Jim sits down with Martin Tierney who quit school at 17 to develop a family business with his brothers. He was a star pupil but his mother told him that she would back his decision to leave school before he’d completed his A Levels and get to work in the emerging business with his brothers. That faith wasn’t misplaced. Martin has developed Seating Matters into an export powerhouse. The company, based near the village of Limavady in County Derry, makes therapeutical chairs for patients with complex needs. From a small workshop it has grown into a substantial business with a turnover upwards of £26 million across the group. What sets Martin and his company apart isn’t just the product, it’s the philosophy behind it. It was born from a realisation that many infirm patients weren’t being properly served by the equipment on offer. His mother, an occupational therapist and the inspiration for the business, was able to guide Martin on what the patients really needed. But the transformation in the business really accelerated whenever the Tierney brothers developed a friendship with senior directors of the Japanese car giant Toyota. Remarkably, they willingly imparted their philosophy and shared their secrets, even visiting the County Derry factory. It was priceless consultancy and the only demand was that Martin and his brothers pass on the wisdom to anyone who sought it. Hence, their factory has become a Disneyland for business leaders and entrepreneurs keen to learn. In this conversation Martin talks with passion about everything he has learned.
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