In an age when many entrepreneurs claim their motivation is to help others or improve society, Michael Oliver is old-school.
“I started this business in a one-car garage with no money and I started it to make myself wealthy,” says the founder of Oliver Valves, Europe’s largest maker of valves for the oil and gas industry. “I have achieved that. I have made other people wealthy and given people career opportunities.
“I am the highest paid director in the north-west of England – I made £5.7m personally [in 2009]. Nobody comes close to me,” he adds. In fact, Ben Luscombe, founder of Henleys Clothing in Manchester, made £10.3m, but Mr Oliver is not a man to argue with.