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Matthew McCarney returned home during the Covid-19 pandemic after being on leave to start a new company that services and repairs air conditioning systems in the automotive, heavy equipment and agribusiness industries
A civil engineer who returned home during the Covid-19 pandemic has started a new air conditioning service and repair company in the automotive, automotive, and automotive industries thanks to the help of the Go For It program in partnership with Fermanagh and the Omagh District Council Heavy plant and agricultural industry founded.
Matthew McCarney, 31, of Enniskillen admits he has always loved working with tractors, but it wasn’t until his job as a foreman of a civil engineering team was on leave that he discovered a niche in the market and built his own business in agricultural vehicles.
He explained: “I was on leave last March and helped a few farmers in the middle of the summer of last year who needed help with silage and farming. I heard a lot of people talking about the air conditioning in the tractors during the early summer heat wave – there was no one around who could fix and fix the systems on the go. For family reasons and with the still widespread pandemic, I quit my full-time job, found a supplier for the refrigerant gas, bought a van and equipment, and set out to work on air conditioning in tractors, plants, utility vehicles, and private vehicles. ”
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He started MCC Auto and Agri Services in September and the business has grown from a handful of customers to over 25, from small machinery dealers, rental centers, construction and agribusiness to farmers. Being mobile is a key benefit instead of customers having to bring devices to a central location.
Matthew has become a distributor for Mastercool Inc and can supply the service equipment and supplies for automotive air conditioning and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) applications.
Over the months, Matthew has also branched into new areas due to requests for other services. This includes the delivery of vehicle trackers, multi-camera systems and fleet management systems in cooperation with Vehicle Tracker NI.
In the meantime he has also started to focus on the electrical side of the operation and is ready to become an OM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) LED-LED lighting distributor for plant, agricultural and commercial vehicles.
He continued: “Lights for construction and agricultural machinery are in great demand – in winter there are many excavators and tractors working in the evenings. Operators and owners want a quality product that can withstand the harsh environments these machines operate in. I have contacted a manufacturer of quality lighting equipment for these machines and hope to be able to put them up for sale in the near future. The key is not only to be able to deliver products, but also to assemble and maintain them. “
Matthew says the help from the Go For It program has been invaluable.
The Go for It program is offered free of charge by a team of experienced business mentors in each of Northern Ireland’s eleven parishes. It provides expert advice and help developing a solid business plan to turn ideas into a commercial venture.
“I met with my mentor Fionna and explained what I wanted to do with it,” he says.
“She was able to go through everything and explain what it was about and how to manage costs and payments. Fiona worked through projection calculations with me and from that I was able to show how I can make the business profitable.
“Next, Fionna helped create a business plan and together we set goals for where the business should go. I would like to believe that in five years I can have a co-worker or two.
“My passion for this type of work is based on the fact that I farmed myself and my passion for machines. I am starting a company that suits my passions well. “
As the business grew, Matthews’ management consultant was able to work with him to find the working capital to get some new businesses like the LED lighting industry up and running.
“My business started as a mobile air conditioning business and things have grown from there. I would say starting your own business is great – however, it’s a lot more involved than you think and the Go For It program is a great way to help potential entrepreneurs understand this. I found the Go For It program to be very easy. My mentor Fionna was great. She was so enthusiastic and supportive and it was almost like it was her own business that she wanted to succeed. “He stated.
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Chairwoman, Councilor Diana Armstrong, said, “The Go For It program, run by the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, provides accessible, free and tailored business support to new entrepreneurs in areas such as finance and business Business planning as well as sales and marketing to get the business up and running.
“There is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has created significant difficulties for many companies. However, in these challenging times, it is encouraging to see a local entrepreneur discover a niche in the market and turn his passion into a livelihood. Matthew has listened to the market from the start and now offers additional services in the construction and agricultural sectors. I wish Matthew every success in the continued growth and development of his company, and I encourage anyone considering starting their own business to get in touch with the Go For It program! “
Fionna Martin, Business Advisor at Fermanagh Enterprise Agency, added, “Matthew discovered a gap in the market for a specialist air conditioning service and repair company and came to us for start-up support and advice. We were able to help him develop a business plan that would help finalize his business proposition, pricing, and financial projections, and ensure he had the necessary insurance, health and safety regulations in place.
“We are very excited to have Matthew so busy and I am sure that MCC Auto and Agri Services, with his attention to detail and willingness to succeed, will become synonymous with the local automotive, heavy equipment and agribusiness industries.
If you have a business idea to develop or if you are considering starting a business, contact the Go For It program on 0800 027 0639 or visit: www.goforitni.com.
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