Now Cirencester Intruder Alarms is investing GB pound 1m in a building redevelopment programme to help make it a centre of excellence in security training.
CIA, headed up by owner Colin Harrison, has started redevelopment of a 10,000 square ft facility. The aim is to provide a training centre for CIA apprentices and a centre of excellence for other security businesses needing staff training.
It will also respond to new customer requirements for intruder alarms and broaden the firm’s recent diversification into fire alarm and sprinkler systems.
Harrison, who runs the business with major management by wife Nicci and son Matthew, said: “We have a rolling five year growth plan that has come about because of the support of our employees and customers who together have raised us to a very significant level”.
CIA has acquired a building in Chesterton Lane, Cirencester. Refurbishment, which will take up to six months, will include a second floor, new roof, extensive enhancements to the exterior and remodelling internally to provide business, management and training facilities.
The current staff of 40 (office staff, engineers and alarm response officers) is likely to grow as activities increase, particularly in fire alarm systems developments and apprentice training.
Twice a week everyone available gathers for breakfast.
Says Harrison: “We are a team; we get together as a team. We are in a people business and you have to know each other, the goods and the bads, the strengths and the weaknesses, the problems and the happy times”.
The NSI Gold company has Investors in People status and BAFE accreditation. Its next target is City and Guilds accreditation as a training provider, internally and externally.
Former apprentice, Jonathan Stanford, who today leads the fledgling Fire Division said: “I love the family factor; there are many opportunities here and your efforts are always recognised and rewarded”.
The company put together some “growth facts” to chart its progress from modest beginnings 20 years ago. It has:
– Undertaken 12,500 new jobs
– Travelled 220,000 miles – roughly eight times around the world
– Used 90,000 minutes on mobile phones
– Installed 133 kilometres of cabling – equivalent to driving from Cirencester to London
– Spent 139 days on training
And those breakfasts?
During 2007 they ate 300 eggs, 450 sausages and 350 slices of bacon, not mention hundreds of pieces of toast and cups of tea and coffee.