Having spent the last 11 years as managing director of First Security and building that company into a GB pound 55 million concern, Jonathan Levine has now emerged from his ‘sabbatical’ which began in April 2007 to take up the reins at Axis Security, the London (primarily West End) and City-based security contractor formed in 1994 that was rebranded and relaunched at the Institute of Directors on 22 May.
Levine, who has been operational in the security sector these past 20 years, is joined at Axis by four of his former First senior management colleagues David Mundell (sales director), operations director John Fitzpatrick and commercial managers Neil Ames (who boasts ten years’ sales experience) and Edward Holmes.
Mundell, Fitzpatrick, Ames and Holmes bolster an already strong middle management that lists contract specialists Jacqui Lapham and Deon Archibald in a mix which Levine insists will organically, it’s hoped turn the current GB pound 4 million business into one worth upwards of GB pound 30 million over the next three-to-four years.
In addition to its core security guarding offering, Axis also delivers a range of complementary services including Front of House/reception teams, Post Room services, key holding and mobile patrols. All employees of the company headquartered at Lighterman House on the Wharfdale Road in London’s Kings Cross district are fully vetted, Security Industry Authority-licensed and trained. 40-plus customers include some of the City’s leading property management companies, media businesses and legal firms.
New logo, new banner
Visually, the Axis rebranding includes a new logo the angels wings legend designed to denote a combination of protection and care and the introduction of new uniforms to enhance the officers’ image while “better reflecting” the images of premises they protect. The Approved Contractor Scheme-registered company also unites under a new banner: ‘Building Confidence’.
“This is not just a cosmetic exercise,” Levine told Security Management Today. “Behind the renewed identity lies a period of long-term investment. Investment in our people, our infrastructure and in our service. We want to give a clear message to the market that Axis is serious about security and the levels of support it will be affording customers and members of staff.”
As if to underline the point, among the first tasks performed by the new management team has been a thorough review of remuneration and benefits packages for each and every one of the company’s 200 security officers (including the implementation of a company sick pay scheme, Life Assurance cover and performance-related awards). Levine is also “in the final stages” of agreeing a scheme designed to enhance officers’ take-home pay thanks to the introduction of a travel subsistence scheme.
Ambitious targets set
“We have set ourselves some ambitious targets,” commented Levine, “but we’re all about quality of service and making the best characteristics of the old First Security model even better. There are huge opportunities to be realised in the London and City arenas.”
Levine actually joined Axis last December having had “lots of telephone calls” from companies interested in his considerable commercial skills and security acumen. “I’m a business builder. Always have been,” suggested Levine (who stated that the company will “more than likely” be striving towards Investors in People status in the not-too-distant future). “I enjoy that, and I really didn’t want to be stuck in some kind of reporting chain.”
For the present time, Axis a subsidiary of the LPM Group will be sticking to pure security guarding contracts. “We most certainly want to become more computer-friendly where our officers are concerned,” opined Levine. “To this end, we’re spending a huge amount of money on automating the business at the same time as marketing it to blue chip end users. Given time, I firmly believe the market will be seriously impressed with the end results of our operation. Employing and maintaining a great management team is key for us. Without continuity major problems will always arise on contracts and with the clients.”
Although organic growth is the stated desire, Levine pointed out: “If an opportunity for the buy-out of another security company or two presents itself in the south east then we’ll think about it.”
News of any potential sellers will doubtless filter through from Roy Hudson, who has joined the operational team armed with 17 years’ experience in the private security industry.
Fittingly, the last word falls to Levine. “I’m immensely proud of what we achieved at First Security, but we can replicate it and improve upon it with this new venture. We are serious about security for blue chips. Watch this space over the next 12 months and see if I’m not right.”
