Seating Matters

13th February 2019

North West healthcare seating manufacturer Seating Matters motions towards international growth

The Project

The family business works with leading healthcare organisations around the world and hopes to build on its recent supplier listing within the network of Veterans Hospitals in the USA.

Eight new jobs will be recruited as part of Seating Matters’ growth plans, aimed at increasing sales to over £6 million by 2020. The business is also investing heavily in marketing and product development, all with support from Invest Northern Ireland.

How did ERDF funding, through the EU Investment for Growth & Jobs Programme, contribute to the success of the project/scheme?

Des Gartland, Invest NI’s Executive Director of Regional Business recently visited Seating Matters at its Limavady-based premises.

 “We are pleased to be helping Seating Matters implement a growth strategy that will enable the business to achieve its full potential. In particular, the benefits Seating Matters has gained from applying exemplar lean manufacturing practices across the plant are commendable and I hope will aid the continued increase in global sales.”

Invest NI has offered the company support with its recruitment, marketing and product development activities as well as technical advice with securing product patents and implementing lean practices.

Martin Tierney, Director of Seating Matters added: “We have dedicated a lot of time and effort to both streamline our production methods and augment our chair design so that it can be fully adapted to the needs of users.

“Seating Matters supplies specialist seating to healthcare providers, including National Health Services, nursing homes and hospitals. The product range caters to the holistic needs of patients, providing comfort, postural support and pressure management and is currently distributed across the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Malta, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Australia, Canada and USA.

Invest NI’s R&D support is part funded by ERDF under the EU Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme 2014-2020.

Future plans 

Commenting on the company’s progress, Des said:

“Seating Matters operates at the forefront of seating research and innovation. The company’s plans to expand its workforce is good news for the Causeway Coast and Glens region and reflects the growing demand from its customers across varied export markets.“

Of Invest NI’s support, Martin said:

"It is enabling us to enhance our product range, grow our workforce and increase international sales. Our mission is to change the world of healthcare seating and we aim to continue to share our knowledge with the world to ensure no person has to face unnecessary discomfort or mortality.”