There’s a calmness to the demeanour of Kyle Barlow that’s difficult not to envy.
The 32-year-old entrepreneur from Maryport is speaking to Business Crack in between meetings on a sunny morning in his hometown with the high street behind us and the glistening Irish Sea in front.
Shoppers scuttle by and boats bob up and down in the harbour, as Kyle contemplates his achievements over the last three years.
His business, West Lakes Demolition, was established in March 2020, after the firm he was working for previously closed. Utilising his training and qualifications in the demolition industry, he saw a gap in the market for a reliable local demolition contractor.
Fast forward three years, and the firm now has contracts with the likes of Sellafield, Starbucks, West Lakes Science Park and Cumberland Council, to name just a few.
He anticipates the business will turnover more than £2 million this year.
Not bad for a Maryport lad who, by his own admission, never expected to make such a success of his life.
“When you’ve been brought up with nothing, it inspires you to go out and achieve,” said Kyle.
‘Achieve’ may be an understatement. West Lakes Demolition is just one part of Kyle’s growing business empire.
He also runs West Lakes Property Development and West Lakes Plant and Tool Hire, as well as owning the Madihah’s takeaway in Workington and managing a property portfolio worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
How does he have time to make them all successful?
“I’ve worked hard. I’m very focused and I keep a strict routine, going to the gym every day keeps my mind and body healthy and I just give everything 100%,” he explains.
West Lakes Demolition is currently working on the interior renovation of the Grade II-listed Christ Church – also known as Fisherman’s Church – in Maryport, as part of a contract valued at £2m.
Then there is the small matter of a nation-wide contract with Starbucks, renovating and rebuilding the coffee giant’s outlets from Glasgow to Cardiff.
The firm is also about to start work on the demolition of the John Paul Jones pub in Whitehaven and recently submitted a tender for a ‘high value’ contract at BAE Systems in Barrow.
“My main role now is planning and overseeing each job. I employ reliable people that know what they’re doing. I have no business partner, just an accountancy firm that looks after all my admin for each business,” said Kyle.
With six children aged between six months and 12 years, Kyle has a lot on his plate, but his working-class upbringing keeps him grounded.
Both of his parents are self-employed tattoo artists – his father is still trading but his mother has recently retired.
Whilst they didn’t expect him to reach the success he has, they always motivated him to work hard.
“I’m not sure what they thought I’d make of my life, but they were always working and showed me, my brothers and sister the value of hard work,” said Kyle.
With a workforce of 20 people across his business portfolio, Kyle shows no signs of slowing down.
“I want to go into campervan restoration and rentals next with my brother. We think there’s a big market for camper rentals here in Cumbria and I hope it’ll be a success,” said Kyle, with a casual glance at his watch reminding him of his next meeting.
“My life changed when I was offered that first job as a demolition apprentice. I studied and got my qualifications so that I was ready to start on my own when the opportunity came along.
“I also worked as a delivery driver in the evenings and weekends, and that’s when I had the idea to open a takeaway at some point as well,” he explains.
That takeaway is now one of the most famous in the country – during the COVID lockdown, Kyle’s eatery, Madihah’s in Workington, came up with the world’s biggest burger and the world’s hottest pizza.
It led to him being invited on the breakfast show at Capital FM, with host Roman Kemp sampling the food. Other menu items include a 20” pizza and special grill boxes.
“It’s a cash business and it’s very popular. I love food and I wanted to create a takeaway menu that was a bit different to anywhere else, with the best ingredients and a new spin on what people think of as typical takeaway food,” said Kyle.
Maintaining such a calm attitude towards his many business interests is perhaps what keeps Kyle on top of it all.
In his spare time, Kyle sponsors cage fighting teams and travels to events all over the country in his gold-plated Range Rover. A McLaren sports car is currently on order, replacing the Lamborghini he says, “was too bloody small to get my legs into,” with a chuckle.
“Life is for enjoying. I am really enjoying mine. You have to try things. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. I have failed many times. I feel like I am just starting to understand how to be successful and I am looking forward to seeing what the future brings,” he added.
That future certainly looks very bright indeed.
