Allan is founder and shareholder of Semefab Ltd. A B.Sc (Hons) Physics graduate from Southampton University in 1973, Allan started his career in DRAM development and manufacture at Mullard Southampton and ITT Sidcup, moving into Silicon on Sapphire technology development at GEC Hurst Research Centre in Wembley and MEDL in Lincoln until 1982. He then turned to Wafer fab management at General Instrument in Glenrothes until 1986 at which point he established Semefab.