Matrix look to the future

AN Oldham company established by two former Ferranti men is celebrating 20 years in business.

TP Matrix Ltd., set up by Chris Morris and Andy Morgan — who is no longer with the firm — in a starter unit at the Acorn Centre, now employs 35 people and has a list of ‘blue chip’ clients from around the globe.

The company, which started life as TP Maintenance, repair electronic gadgetry for many of Europe’s leading manufacturers in a 17,500 sq ft double unit at the Prince of Wales Business Centre off Vulcan Street, Derker.

Mr Morris, (46), from Chadderton, has hands on day-to-day control of TP Matrix and Sensorcare, a complimentary healthcare support business acquired in 2004, and he readily admits that the past 20 years have not been all plain sailing.

“There have been difficult times, no question,” he said as we sat in the boardroom overlooking a busy shopfloor where skilled operatives were hard at work on behalf of top brand like Sharp, Alstom and Ferranti Technologies right here in Oldham.

The parting with founding partner Mr Morgan was obviously a painful memory and he vividly recalls what he describes as ‘two bad years’ when the staffing levels dropped by 20 personnel and turnover plummeted when a major customer took its work overseas.

He added: “I made mistakes but how else do you learn? We have come through are now back on track with turnover steady at £2 million.

Now on a firm footing, TP Matrix sees much of its product exported to Belgium and France, some of its work goes to Brazil and some as far as China.

Mr Morris consistently paid tribute to his loyal staff, many of whom have been with TP for more than 15 years. Among the longservers are Operations Manager Gary Hall, from High Crompton, Team Leaders Lee Allen, Heywood, Matthew Thompson, Springhead and Maggie Greaves, Oldham, Rita Clark, Moston, Margaret Davidson and Colin Bottoms, both Droylsden, Pete Harnetty, Radcliffe and Alan Wynter, Crumpsall.

“It is difficult to single out any staff - most have been here a long time and are integral to our success - and our future,” he added.

AN Oldham company established by two former Ferranti men is celebrating 20 years in business.

TP Matrix Ltd., set up by Chris Morris and Andy Morgan — who is no longer with the firm — in a starter unit at the Acorn Centre, now employs 35 people and has a list of ‘blue chip’ clients from around the globe.

The company, which started life as TP Maintenance, repair electronic gadgetry for many of Europe’s leading manufacturers in a 17,500 sq ft double unit at the Prince of Wales Business Centre off Vulcan Street, Derker.

Mr Morris, (46), from Chadderton, has hands on day-to-day control of TP Matrix and Sensorcare, a complimentary healthcare support business acquired in 2004, and he readily admits that the past 20 years have not been all plain sailing.

“There have been difficult times, no question,” he said as we sat in the boardroom overlooking a busy shopfloor where skilled operatives were hard at work on behalf of top brand like Sharp, Alstom and Ferranti Technologies right here in Oldham.

The parting with founding partner Mr Morgan was obviously a painful memory and he vividly recalls what he describes as ‘two bad years’ when the staffing levels dropped by 20 personnel and turnover plummeted when a major customer took its work overseas.

He added: “I made mistakes but how else do you learn? We have come through are now back on track with turnover steady at £2 million.

Now on a firm footing, TP Matrix sees much of its product exported to Belgium and France, some of its work goes to Brazil and some as far as China.

Mr Morris consistently paid tribute to his loyal staff, many of whom have been with TP for more than 15 years. Among the longservers are Operations Manager Gary Hall, from High Crompton, Team Leaders Lee Allen, Heywood, Matthew Thompson, Springhead and Maggie Greaves, Oldham, Rita Clark, Moston, Margaret Davidson and Colin Bottoms, both Droylsden, Pete Harnetty, Radcliffe and Alan Wynter, Crumpsall.

“It is difficult to single out any staff - most have been here a long time and are integral to our success - and our future,” he added.