He joined the Ministry of Supply in 1946 before leaving in 1956 to take up the role of assistant controller at Ford of Britain.
[1] He had also been instrumental in the development of the Lotus Cortina due to his passion for motorsport [2] and because “You must assess where motor sport can help in areas where your company is weak.
[3] In 1965 Barber left Ford due what he saw as "creeping Americanisation" and joined the conglomerate AEI as finance director.
[5] Barber became joint managing director of the newly formed British Leyland in 1971, a role he held with George Turnbull.
[11] He then went on to work as chairman of Pullmaflex, Aberhurst, AC Engineering and Cox & Kings Financial Services, and served on the board of several companies including Spear & Jackson, Acrow, John E. Wiltshier and the Communications Group.