The move made national headlines and more followed in 2016 when Ebac began producing the only washing machines to be designed and manufactured in Britain .
Ebac now employs 240 people , turns over £ 18m , and John can look back on an illustrious career with justifiable pride . He “ dips in and out ” of the business these days , with daughter Amanda running operations , and he ’ s convinced there are good times ahead .
“ We had a terrible year in 2018 , recovered in 2019 , and it was looking good for 2020 until Covid shut us down for six weeks .”
In 2021 , the aim will be to increase exports of all products , with America targeted as the biggest market for water coolers . “ We might even set up an assembly facility there ,” he suggests .
New product plans include heat pumps for homes , ahead of the Government banning gas boilers in 2025 , and an all-in-one “ water cooler and drinking centre ” that will fit into domestic kitchens .
“ We ’ ve got too many opportunities – it ’ s about deciding which ones to go for ,” he says .
All of which inevitably brings us to the issue John has become best known for recently – as one of the North-East ’ s strongest advocates of Brexit .
“ Look , I ’ d rather be out , but it ’ s no big deal ,” he insists . “ If they said we could stay in the EU and get better people in Westminster , I ’ d snap their hands off – politicians haven ’ t improved anything .”
So , is he worried about a “ no deal ” Brexit ? “ Not at all – actually , no deal would be the best deal because it would be every deal – we just need to get on with it .”
Speaking from a strong platform as one of the North-East ’ s best-known entrepreneurs , John Elliott is certainly a man of strong opinions . But he ’ s not the type to let his success go to his head .
His parting shot is to recount how he was stopped by a fella on the production line who told him : “ Working at Ebac is like being one of Santa ’ s elves … we do all the work , and the fat bastard takes all the credit .”
“ He was bang on ,” laughs John .
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 19