Yorkshire Post 2003

And it's just as well. The 45-year-old farm labourer's son has suffered enough professional pitfalls to put even the most hardened optimist off.
But his race track philosophy of 'if you fall off, no matter how much it hurts get back on again', so neatly demonstrated through his on-track victories, (he competed in the Isle of Man TT series and survived, won the British 350 Production Championship, twice, and almost became world champion), is obvious in his business successes.
Corner's latest enterprise, Malton-based engineering firm Malton Laser, has quadrupled its turnover since it was founded in 2000, and looks certain to achieve its £5m turnover target for 2005.
Having started out with one laser, one press, and 4,000 sq ft of warehouse, the firm now employs 24 staff, operates from an 11,000 sq ft site and is still expanding.
With a 150-strong client base, steadily growing week on week, the North Yorkshire company is now one of the UK's leading laser-equipped sheet metal workshops.
The firm has just completed a project for Richmond Ice Cream and Nestlé to make parts for ice cream dispensing machines, and following the introduction of a welding division can now deliver finished products as well as traditional steel components.
But it was an order to produce 20 eight-metre-high letter M's used by Manchester City Council as part of the city's decoration for the 2002 Commonwealth Games that helped establish the firm's reputation.
"We'd only just set up the business when we were approached by another small firm in Harrogate about producing these Ms," remembers Corner.
"Apparently, our bigger competitors couldn't do it, but I said of course we could. That pretty much set the ball rolling for us really. There's nothing like a challenge."
Corner likens the lasers to an 'artist's pen', tools capable of high definition and illustration no matter the width of the steel, and at a fraction of the production cost.
"We were the first in the UK to install a laser over the more traditional punching machines – an investment of £1m," he boasts.
But forward thinking and riding by the seat of his pants is something Corner is more than used to doing. As a teenager he had no idea what he wanted to do as a career until a careers adviser told him he should be an engineer.
"So I thought OK, sounds good, and got a mechanical engineering apprenticeship at RAF Fylingdales. I can remember my father saying to me a Government job was a job for life. I only stayed eight years before I moved to Malton Bacon Factory, but it proved a good training ground."
However, moving from an anti-ballistic missile base to food producer proved to be somewhat of a culture shock for the young engineer.
"I can remember one of my first jobs at the bacon factory was to fix a line. What I couldn't believe, however, was that it had to be fixed whilst still moving.
"I can still see my fingers dipping in and out of the line trying to repair it. I learned very quickly production is king. The conveyor belt stops for no man."
Corner went on to become production manager and helped increase the number of pigs travelling down the line to become streaky rashers from 12,000 to 50,000 a week. But a difference of opinion with senior management led Corner to eventually resign from his position.
Unperturbed, he decided to become his own boss and set up Corner Engineering, a firm specialising in production line maintenance.
He quickly went on to win a contract from rival Malton-based bacon factory Bowyers, and subsequently helped to increase its capacity from 1,400 to 4,000 pigs a week.
But Bowyers was bought out by meat paste producers Sutherlands who moved production to another site and the Malton factory closed.
With one of his biggest clients gone, Corner assessed his position and decided he couldn't create a forward order book within the maintenance sector, but he could in manufacturing.
"Euromeat Engineering, my second business, manufactured products needed by the meat industry. It was successful. Our clients included major meat producers from Harris of Ipswich, to Grants of Dornoch in Scotland," he explains.
"But then in the early 90s cheaper Eastern European products began to flood the market and we couldn't compete on value."
Selling the factory, Corner was then headhunted by one of Scotland's then biggest meat producers David A Hall.
After a successful interview he took the decision to move the family across the border, and gave up on the idea of being self-employed.
But all was not as it seemed.
"It wasn't until I took the job that I realised the business was struggling. Although I tried to improve production, the company was very resistant to change. After eight months it was taken over, and I was one of the casualties," he says, shrugging his shoulders.
Not wanting to give up, Corner went on to became a consultant for an engineering company, successfully building the business and the client list.
Unfortunately, the company declined to pay his commission and a lengthy court case followed.
Without financial collateral, but with the support of his accountant, a solicitor, Business Link, and previous customers, Corner went to the bank with a business plan and was loaned £375,000 to start Malton Laser.
"I guess I'm just the type of person who thinks nothing of picking himself up and starting again," says Corner.
"There's so much more to life."
Despite a bumpy ride on the career track, Corner's bike racing career has proved more smooth running, although costs and responsibilities have dulled his "obsession".
Although retired now, he successfully raced for 10 years and competed on the world circuit on a bike he built himself.
"I simply love the adrenaline, danger, and adventure," grins Corner.
"And I pretty much apply that to everything in my life."
He recalls a world Formula One championship race and his first major injury.
"Someone ran into the back of me – literally hitting me on the bum pushing my hip out of place. I can remember the marshals running over but I couldn't be moved because of the injury.
"I'd been leading the race and the pack were still on the circuit. So they put a straw bale in front of me, and ran off the track leaving me to face my fate. Fortunately, they all missed me. But it was hairy."
The only break during his racing years was when the Malton Bacon Factory "categorically" told Corner he was unemployable if he continued with his dangerous hobby.
"I guess they had a point."

anastasia.weiner@ypn.co.uk