Mick Ventola reveals what helps make his business a success
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 23 March 2026
While Ventola® Projects light up the world, its roots remain firmly in Leicestershire. Visionary businessman Mick Ventola is outshining the global giants by transforming his Leicester based lighting installation company into an international powerhouse with the help of East Midlands Airport.
Mick Ventola supplies lighting systems across the globe including hotels, entertainment centres in Las Vegas and royal palaces, as well as having even worked on top secret projects with some of the world’s biggest superstars. None of this would have been possible without the support of East Midlands Airport.
Ventola® Projects has built itself up over four decades into a significant player in a competitive market. Ventola’s main product is a multi-function LED system that can change from general lighting to colour-changing mood lighting or UV glow effects, popular in clubs, family entertainment centres, hotels, retail and many other leisure venues.
With their global HQ in Blaby, Leicestershire, Mick says that East Midlands Airport’s unrivalled cargo operation has played a part in his business’ success since the early days.
“I first started as a sole trader in 1989,” he said. “We were buying in products manufactured overseas, carrying out final assembly work and shipping them out to mainly EU countries via East Midlands Airport.
“We’re currently working on a project in Knoxville Tennessee, where we’re supplying our lighting and operating system to a large refit of a 40,000sq ft entertainment facility. The client requested additional exterior lighting that needed to be delivered the same week. With the seamless help of East Midlands Airport, the products were shipped UK to USA, cleared by customs and delivered to the client’s door within two days.”
East Midlands Airport handles £37 billion worth of trade a year and provides jobs for over 42,000 people across the country. It serves a huge economic engine, generating a total GVA contribution of £4.2billion to the UK economy, with £2.5billion staying within the Midlands and £1.6 billion specifically benefitting the East Midlands.
