Meet Our Founder and Managing Director – Martin Brown
We recently sat down with Leodis Stairlifts Managing Director and Founder – Martin Brown. Martin has worked in the lift industry for decades, bringing a wealth of engineering knowledge and passion for helping others with life’s ups and downs.
How did you get into the industry?
Ironically, I used to be frightened to death of lifts. My journey started with a six-year lift engineering apprenticeship, followed by years of working across various companies in the industry. In 1991, I founded Leodis Lifts. Back then, stairlifts were just a small part of what we did, but after two or three years in business, demand surged and stairlifts were becoming far more popular and essential for people’s independence.
We continued expanding both arms of the business until 2012, when I sold the main commercial lift division to White Lifts (which is still running successfully today). That sale allowed me to sharpen 100% of our focus on Leodis Stairlifts, delivering exacting engineering experience with specialised, personal care.
Where did the tag line come from?
It comes directly from our core values of empathy and relatability. We all go through life’s ups and downs – physically, emotionally, and financially. A stairlift isn’t just a piece of machinery – it represents a major life transition. Our tagline is a gentle, human reminder that whatever stage of life you’re at, we’re here to support you through it.
What does exceptional after-sales mean to me?
It means everything to me as a business owner. Selling a stairlift is only the first step; the real test of a company is how you look after people after the installation. We don’t just take your money and run away. Our customers need 100% peace of mind, knowing that if something goes wrong, someone will be there.
How do you ensure that the core family values stay strong?
Just because the business has grown doesn’t mean our standards change. if anything, keeping those family values intact means even more to me now. It all comes down to our company makeup and the people we employ. We hire staff who genuinely care about people, ensuring that our founding principles remain front and centre no matter how much we expand.
We treat every single customer the way we would want our own family members to be treated. That means complete transparency – no high-pressure sales tactics, and no hassling people.
How do you build trust with customers?
Trust comes from proof and reassurance. Every team member is fully DBS-checked, and customers always know the face behind the name coming to their door. All our staff wear ID lanyards to verify identity. We encourage having family members or trusted friends present so we can explain everything clearly to everyone involved.
Over 96% of our reviews are 5 stars. We take feedback seriously because it drives our continuous improvement.
Looking ahead at the next 5 years,
As the longest-standing independent stairlift specialist in the North of England,, second only to nationwide giants like Stannah, our vision for the next five years is deeply rooted in our community.
My partner Kaye and I are passionate about giving back. Over the next five years, we are deepening our commitments to local causes, including Leeds United Football Club (LUFC) initiatives, Yorkshire Cancer Research, The Dogs Trust, and other community foundation endeavours – especially their work supporting inner-city areas, ethnic minorities, and individuals facing physical and learning disabilities.
For us, the next five years aren’t just about fitting more stairlifts, they’re about championing inclusion, accessibility, and peace of mind across Yorkshire and the North.
