CEO Today UK Awards 2021

Automotive Manufacturing 10 CEO TODAY UNITED KINGDOM AWARDS 2021 2020 has been a tough year for many. Tell us a little bit about how Radical Sportscars has adapted to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic? At Radical, we export 93% of our cars and that has made all the difference during 2020 and 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the UK and Europe heavily, however, private racing clubs in some parts of the world were able to continue operating. Consequently, the demand for new cars remained and Radical was able to continue without experiencing the negative impact that hit other manufacturing industries in Europe. The workforce at Radical supported the business throughout and it is with their help that we not only survived but managed to launch two new cars in 2021. Today, despite the pandemic and its challenges, our order book extends out over several months and our monthly output has more than doubled! Tell us about the online simulator you launched once the pandemic began? In April 2020, the lockdown forced us to think outside of the box. Online sim racing was already part of our future strategy, and we were able to move quickly and set up a series that allowed our customers to indulge in their passion for racing during lockdown. This experience revealed a new world to Radical and one that was jaw-dropping! The sim racing affords drivers a real, totally immersive experience, all in the safety of their home. There are many levels of racers - from simulators to gamers. The number of people engaged on these platforms is measured in multi-millions, with professional teams winning substantial prizes through to gamers who buy a virtual car for pocket money. We plan to further develop our online gaming presence during 2021 and beyond. As the CEO, what have you been doing to motivate your team and the whole company? In March 2020, the whole world was entering unchartered territory. I took the view that the virus would either kill us all or more likely, the brightest brains in the world would find a cure. Therefore, I decided that the best way forward was to push the whole workforce to their limits, and by doing so, help them focus on the positive side of the business to stop negativity and ensure Radical is in the best position for when COVID is defeated. Accordingly, we conceived two new cars which were developed, tested, and launched in less than 12 months! A spectacular achievement even in pre-COVID times. The news that we were developing the cars reached the outside world and the order book started to fill before they were fully finished. This was a massive motivation for everyone, including me! These actions protected jobs - we have been able to award wage increases in 2021 at or above inflation, which has been amazing given the current environment! We are also committed to training, hoping and expecting that this will yield the next generation of leaders for our business.