FROM a high flying post in the RAF to running a meatball restaurant chain, David Atkinson's career has rolled smoothly from a life in uniform to a serial entrepreneur.

Holding a management PhD from Lancaster University Management School, Mr Atkinson is a chartered engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

In the early part of his career, Mr Atkinson spent 20-years as a communications and IT engineering officer in the Royal Air Force.

During his time in uniform, his assignments included leading software engineering and maintenance for SKYNET – the UK’s military satellite communications system; advising the Ministry of Defence on lifecycle economics for major computer systems; and setting up wide-area data network management and control during NATO’s operations in the former Yugoslavia.

Since leaving the RAF in 1997, Mr Atkinson has been an entrepreneur, setting up and running small businesses including programme and risk management consulting, recruitment and financial services.

In his latest venture – The Yorkshire Meatball Co – he has joined forces with one of his sons, Gareth, a digital marketing expert, in setting up the UK’s first meatball and craft beer restaurant and bar.

Following in the footsteps of a more established meatball scene in the US, which was the inspiration behind the business, the Yorkshire Meatball Co runs restaurants in its home town of Harrogate, and a franchise operation in York's new Hotel Indigo in Walmgate. Following a series of award wins in its first year, the business is now a finalist in the New Business of the Year category in the Press Business Awards.

Mr Atkinson is also a qualified offshore sailor, a ukulele player, and a keen writer, having written and published fiction and non-fiction – from novels, through screenplays to academic writing.

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

"I would like to be the producer of my first feature-length movie – because I have yet to see my first screenplay realised."

Greatest achievement?

"My greatest achievement is having created a fantastic new business with one of my sons – bringing a smile to the faces of thousands of happy customers."

What makes you most angry?

"My biggest gripe is people who do not learn from their mistakes and go on to make the same mistake again."

Biggest mistake?

"I’m always making mistakes – always learning. My biggest is probably still to come."

What do you need to make life complete?

"As long as I can keep being creative, in a sense, life is complete."

Why do you make a difference?

"I combine the pragmatism of an engineer with the creativity of an artist in reaching common sense decisions."

Epitaph

"They may not be the biggest milestones in the world – but he sure left a lot of them!"