Couple swap computers for wind turbines

10:28am Tuesday 30th January 2007

JIM and Michele Robertson sold a successful computer business with a £2.3 million turnover - and decided to settle down to enjoy retirement.

But before long, Mr Robertson knew it was time to rejoin the business race.

And with their latest venture, the sky really is the limit as they now sell and install wind turbines.

The couple, from Harwood, are now taking scores of inquiries as green-minded homeowners look to nature for an energy source.

The Robertsons are busy putting up the turbines in the Northern part of the UK for a company called Segen.

Mr Robertson said: "We are having to calm people down and tell them that it might not be practical or efficient to install a turbine on their land.

"People are certainly very excited about this and, in turn, it gets us excited."

After first meeting while working in the IT department of Olivetti in the late 1970s, the couple had a company called PAP Computer Maintenance, which was formed in 1985.

By 2000, the company was employing about 70 people, mostly computer engineers, with a turnover of £3.2 million.

A decline in the computer repair business saw them sell to a Rochdale-based company.

Mr Robertson said: "I worked for them for about two years on a freelance contract, and Michele stayed with them for about three years.

"I retired shortly after that, and started talking to the vegetables. I realised retirement was not for me, and I desperately needed something to do."

Another business venture brought Mr Robertson into contact with Andy Pegg, who was interested in alternative sources of energy.

"Andy had originally set up Segen to install solar-powered cells in Spain, and then sell the energy to the Spanish electricity board, but then he started looking at other alternative energy sources," said Mr Robertson.

Mr Pegg came across a small wind turbine company called Iskra, a "tiny company working from a garage in Nottingham".

He bought into the company, moved it to new headquarters in Loughborough, and the supply chain was complete.

Initially, the Robertsons planned to invest in Segen Northern, a company of their own that would deal with sales and installation for the North.

"The dilemma we had was that we could either become like a dealership for the company up here, or we could be another separate company that would strip off a layer of profit," he said.

Instead, they invested in Segen, becoming a "significant" shareholder in the company, and took ownership of a sales and installation patch that stretches from the Scottish borders to the M62, which is Mrs Robertson's area, and from the M62 to the Midlands, which is handled by Mr Robertson.

"Since starting last year, we have sold 10 installations, but that is now starting to accelerate as more people find out about it.

"One perfect side-effect is that you meet the most wonderful people in the most splendid locations, and you start not to travel on motorways.

"Our main product is a 5kw-rated turbine, which produces enough power for a large house. We have a lot of business customers.

"In terms of domestic installations, we have inquiries either from owners of very old draughty houses or new ones."

Turbines require planning permission and must be installed at least 100 metres from neighbouring properties.

Mr Robertson said: "There is natural limit to the number of households that can have a turbine installed but we are already branching out into different sizes and speeds of turbine, so there is certainly a long way to go yet."

Email Michele.Robertson@segen.co.uk for details.