SECURITY
Growing - MD Glenn Bartlett says Close Protection Security ’ s success is built on respect .
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WORDS : SARAH WALKER PICTURES : TOM BANKS
Close Protection Security expanding its portfolio and creating jobs
A
security specialist hopes to increase staff by almost 50 per cent by the end of the year , after securing the extension of a key contract .
Close Protection Security has won a further two-year contract with one of its main clients , Middlesbrough Football Club .
The company offers a comprehensive range of security services including security guards , key holding and alarm response , CCTV monitoring , event security , mobile patrols and close protection officers .
It also offers a prestige chauffeur service for VIPs , escorting business professionals and celebrities to their destination when visiting the region .
“ Stockton lad ” Glenn Bartlett founded the firm just four years ago and demand for its services “ exploded ”.
In addition to MFC , it now boasts big name clients including Teesside International Airport , Rockliffe Hall , AV Dawson and Darlington Football Club .
However , Glenn is keen to grow the company even further , and is hoping to attract new business by offering free site visits to companies looking seriously at their security needs .
“ I have 68 lads working for me – I would love that to be 100 by the end of the year ,” says Glenn . “ With a couple more sites , that could happen .
“ We can carry out a free site risk assessment , where myself or one of the operations team will visit and ask the business what they ’ ve got in place already and look at ways people could hit the site – we look at vulnerable areas and offer a bespoke solution .”
The firm is highly regarded and respected – and Glenn says that even just having Close Protection Security signs on the sites they guard is a good deterrent .
“ When people see Close Protection Security on a fence , that deters a lot of people because of the respect we ’ ve got ,” Glenn said .
“ We ’ ve built the business around respect . Sometimes security get looked at like they are nothing , but I ’ ve made it so that my security get the respect that they deserve .
“ At MFC , I get my lads to ask for the names of everyone as they sign in - the chairman , the manager , the players .
“ There is never a case of ‘ Don ’ t you know who I am ?’ and it puts the lads on an even pedestal with them . It ’ s all about ensuring we all have respect for one another .”
Glenn says his team love their jobs partly for this reason , especially working with Middlesbrough Football Club and driving onto the tarmac at Teesside International Airport to collect VIPs from private jets .
Speaking of the new two-year contract with MFC , he described the win as “ absolutely fantastic ”.
“ It ’ s one of the biggest attractions in the area and I just think it ’ s a credit and an honour ,” he said . “ It ’ s a credit to my guys –
Middlesbrough FC is a key client for the security firm .
my staff worked alongside the England players and also assisted the Scotland squad at their training ground and base for the Euros .
“ They see going to work on jobs like that as a reward .
“ You don ’ t get many people saying ‘ I love my job ’. We ’ ve got a family feel around the business and it ’ s growing every day . It ’ s just brilliant .”
Glenn believes that the key to the company ’ s success is its responsive nature .
He has been told about companies on Teesside who have sent emails to their security firm and it has taken two weeks to get a response .
But Glenn says with Close Protection , there is always someone available to answer clients ’ calls .
“ We will give an instant response to clients in need of security support ,” he said . “ I ’ m in constant contact with the directors of the businesses we work with and if anybody has got a problem , they know they can pick the telephone up and I will answer , no matter what time it is .
“ That ’ s the job – we are there to respond and you ’ ve got to answer your telephone , simple as that .
“ Reactiveness and professionalism are what our clients get .”
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