However, Chairman Adam Whitehouse had been involved in the mobile phone industry long before. It all started with a single shop called ‘The Mobile Trader.’ Based in Stoke-on-Trent, Adam bought phones from consumers, cleaned and refurbished, reset, software flashed and sold them on. Word got around Adam was the man to see if you needed software flashing, soon he was inundated by commercial customers.
TMT First expanded to larger business premises where they could focus on software flashing and configuration, the advent of smartphones bringing new opportunities. Expansion into bulk buying of used devices followed, seeing the opportunity to use inhouse skills to refurbish and repurpose old mobile phones.
Major contract wins with insurance companies to supply and grade mobile phones followed, then in 2016 TMT First began their partnership with Samsung and so the focus on repairs began. At this time TMT First had moved into new premises in Newcastle-under-Lyme, formerly occupied by Vodafone.
In 2020 TMT First launched their own training academy in partnership with Samsung to upskill the next generation of mobile phone repair technicians, filling a skills shortage. This was superseded in 2024 when TMT First developed the first Digital Device Repair Technician Apprenticeship in partnership with (iFATE).
In recent years TMT First have added Apple and Microsoft to their repair portfolio, and in 2024 landed a coveted Mobile Industry Award for ‘Sustainability’.
TMT First is incorporated in April 2006 and starts in two units in Park Hall, Stoke.
We reach a milestone of having configured over 2 million devices and are featured in Mobile News.
We outgrow the two units so expand into another two.
We win a contract with one of the largest mobile device insurance companies in the world. Staff doubles.
We move to Holditch House and open a Repair Centre. We now uplift, repair and refurbish mobile devices.
Opened a Samsung Support Centre in Hanley, Staffordshire for mobile, tablet and wearable IW and OOW repairs.
We open an additional Samsung Support Centre in Sheffield. We become authorised to provide Samsung in-warranty repairs.
We double our workforce and warehouse space. We launch our Training Academy. We partner with Ecologi.
We win 4 regional awards, including the coveted Business of the Year Award.
The role of Founder and CEO is split – Adam Whitehouse is Founder and Darren Billings becomes our new CEO.
We launch the first UK Digital Device Repair Technician Apprenticeship.
Since I founded TMT in 2006 the tech industry, in particular the advancements made in mobile technology have changed immeasurably. From day one we’ve worked with the world’s leading manufacturers including Samsung who we are very proud to be an approved partner of.
In the last few years alone, we have doubled in size, expanded our headquarters and launched our very first training academy, upskilling the next generation of engineers, to support us on our journey as we continue to expand. Sustainability is at the very core of what we do.
We want to extend the life of mobile technology, so that refurbished, repurposed devices become the norm, so that mentality shifts from having the latest tech for the sake of it. That can only be good for our environment. With your help we can also help reduce our carbon footprint.
Partnering with Ecologi we are working on projects to plant trees – our pledge through our customer’s support is to plant a million trees in the next ten years. The quality of services we deliver, the expertise we have, our excellent customer service and the vital work we are doing through TMT to support environmental sustainability is why I am so proud to lead our organisation.
Founder
CEO
General Manager
Director of Sales & Purchasing
Head of Repair
Head of Finance
Head of IT
Head of HR