Adam Harwick

What do you do now?

I work for my family business MC Sports, an embroidery company in Gargrave.

I left Sixth Form and moved straight into work at Bradford and Bingley Building Society, which I chose to do after discussions with my parents. I had a keen interest in attending university to study Media and Film, but we all thought my interests would probably lean more towards the nightlife than the actual studying, so full-time employment was the best option to go for (something I totally agree with, looking back).

I worked at Bradford and Bingley in Skipton for around a year, before moving to the Bradford branch (after the takeover of Bradford and Bingley by Santander). I spent a couple of years there before moving to Skipton Building Society and working in the finance department. I spent a few years there before moving to MC Sports, where I have been for nearly 15 years.

MC Sports has gone through a number of changes since I walked through the door to work alongside my parents, helping to push the business. It has been a rollercoaster of a ride (but an extremely enjoyable one at that), from losing my Dad unexpectedly to moving the business in a completely new direction with my wife Cheyenne. I’ve been able to continue the family-run business aspect, and pay homage to the fantastic foundations built by Michael and Christine Hardwick.

An average day for me is never just an ‘average day’ - running a business involves many aspects. I handle everything, from the day-to-day tasks of embroidering, printing and dispatching orders all the way to making sure the accounts are up to date and invoices are done and sent. My main passion within the business is sales. I love getting out there and generating new business for the company. I love talking (which I’m sure my ex-teachers can back up), as it’s something I excel in.

What advice would you give your 17-year-old self?

Perhaps to take my Sixth Form years a little more seriously than I did. I have an extremely laid-back nature, but the good old saying of ‘school is the best years of your life’ is true, I can safely say!

Work hard and the rewards will come. I did Graphic Design in Year 13, due to one of my subjects being dropped after Year 12. It was a subject I didn’t want to do at the time, but 15 years later I now do a lot of design work for the business. Taking this seriously at the time would have saved me countless hours of self-teaching on how to do it.

What are you most proud of?

It’s hard to narrow it down, as there are a number of things I’m proud of.

I am proud that I have hopefully made my father proud, continuing his legacy of MC Sports. Me, my wife and my mother have been able to push the business forward, and we look forward to what the future holds.

I am also an extremely proud father to four fantastic children, who keep me on my toes every day. I wouldn’t be the man I am today (and would probably still have a head of hair) if it wasn’t for those four!