When Neil Turnbull founded PAT Training Services Ltd in July 2004, the digital landscape was very different - Google had recently launched it's first email service Gmail, while newly-released "TheFacebook" was proving a hit within selected US colleges. Having worked within the industry for a number of years, Neil had a desire to run his own business, providing PAT training and PAT testing equipment, but little did he know that his company would become an industry leading test and measurement solution specialist.

From a garage start-up to a multi-million pound operation

As with most new businesses, the beginning was tough; Neil created and operated his original website - PAT Training Services - in his bedroom and his home continued as his workplace, keeping stock in his wardrobe and using the dining room table as his packing bench, often having to improvise to make ends meet.

Initially focused on portable appliance testing exclusively - running hugely-popular training courses (with more venues added nationwide as the demand grew) as well as associated test equipment - the company quickly grew and key staff members were brought in to grow the business.

Having built relationships with recognisable brands within the sector, Neil was keen that his workforce were well-versed in both their products and their customers' requirements, continuing to work hard to gain access to a wider range of sectors.

Their perseverance paid off, with the Test Meter website soon establishing itself alongside PAT Training Services as a leading supplier of instrumentation. This segue into the wider world of test & measurement ensured the development of the company and led to a need for more space, moving the business from Neil's home and into our head office in Bramley, Leeds.

Inspiring growth

Despite it's humble beginnings, Test Meter had established itself as a major player within the test and measurement industry, with the recognisable brand eventually eclipsing its predecessor, leading to an official company name change.

However, with the market highly competitive and the demand to deliver ever more accurate, stable and efficient solutions constantly increasing, there was still plenty of work to do.

Through continuous innovation, highly-qualified and committed employees and a solid understanding of customer needs, the company has continued to thrive over the years, achieving year-on-year growth for much of the company's history, expanding into additional buildings and continuing to add related services.

Precision, innovation and durability

While a lot has changed over the last two decades, the Test Meter team has shown an ability to grow and develop with the times. Whether it's changes in legislation, new areas of technology or global pandemics, Test Meter has proven to be a reliable partner for some of the world's biggest test & measurement brands.

While the company has grown a great deal since 2004, many of the team from our early years are still within the business today, a fact we are very proud of. Having been in business for twenty years, the Test Meter team are stronger, more knowledgable, and better resourced than ever before, but we still continue to strive for improvement and innovation to ensure that our customers get the best service possible.

Here's to another twenty years!