Martin Mulligan graduated from Reading University, UK with a first class honours degree in English in 1979. He then became a salesman with weighing equipment manufacturer W. and T. Avery Ltd, now Avery Weightronix, in UK.
After that he joined Herbert and Sons, now Herbert group, as General Manager of their Irish branch from 1982-1984. He subsequently acquired this business in January 1984 and Martin Mulligan (Ireland) Ltd was formed.