THE early years of Laurence Beardmore’s career saw him move from sweeping the floors to sweeping the skies.

And now he is running a business capitalising on the modern coffee boom.

After sweeping the floors of his father’s engineering factory in Stoke-on-Trent as a teenager, Mr Beardmore studied engineering and joined the Army as a gazelle helicopter pilot.

He progressed to flight commanding the night vision operations of Lynx helicopters from Dishforth, North Yorkshire.

Mr Beardmore left the Army in 1994 to apply his engineering and technical skills in industry.

In 2011, he acquired York Coffee Emporium, from a sole trader when it had only an £11,000 turnover.

“I wanted to try something different," said Mr Beardmore.

"I’d always been interested in coffee and had made different roasting machines and roasted our own coffee at home.

"When overseas I’d often visit coffee plantations. I’d also never worked where I lived and wanted to do this and apply my experience in a completely different environment.”

Starting as a sole trader, he was soon joined by his wife, Philippa, and, by the end of 2014, the company’s turnover had grown 40-fold to almost £500,000 and is set to reach £750,000 in 2015.

Now the business imports, hand-roasts and blends coffees from around the world as well as sourcing and selling speciality teas and hot chocolate for cafes and restaurants.

It has seven staff and 200 regular customers in the UK as well as international buyers through its website.

What job would you like to have other than your own and why?

"None I love the one I have although I'll probably get board of it in five years."

Greatest achievement?

"Managing to get married, stay married and have two great children (ongoing)."

What makes you most angry?

"Poorly made coffee due to laziness."

Biggest mistake?

"Insulting (in jest) a US security guard at Minneapolis airport."

What do you need to make life complete?

"More hours in the day."

Why do you make a difference?

"I like to make things happen, improve things, not happy with status quo or underperforming."

Epitaph

"An OK guy"