EPH Controls founder has been nominated in the Established Business Category for this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year awardsTrevor Casey: 'Invest in yourself and never stop learning.' Photograph; Naoise Culhane Thu Aug 06 2026 - 19:00 • 3 MIN READTrevor Casey is the founder and managing director of EPH Controls Ltd, an Irish heating controls manufacturer and supplier.Founded in 1997, EPH designs, manufactures and distributes heating control solutions for residential and commercial applications.Its product portfolio includes smart thermostats, heating programmers, motorised valves, underfloor heating controls and energy management solutions designed to improve comfort, efficiency and sustainability.Headquartered in Cork, EPH serves customers throughout Ireland and the UK through a network of more than 2,500 plumbing and electrical merchants and OEM partners.What vision/light bulb moment prompted you to start up in business?Entrepreneurship is in my DNA. My father was a serial entrepreneur, and from an early age I wanted to build something of my own. When my employer ceased trading, I saw an opportunity rather than a setback. Being ambitious enough at 23 to secure the agency for a Swiss heating controls manufacturer became the catalyst for what would grow into EPH.What are your annual revenues and profits?The EPH Group recorded turnover of €38 million in 2025.Describe your business model and what makes your business unique.EPH designs and manufactures heating controls that improve comfort, reduce energy consumption and simplify installation. What sets us apart is our close relationship with installers and customers. We listen carefully, act quickly and develop products that solve real-world challenges.What moment or deal was a game changer or turning point for the company?The launch of a heating controls range designed specifically for the UK market in the mid-2000s was a big turning point. Its success accelerated our growth and gave us the confidence to back our own design and manufacturing capabilities. More importantly, it proved that an Irish company could compete successfully on a much larger stage.To what extent does your business trade internationally and what are your future plans?Today, almost two-thirds of our revenue comes from export markets, with the UK representing our largest market. Our ambition is to continue expanding internationally, particularly across Europe, Australia and New Zealand. We see significant opportunities to bring our products, expertise and customer-focused approach to new markets.What is the most common mistake you see entrepreneurs making?Being too focused on the product rather than the customer’s need. Great businesses are not built on features alone, but on a clear understanding of demand. Successful entrepreneurs are those who stay close to the market and ensure every product decision is grounded in solving a real-world problem.What advice would you offer to a less experienced entrepreneur?Invest in yourself and never stop learning. Build your business around genuine customer needs, focus on creating long-term value and always act with integrity. Success rarely comes from a breakthrough moment; it is usually the result of consistently making the correct decisions over time.What were the best and the worst pieces of advice you received when starting out?The best advice was to stay close to the customer and focus on solving real problems.The worst was to pursue growth too aggressively. I have learned that sustainable businesses are built on strong foundations. Growth is important, but only when supported by the right people, systems and culture.What makes your company a good place to work?As the business has developed, we have worked hard to nurture our family-orientated culture. We invest in training, development and employee wellbeing, while creating opportunities for people to progress and contribute to EPH’s succes in a meaningful way. Our growth has always been driven by our people, and building a strong culture remains a priority.IN THIS SECTION