When Brendan McMenamin moved from Derry to Sheffield back in 2001, he only meant to stay for a few years. The plan was simple: finish his psychology degree, enjoy a bit of the city’s famous music scene, and then head home. More than two decades later, he’s still here – now running one of the region’s most trusted construction firms, LABS.
“I came over thinking I’d get my degree and go back,” he laughs. “That was nearly twenty-five years ago. Sheffield just felt right – friendly people, a bit rough round the edges in the best way, and a spirit that reminded me of home.”
Brendan grew up in Derry in the 1980s, in what he describes as a “multiple-heritage household” – Protestant and Catholic – right in the middle of the Northern Irish conflict. “People hear that and think it must have been difficult, but honestly, it was brilliant. We were a gang of kids riding bikes and playing football until dark. You didn’t have much, but you had each other.”
That sense of togetherness and resourcefulness has stayed with him. After losing his father at just eight years old, Brendan started working early – first in a furniture shop, then behind the bar of a pub in Letterkenny. “We didn’t have loads of money, so you just cracked on. That’s probably where the graft came from.”
By the time he arrived in Sheffield, the pull of psychology made sense. “I was always interested in why people do what they do. After the childhood I’d had, I think I wanted to understand people – and help where I could.” He went on to work in forensic psychology and youth probation, but something kept pulling him back towards more hands-on work.
“I never planned to start a business. It just… happened,”
“I’d been managing a few property projects for family and friends, doing bits of refurbishment, and realised I was better at getting things organised than most people on site. That was the start of it.”
What began as a side hustle doing Legionella assessments turned into LABS, a fully fledged construction and basement conversion company launched in 2016. “It started from spotting a gap – people needed reliable building services that weren’t just turning up, bodging it, and disappearing. The bar in construction was low, and I wanted to do it differently.”
Brendan’s story will sound familiar to plenty of small business owners. “Most of us are winging it, at least at the start,” he says. “You try something, learn the hard way, and pivot when you have to. I don’t buy the idea that successful people have it all mapped out. Half the time, you’re just figuring it out as you go.”
He credits much of his adaptability to growing up in Northern Ireland. “You had to be able to talk to everyone – different backgrounds, different views. That’s served me well in business. I can mix with all sorts, but still be myself.”
That grounded attitude runs through the company. LABS’ team are mostly full-time employees rather than subcontractors, something Brendan’s proud of. “It’s harder that way – more responsibility, more overheads – but it builds loyalty. You can’t create a proper culture if everyone’s just passing through.”
Ask Brendan why he’s stayed in Sheffield so long and he doesn’t hesitate. “It’s the people. You can’t be too up yourself here. There’s humility, humour, honesty – all the stuff I grew up around. It’s got that small-town mentality in the best possible way.”
Even when he briefly lived in Birmingham for work, he’d come back at weekends. “Sheffield’s home. The Peaks are right there, the community’s sound, and it’s a great place to raise kids.”
That mix of city grit and countryside calm has clearly rubbed off on the business too. “We’ve never tried to be flash,” he says. “It’s about being straight with people and doing what you say you’ll do.”
Looking back, Brendan’s psychology training still shapes how he runs things. “It taught me to listen. Whether it’s a customer, a builder, or a business partner – everyone’s got their own pressures. Understanding that makes life easier.”
His advice for anyone starting out? “Be honest with yourself about what you don’t know. Don’t fake it. Find people who are better than you in certain areas and bring them in. That’s how LABS has grown – good people filling the gaps.”
He’s also learned the importance of pacing yourself. “Running a business is stressful. You can’t do everything. You’ve got to look after your head and your energy. Burnout’s real – I’ve been there.”
Now approaching its tenth year, LABS continues to evolve. Brendan’s joined by Phil Wilson and Karl Howard, long-time colleagues who’ll soon become directors. “I realised the company would be stronger if we ran it together. It’s about sharing the load and keeping it sustainable.”
That openness to change – the same quality that once took him from psychology to construction – keeps LABS moving forward. “I think that’s what entrepreneurship really is,” he says. “It’s not about having a grand plan. It’s about adapting, learning, and keeping your feet on the ground.”
As for what’s next, Brendan smiles. “I don’t know, to be honest. That’s the fun bit. Whatever happens, Sheffield’s home now – and LABS is part of it.”
