Describe what TMT’s approach is to innovation. How is your approach truly circular?

Innovation at TMT First is about creating smarter ways to keep technology alive for longer. Rather than defaulting to replacement, we continue to develop repair and refurbishment techniques that maximise reuse and minimise waste. Our award-winning Mobile Component Repair (MCR) process is a prime example which was recognised with a King’s Award for Innovation in 2025. Instead of replacing entire assemblies, we intricately repair only the faulty sub-components, reducing e-waste, cutting costs by up to 30% and dramatically reduce e-waste. Combined with secure IT asset disposition and refurbishment services, our approach ensures devices are repaired, reused, and recycled whenever possible. This is innovation with purpose, creating truly circular technology lifecycles.

What part does TMT First have to play in shaping or influencing the UK’s circular tech movement?

We see ourselves as both a practitioner and an advocate for circularity. As one of the UK’s largest-volume repair partners for Samsung and an Apple Independent Repair Provider, we set high standards for quality and sustainability. Beyond our operations, we actively influence the conversation, through leadership roles like Chairing the Staffordshire Business & Environment Network (SBEN) helping guide over 1,000 businesses toward greener practices, and initiatives such as our CIC – Reboot IT for All. This concept repurposes donated tech to support people in digital poverty.  We’ve already redistributed £100,000 worth of refurbished tech to tackle digital poverty. We also partner with councils, NHS trusts, and police forces to repurpose their surplus devices, proving that circular strategies work, that repair and reuse are practical cost-effective, and scalable practices. We aim to inspire other sectors and organisations nationwide to follow suit and embrace circular strategies.

What inspired you to focus on sustainability in an industry that often focusses on the new over the refurbished?

My passion for repair started early, taking apart VCRs and televisions in my teens, just to understand how they worked and could be repaired, and over time I became increasingly concerned about the growing mountain of e-waste. Globally, we generate over 62 million tonnes of electronic waste annually, and that figure is rising fast, projected to hit 82 million by 2030 with only 22% currently recycled. I wanted TMT First to be part of the solution. Repair and reuse aren’t just good for the planet, they’re good for people and businesses too. A professional repair will restore full functionality often at a fraction of the cost of buying new. That combination of environmental and financial benefit is what drives me every day.

What role does innovation play in achieving TMT’s sustainability goals?

Innovation allows us to make sustainability practical, scalable, and secure.

We continuously improve repair techniques including component-level device rework, and improve on current industry approaches to IT asset disposition to reduce waste and extend the life of technology. While standards such as ISO 27001 and our Police-Assured Secure Facility accreditation are strictly adhered to, they provide the trusted foundation that allows innovation to happen safely. This combination enables all our customers, particularly in the public sector and large enterprises, to adopt circular practices with confidence. At TMT First, sustainability works because innovation and compliance move together, turning good intent into operational impact.

Many consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious. How is TMT First helping brands and customers extend the life of their devices?

We already partner with world-leading brands like Samsung, Apple, and Microsoft to deliver high-quality repairs using genuine parts, ensuring devices last longer without compromising performance. For enterprise clients, our IT asset disposition service (ITAD) securely wipes and refurbishes hardware, giving it a second life instead of sending it to scrap, or worse yet, landfill. And through community initiatives like our CIC – Reboot IT for All, we take surplus tech from businesses and redistribute it to those who need it most. With 250,000 devices processed annually, we are making repair and reuse the easy, trusted choice for everyone.

Staffordshire is home to a growing community of innovators. How can you help them become more innovative through sustainability?

Staffordshire has always been a county of makers, problem-solvers, and practical innovation. Through my role as Chair of the Staffordshire Business & Environment Network (SBEN) and as a Patron of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, I aim to help local businesses see how sustainability can drive innovation rather than restrict it.

We share real-world examples of circular approaches, such as repairing rather than replacing, that reduce costs, cut carbon, and open up new commercial opportunities. By focusing on practical outcomes, and by offering collaboration, training, and partnerships, we help businesses apply sustainability in ways that directly improve resilience and competitiveness. By connecting established businesses with new and emerging entrepreneurs, we can strengthen Staffordshire’s business community and build a more sustainable, forward-looking county that stays true to its industrious roots.

Finally, looking ahead, what does the future of sustainable tech look like to you – and what role will TMT First play in shaping it?

The future of sustainable tech is one where repair and reuse are the norm, not the exception. Right-to-repair legislation, corporate net-zero commitments, and consumer awareness are all pushing us in that direction. TMT First will continue to lead by example, expanding our lifecycle services, deepening partnerships, and innovating new ways to keep technology alive for longer. Our vision is clear: a world where “end of life” never means end of use, and where circularity is built into every stage of the tech journey.

article from Daily Focus