% of its products.

Connect Yorkshire director Sophie Patton said: “Our entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in making Connect Yorkshire a unique business support group. Our EIR’s speak at our events, offer one on one mentoring and help in many other ways, without them our business model wouldn’t work, thank you.”

CEO Nick Butler added: “We are very proud to announce our 80th entrepreneur in residence who all give their time to Connect Yorkshire for free to help mentor and grow Yorkshire based businesses. We are always looking to improve our services and membership offering and Michael Hughes adds even more value to our growing membership.”