Get inspired by Jon's career in fast lane

Stephen Shaw, Group Engineering Director, Jon Hilton, President of IMechE and Chris Rea, AESSEAL Managing Director, pictured. Picture: Marie Caley

An engineer who built Grand Prix winning engines for Formula One teams and then built and sold an automotive technology business said the profession had given him a fantastic career and made him millions

Jon Hilton said he had had a “great career and a lovely time, from an apprenticeship up to senior roles.”

He was speaking as president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers to an audience at legendary Rotherham seal company AESSEAL - winner of 13 Queen’s Awards.

Mr Hilton started out as a Rolls-Royce apprentice where he spent two years “designing bombs and missiles.”

He moved into F1 and worked for organisations including Cosworth, Arrows and Renault designing engines “from a piece of paper.” It culminated in Renault winning the driver’s and constructor’s F1 World Championship in 2005 and 2006.

He said: “Every time I’ve changed jobs I’ve tuned my persona and how I was viewed. At Rolls Royce I was an ex-apprentice, when I left I was ex-Rolls Royce.

“I also carefully managed the separation between work and home. I was always prepared to fire someone who worked for me. So I have 1,200 LinkedIn followers and 50 friends on Facebook. It can be a lonely life.”

At Renault, engineers had almost complete freedom, but the pace of development kept being increased, he said.

He added: “There was not a single project manager in a company of 1,000 people. You don’t need them if everyone turns up on time with their bits working. But it was like a treadmill with someone turning up the speed.

“Over 13 years in F1 I learned to sleep only four hours a night.”

In 2007 he set up Flybrid Automotive with business partner Doug Cross with £350,000 of their own money, making energy return systems based on a fast spinning fly-wheel.

He added: “Our very first meeting was with an exit strategy planner. Our aim was to do just enough to get the patents, staff and turnover we wanted.”

The products were hi-tech and used all their expertise and experience.

He added: “We did once say no to Ford, the thing they wanted was not right. That was scary, but the right thing to do.”

Eventually with 22 staff, a “nice factory” and contracts with Wrightbus and JCB they sold to Torotrak in 2012. He was 50. The multi-million pound deal heralded a new lifestyle.

“Things you learn in one business are transferable to others. I didn’t get everything right, but certain bits worked out very nicely.”