Oh, and Daniel...
I must admit, the SIA were terrible, and dealing with them was a nightmare, but I've got to say, they seem to have improved.
Indeed, when I rang them yesterday my call was answered immediately, and I sent an email at 17.00 and got a reply back that evening with a good, comprehensive answer to my question.
I have also found licensing to be a lot quicker - many of my collegues get it back within 2 weeks, certainly 30 days.
And sites that I know have had SIA visits have told me that it was all very good and well conducted.
So they may be getting better.
The actual criteria for the license etc may be a bit off in places, but the SIA as a body has impressed me.
All the best
Steve
I must admit, the SIA were terrible, and dealing with them was a nightmare, but I've got to say, they seem to have improved.
Indeed, when I rang them yesterday my call was answered immediately, and I sent an email at 17.00 and got a reply back that evening with a good, comprehensive answer to my question.
I have also found licensing to be a lot quicker - many of my collegues get it back within 2 weeks, certainly 30 days.
And sites that I know have had SIA visits have told me that it was all very good and well conducted.
So they may be getting better.
The actual criteria for the license etc may be a bit off in places, but the SIA as a body has impressed me.
All the best
Steve
Upvote
0
D
daniel.benson
- Original Poster
- #43
Hi Steve I must agree about the times they answer calls and processing times have improved alot. I waited for 9 months for a my badge when they first started out.
But I think its a little to late. Personally Id like to see it go back to local councils with a view to work nationally with your licence like the personal licence for alcohol.
But I think its a little to late. Personally Id like to see it go back to local councils with a view to work nationally with your licence like the personal licence for alcohol.
Upvote
0
SIA licensing is a must. However, when you come to working out yourr business plan make sure you allow for at least 3-4 months before your invoices get paid.
Friend of mine has been in the manned security business and getting paid is horrendous. They rely on factoring which is expensive but it is the only way they can ensure steady cashflow. (They do about £110 millon t/o a year by the way.)
The smaller you are and the more dependant you are on a small number of clients the more likely you are to get screwed down on price and trading terms.
Upvote
0
As some have suggested it would be helpful if you also joined a forum specialising in this sector, there are several if you search online.
Apart from the generic business administration on which there are many experts in this forum you will also need to familiarise yourself with security sector regulations such as BS7858:2006 which covers aspects of employing people ... you can purchase a copy from BSi.
Apart from the generic business administration on which there are many experts in this forum you will also need to familiarise yourself with security sector regulations such as BS7858:2006 which covers aspects of employing people ... you can purchase a copy from BSi.
Upvote
0
D
daniel.benson
- Original Poster
- #54
Don't bother you wont make any money out of it unless you have loads of ongoing work. There are way to may fly by night security companies that are operating in the industry and they do more harm than good.
Another issue is this year the SIA are beginning to wrap things up and change to a new licencing regime, all business will be required to be approve contractors which cost from what I've been told around 10, 15 grand but cannot confrim this figiure.
My advice is just work for large security company and work your way up the management tree your gaurnteed work and money, working for yourself in security your gaurnteed nothing as a very small return.
You will get better advice from working the doors or close protection website.
Another issue is this year the SIA are beginning to wrap things up and change to a new licencing regime, all business will be required to be approve contractors which cost from what I've been told around 10, 15 grand but cannot confrim this figiure.
My advice is just work for large security company and work your way up the management tree your gaurnteed work and money, working for yourself in security your gaurnteed nothing as a very small return.
You will get better advice from working the doors or close protection website.
Last edited by a moderator:
Upvote
0
In all honesty forget starting up in the UK security Industry. I have been in the industry at every level worked my way up from guard to Director and ran my own Sec business. With net profits lower than 5% and large companies buying contracts to get market share there are better and more profitable businesses out there to start up. Starting from ground zero with no contracts you will find it hard to win new business without client references and case studies therefore you should consider finding funds to aquire a small guarding company with a T/O of no less than £2m that has SIA ACS Accreditation. Good luck - hope this helps you out.
Cheeky sales pitch now for Security Vacancies and a UK Design Company
Cheeky sales pitch now for Security Vacancies and a UK Design Company
Upvote
0
I have been in the security business for 15 years and have usually been a supervisor or had some responsibility at least in each job taken. I now have a decent job at a decent company with a decent pension (I work in house for a state run business). Sadly the EU has caught up with us and reduced our weekly working hours quite a bit. I don't want to leave the job but the £4,000 a year I will be losing needs to be replaced somehow.
am investigating the idea of offering myself and a few of my colleagues security services to various people and business for short term contracts from 6 hours to two weeks. The idea is not to compete with the big boys but to fill a niche market and earn a few thousand a year in the process. As long as I personally can make back the money I have lost I will be happy so I am not expecting mega bucks or to take away the business of big companies.
All our staff are SIA licensed and Accredited community officers (with low level police powers).
The client base I am thinking of are
1, People who need a one off venue/party policing.
2, People who require short term security for one off events i.e. to protect a damaged property,
3, Business who require holiday/illness cover for themselves or for security staff at short notice.
I can sort out id cards and letterheads easily enough and any colleagues that are asked to cover work that I can't will be on a sub contract basis but what are the problems I need to address before I start such as insurances and other easily overlooked things?
Thanks in advance
am investigating the idea of offering myself and a few of my colleagues security services to various people and business for short term contracts from 6 hours to two weeks. The idea is not to compete with the big boys but to fill a niche market and earn a few thousand a year in the process. As long as I personally can make back the money I have lost I will be happy so I am not expecting mega bucks or to take away the business of big companies.
All our staff are SIA licensed and Accredited community officers (with low level police powers).
The client base I am thinking of are
1, People who need a one off venue/party policing.
2, People who require short term security for one off events i.e. to protect a damaged property,
3, Business who require holiday/illness cover for themselves or for security staff at short notice.
I can sort out id cards and letterheads easily enough and any colleagues that are asked to cover work that I can't will be on a sub contract basis but what are the problems I need to address before I start such as insurances and other easily overlooked things?
Thanks in advance
Upvote
0
You may find your current employment contract prevents you from starting a security company for X years from leaving. You need to check the small print before you jump.
Upvote
0
I'm not jumping. I'm staying. I just want to claw back lost earnings trhough extra work found by my self. I have thought about the conflict of interest aspect but as a couple of the lads work as door men I think they would have difficulty moaning about to much. Incidentally I do not work for a security firm. The security department (staff of 22) is a small cog in a big wheel (1800 staff) the business itself has nothing to do with security.
Upvote
0
Ok, just to keep this post going a little longer please fell free to throw ideas my way!
Myself and a work colleague are looking at starting a security business.
Our back ground:
1. Combined years working experience with the UKs leading software provider for security scheduling/management (If I said the name of the company a lot of you would know them) = 20 years
2. My business partner currently owns an outsourced control room for the security industry, i am the ops director.
3. The icing on the cake, we have legally! compiled a list of over 6000 sites that currently require security guards!
Now, although we have experience in the industry we no nothing about out subcontract work which i think is the way forward, as this reduces over heads and lets be honest there wont be as much input required apart from the usual customer service, site visits, schedules ect.
4. Am I right, is it worth it?
5. Whats the standard hourly bill these days?
6. We can sub guards at £9 per hour, is this ok (see question 5)
Look forward to your replies
(I know about ACS, NSI, SIA ect)
Myself and a work colleague are looking at starting a security business.
Our back ground:
1. Combined years working experience with the UKs leading software provider for security scheduling/management (If I said the name of the company a lot of you would know them) = 20 years
2. My business partner currently owns an outsourced control room for the security industry, i am the ops director.
3. The icing on the cake, we have legally! compiled a list of over 6000 sites that currently require security guards!
Now, although we have experience in the industry we no nothing about out subcontract work which i think is the way forward, as this reduces over heads and lets be honest there wont be as much input required apart from the usual customer service, site visits, schedules ect.
4. Am I right, is it worth it?
5. Whats the standard hourly bill these days?
6. We can sub guards at £9 per hour, is this ok (see question 5)
Look forward to your replies
(I know about ACS, NSI, SIA ect)
Upvote
0
D
daniel.benson
- Original Poster
- #68
I did used to own a company that operated Door Supervision and manned guarding sites however around 2008/9 a lot people decided they wanted to set up a Security company with no real experience in security. This resulted in the price of jobs going from 17.50 per hour down to 10.00 and the quality of staff that these companies have brung with them is shameful.
From what you have said above you have no real experience of working in security nor running a security company. Working on Security software is nothing like working in the security industry. Save your money and time and do something else.
Upvote
0
Thanks for your concern,
I didn't work with the software I helped develop it for 5 years and my colleague 15 years, the company turned over 5 million pounds per year at the time we left to start an "Outsourced Security Control Room" which has been running now profitably for 2 years so I would say we have extensive experience in the security industry.
We too were looking at billing a fixed rate at around £11 per hour as this would comfortably make us a great deal of profit.
I agree, there are a lot of people who don't have a clue and ask questions such as "Whats and ACS?" They then go ahead and start a business anyway and give the industry a bad name!
This is where we will capitalize.
I didn't work with the software I helped develop it for 5 years and my colleague 15 years, the company turned over 5 million pounds per year at the time we left to start an "Outsourced Security Control Room" which has been running now profitably for 2 years so I would say we have extensive experience in the security industry.
We too were looking at billing a fixed rate at around £11 per hour as this would comfortably make us a great deal of profit.
I agree, there are a lot of people who don't have a clue and ask questions such as "Whats and ACS?" They then go ahead and start a business anyway and give the industry a bad name!
This is where we will capitalize.
Upvote
0
You will pick up very little guarding work at £11/hour. Security companies are charging sub £8/hour for work, I dont know how they make money but they manage to survive. Clients are only interested in price, and at the moment, service counts for very little. You have the really big boys quoting for work at zero, or close to zero, margins, just to get revenue growth. The kind of work you want to charge £11/hr for will be mainly in the South East, probably London, and you will come up against the problem of getting on to aproved supplier lists, managing agents, and so on.
My advice, stick to the outsourced control room business, you will make far more money without any of the hassle of providing security guards.
And before you ask, we aren't worried about the competition, just trying to save you a lot of aggravation.
My advice, stick to the outsourced control room business, you will make far more money without any of the hassle of providing security guards.
And before you ask, we aren't worried about the competition, just trying to save you a lot of aggravation.
Upvote
0
It all depends on your target market.
£11 per hour is a little steep, but there is still good money to be made in the security industry if you get in with the right people.
ACS is becoming mandatory for most companies who wish to deal in sub-contracting.
That all said, most of the small companies will vanish when regulation gets tighter, so if you have all the correct accreditations in place you could do well.
Just remember it's who you know in this industry that counts.
£11 per hour is a little steep, but there is still good money to be made in the security industry if you get in with the right people.
ACS is becoming mandatory for most companies who wish to deal in sub-contracting.
That all said, most of the small companies will vanish when regulation gets tighter, so if you have all the correct accreditations in place you could do well.
Just remember it's who you know in this industry that counts.
Upvote
0
Hey guys
I am looking at starting a new security company in the Uk. I have no previous experience in the industry but looking to change careers. My farther has over 10 years exsperiance in the industry over 8 years ago he was a manager for a well known company.
I am looking to start a business, but there is not a lot of new information out there. I am looking to start a company just carrying out emergency, call outs and also mobile security to begin with. Believe I shall be starting just me and my dad and then once more contract are gained employ more staff and more vehicles.
How are staff hired for the security rolls, I would prefer to hire full time staff due to offering a higher quality service but that then will hit profits. What’s your opinoin.
I am aware that I shall need to have the required SIA licences and so will all the security staff we hire. Is there any unknown insurances that I would need to get.?
Most information you come across online is American this dose not help !
Any advice would help. Thanks for reading.
Ps I know this post is old but why not give it a go.
I am looking at starting a new security company in the Uk. I have no previous experience in the industry but looking to change careers. My farther has over 10 years exsperiance in the industry over 8 years ago he was a manager for a well known company.
I am looking to start a business, but there is not a lot of new information out there. I am looking to start a company just carrying out emergency, call outs and also mobile security to begin with. Believe I shall be starting just me and my dad and then once more contract are gained employ more staff and more vehicles.
How are staff hired for the security rolls, I would prefer to hire full time staff due to offering a higher quality service but that then will hit profits. What’s your opinoin.
I am aware that I shall need to have the required SIA licences and so will all the security staff we hire. Is there any unknown insurances that I would need to get.?
Most information you come across online is American this dose not help !
Any advice would help. Thanks for reading.
Ps I know this post is old but why not give it a go.
Upvote
0
Upvote
0
I have another question. Security firms across the Uk all use there own branded alarm systems. They must be similar to another. Dose anyone know how I could get my own alarm systems built and branded in my own logos and branding. Thanks this has been puzzling me since I first started looking into this industry.
Upvote
0
R
Root 66 Woodshop
- Original Poster
- #80
Sorry, but Man-guarding and alarm installations are completely different - you won't be hiring man-guards to install an alarm or vice versa.
If I were you, I'd make contact with professional alarm installers that are members of SSAIB and offer them the service that they can't provide, such as the man-guarding, patrol servicing to their customers.
With regards to the alarms with the companies names on them... i.e. a man-guarding company name... I can pretty much guarantee you that all they've done is change the bell box lid... and by doing so could have actually invalidated any contractual agreement that they have with their alarm installer if it's a monitored system.
If I were you, I'd make contact with professional alarm installers that are members of SSAIB and offer them the service that they can't provide, such as the man-guarding, patrol servicing to their customers.
With regards to the alarms with the companies names on them... i.e. a man-guarding company name... I can pretty much guarantee you that all they've done is change the bell box lid... and by doing so could have actually invalidated any contractual agreement that they have with their alarm installer if it's a monitored system.
Upvote
0
Latest Articles
-
Should you crowdfund? A framework for UK founders in 2026Three articles into a series on what crowdfunding actually costs, the...- Ozzy
- Updated:
-
The polls, the reframing, and the billion dollarsHow three letters from the early years of Star Citizen's development...
- Ozzy
- Updated:
-
The values trap: what the Punks actually ownedWhy BrewDog's Equity for Punks investors were structurally locked out...
- Ozzy
- Updated:
-
When belief is the business modelWhat BrewDog's collapse and Star Citizen's billion-dollar climb are...
- Ozzy
- Updated:
-
AI, Virtual Influencers and the Copyright Minefield: What Entrepreneurs Need to KnowI'll be upfront: this article was written with the assistance of an AI...
- Ozzy
- Updated: