Blackburn Business That Started in a Garage Wins the King’s Award for Enterprise
TT Instruments, a multi-million pound precision instrument specialist founded by two Blackburn friends with no funding and no debt, has been honoured with the UK’s most prestigious business accolade.
A Blackburn company that began in the back of a garage during the COVID-19 pandemic has been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise in the category of International Trade — granted to only a coveted handful of UK companies in this category, and personally approved by His Majesty The King.
TT Instruments, the trading name of TechPlant Ltd, based at Unit 2 Wainwright Court, Canterbury Street, Blackburn, was co-founded in January 2021 by Muhammad Geloo and Aziz Bham. Starting from the back of a local vehicle inspection garage – with no investors, no loans, and no prior experience — the pair built a specialist business sourcing high-value precision instruments released from UK corporate disposal cycles, restoring them, and exporting them to researchers and engineers worldwide.
Five years on, TT Instruments is a multi-million pound international business with a team of six, delivering consistent year-on-year growth with no down years since founding. The King’s Award specifically recognises more than doubling of exports over the three-year assessment period. The business exports to over 70 countries worldwide – more than 57 in a single financial year alone – with 75 to 80 per cent of turnover from international customers. Not a penny of external debt has ever been taken on.
“We started with no money, no experience, and a vision to build something that genuinely mattered. This Award is the most powerful validation we could have received – not just of our commercial success, but of the values that underpin everything we do. We are incredibly proud to bring this to Blackburn.” – Muhammad Geloo, Co-Director, TT Instruments
The company holds ISO 9001:2015 quality certification and a 4.8 ‘Excellent’ Trustpilot rating. Its customer base includes Google, Toshiba, Rolls-Royce, NHS teams, and universities across six continents. A growing proportion of customers purchase directly by bank transfer – a reflection of the trust built over five years.
Every instrument TT Instruments sells has been diverted from the corporate waste stream and given a second life, a circular economy model that is good for the environment, good for global science, and good for British exports. The company also channels a portion of annual profits through UK-registered charities to support communities locally and internationally, and is a member of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce.
“Muhammad and I are aware that we have barely scratched the surface of what is possible. The volumes of high-value surplus equipment in UK laboratories and corporate facilities are vast. We have proved the model works – now we are scaling it.” – Aziz Bham, Co-Director, TT Instruments.
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