SEC UR I T Y
WORDS: JULIE BURNISTON
PICTURE: CHRIS BOOTH
Life
begins…
It’s been 40 years since hugely successful
local company Cleveland Security began
its life in an Ayresome Street corner
shop. Directors Christine Baker and Mike
Bringloe share their pride in its ongoing
accomplishments...
M
iddlesbrough’s Cleveland
Security, specialists in
residential and business
security systems, has a
lot to celebrate. April 8 sees the
Cargo Fleet-based firm come of age
as it hits the big 4-0. Co-director
Christine Baker admits to feeling
sentimental about this milestone,
particularly as the company has
been part of her life since she was
17 and has been a constant through
personal highs and lows.
The NSI-Gold and police
approved company prides itself
on having a loyal customer base
which now exceeds 5,000, plus an
impressive portfolio of corporate
clients including Ramsdens, Psyche
and Middlesbrough, Stockton and
Redcar and Cleveland councils.
They employ a total of 12 people
including four engineers, two
apprentices and office staff and are
justly proud of their name, which
is synonymous with care, reliability
and honesty.
Nurturing the company has been
the life work of Christine who was
there almost from the start of its
humble beginnings.
“A really good friend of mine,
Russ Grief, set up the business. He
originally worked as an engineer
for Gardiner Security who went into
DIY and alarms and registered the
88 | Tees Business
company on April 8 1980. I’d met
him when he fitted the alarm in the
office where I was working at the
time.
“Cleveland Security had their
base in a shop on Ayresome Street,
Middlesbrough, and when I was
21, I went to work there. We soon
moved to Linthorpe Road where
we had an upstairs office and a DIY
shop selling alarms downstairs.
“I met my husband Steve, an
engineer, when he came for an
interview. Our first child was two
when Russ decided to semi-retire,
so Steve and I bought him out and
took over the business.”
With a lot of hard work and
dedication, the couple soon began
to enjoy great success based on
their ethos of employing security-
checked, trustworthy engineers and
the supply of professional, reliable
security systems including intruder
alarms and CCTV systems. They
also welcomed two more children.
The future looked bright until, sadly,
Steve passed away in 2003.
“I must admit that people at the
time thought, ‘She’s now just a
woman on her own, she will sell the
company’,” says Christine. “But I
thought, ‘Hell no! I’ve put so much
effort and hard work into this, we
will keep the business and Steve’s
memory going!’
“I met Mike that same year. He had known
both Steve and Russ and was well respected
within the security industry. When he so
kindly stepped in to give me a hand, I knew
immediately it was the right fit. Mike became
our business manager and later, co-director.”
“I found my feet straight away,” admits
Mike. “I’d worked the Teesside and
surrounding area for a long time with
Securicor, Lander Alarms and ADT. I know
all the councils, architects and electrical
contractors, so I didn’t have to knock on any
doors, instead they all followed me, which
built on top of the original business and it’s
still the same today, 17 years later.”
Having a male and a female as co-directors
works really well for Mike and Christine in
what is arguably a male-dominated industry.
“I’d say it’s harder for me – I’m the only
man in the office and they pick on me,”
jokes Mike.