Serrant Sport

Founder

Richard Serrant

Profile

My dad is an aircraft engineer, so from an early age I developed an interest in anything mechanical. From the age of just 4 or 5 years old, all I wanted to do was drive cars!

The idea of a desirable, fun and stylish car for urban commuting came to me at the start of the recession and at a time when concern about the rising cost of petrol and the environmental impact of fuel emissions was widespread. I felt there might be a market for a small, fuel efficient, fun car.

I studied biomedical science at university thinking my passion for cars would only ever be a hobby, but after I'd completed my degree I still couldn't stop thinking about my car idea. I decided to put myself through the university's Amaze Yourself programme, which was incredibly helpful in giving me a basic grounding in starting up and running a business. From there I joined the Think Business programme and that's where my crazy idea to design a micro car evolved into a realistic business proposition

What does your company do?

I've designed and am developing a concept car. It's small, fun and very trendy and will be the coolest way of urban commuting. It sips fuel, needs only a provisional license to drive, has a maximum speed of 45 kilometres per hour and can be driven in the UK from the age of 16. It's officially classed as a quadracycle which is really just a moped with four wheels, I think of it as somewhere between a moped and a smart car. My car is the smallest niche car that could exist in the UK.

What's been your biggest success?

A couple of months after joining Think Business I won their enterprise competition which have me a real confidence boost, as well as £2500 to invest in my business. From there I was entered into the Graduate Entrepreneurship Project's Regional Enterprise Awards where I was up against entrepreneurs from across Yorkshire. Although I narrowly missed out on winning, I gained invaluable feedback from the judges that has enabled me to take my business idea to the next stage.

What's been the hardest thing you've had to cope with?

Funding! Throughout the past few years I've had to support myself with a part time job while finding the time and resource to keep pushing my business idea forward. It's not easy juggling work, a developing business and a home life but I believe the struggle is important; I hope to be looking back and laughing about this time in years to come!

What advice would you give other new businesses?

Research your market and your idea thoroughly and keep going back to this to keep your idea on track.

If good, credible people will support your business, let nothing stop you.

What plans do you have for the future of Serrant Sport?

Over the coming months I'll be designing a second generation prototype. I've got a graduate automotive designer helping me to put the design onto computer. After that, I'll be building a road-legal prototype and preparing for a pitch to Yorkshire Business Angels later in the year. This is going to be critical because I'm going to need an investor and a management team behind me in future.