Madan Showan
Founder and Chairman of Empire Direct plc, Madan Showan, attended Bradford Technical College from 1969 to 1974, whilst an apprentice electrician.
“I personally felt uninspired at school. I was 12 and spoke no
English when I came here from the Punjab in Northern India,
where I had changed school several times. The teachers
did not expect much of me. I went to work for Southern &
Redfearns and they sent me to College.
Coming to Bradford
Technical College on day release for 4 years as an apprentice
was pivotal in my success. I knew what I had to do to and I
could get on with it. It was a chance to reinvent myself and
re-engage. College gave me a focus as to where I wanted to
be. It was a turning point and set me up for life.”
Madan was so determined that as well as attending his day
release classes for his City & Guilds, he came to evening
classes to study for his O levels in mathematics, physics and
English, which he needed to be able to go on to HNC. Madan
progressed to the drawing office and then became Assistant
Chief Engineer.
Madan changed career in 1980 when he opened his first
shop, funded by the sale of the family home. After some
false starts and overcoming many setbacks, he used his
electrical knowledge to open another shop which developed
into Empire Direct, a multi million pound success, supplying
and servicing electrical goods throughout the UK. The
company collected the best E-Trading Award for the UK in the
E-Commerce National Awards.
Madan was won the Lloyds TSB Asian Jewel Business and
Commerce Excellence award in 2005 and was awarded an
honorary doctorate by the University of Bradford in 2006
in recognition of his entrepreneurial success and generous
assistance to many international charities.
Photograph by Trevor Griffiths