News

Swift Alarms Group Acquires Crimewave Solutions

The Swift Alarms Group is pleased to announce its acquisition of Crimewave Solutions, the specialist national provider of CCTV, intruder alarms and investigation services to the retail and leisure market sectors. Crimewave Solutions was founded by its Managing Director, Justin Hammond, some eleven years ago, and during that time it has built up an enviable reputation for providing first class customer service combined with excellent value for money. The company specialises in the provision of CCTV led electronic security systems for the UK and European retail and leisure markets and is fortunate to enjoy the patronage of many instantly recognisable international ‘blue chip’ companies. The company’s electronic security services are backed-up with by an experienced and discrete in-house security investigations team staffed by former serving police officers. Crimewave will operate as an independent business under the Swift ‘Umbrella’ and Justin will continue to act as the businesses Managing Director. Justin has also been appointed to the board of Swift Alarms where he holds the position of National Accounts Director.

Swift Alarms Group’s Managing Director, Paul Grist commented: ‘We are absolutely delighted to have acquired the entire share capital of Crimewave Solutions and we are equally thrilled that Justin has agreed to join the board of Swift Alarms. This is our third acquisition in the past twelve months and I am pleased to be able to report that we are currently in discussions with two further national fire and security systems providers, whom we also look forward to welcoming into our ever expanding group of companies’.

Swift Alarms is one of the UK’s largest family and director owned fire and security groups, providing service to many thousands of customers throughout the UK and Europe. Its complete range of services is all engineered in-house and includes: electronic fire and security systems, theft prevention systems, investigation services and fixed fire suppression systems.

Two New Appointments Within the Group

We are delighted to announce two important new appointments within the group:

Andrew McDonnell, the group’s personnel manager, has with immediate effect been promoted to general manager of Swift Alarms. He will be working very closely with Justin Hammond, managing director of Crimewave Solutions to assist with the smooth integration of Crimewave Solutions into Swift Alarms and also with the day-to-day administration and development of the business.

Justin Hammond, the managing director of Crimewave Solutions, joins the board of Swift Alarms (Swift Alarm Supplies Ltd) as national accounts director and has assumed overall responsibility for the on-going management and development of the two brands national accounts business.

Susan Esbester celebrates 20 years service with the company

Susan, who works in the group’s customer Service department, and who has primary responsibility for coordinating service and administration for the company’s JK security operation, is pictured here, being presented with a congratulatory bouquet by our Group Personnel Manager, Andrew McDonnell.

All of us at the Swift Alarms Group join Andrew in congratulating Sue in attaining twenty years employment with the company and we look forward to her being with us for many years to come.

Swift Sponsors British Drift Championship Racing 2012

The Swift Alarms Group is pleased to announce that it will be sponsoring the British Drift Championship racing season during 2012.

Swift Auto-Gates General Manager, Matthew Hitchcock had an excellent season last year and he hopes that this year will prove to even more rewarding than his performance in 2011.

Matthew will be racing throughout the season in the Swift Alarms Group colours of blue and white in what he hopes to be his most exciting season yet.

Swift Alarms Group managing director, Paul Grist commented: “We are delighted to be sponsoring Matt during this season’s racing and we all wish him every success in becoming this year’s champion”.

Safyre at Data Centre World Exhibition

Safyre launched its Touch Screen Based Integrated Fire, Security and BMS Control System at Data Centre World 2012.

This new system has been developed in conjunction with 2020 imaging to produce a highly advanced touch screen based integration and control system which is able to bring the control and display of all fire, security and building management information into a single, intuitive touch screen based system.

The system is unique and requires no keyboard or mouse to ‘drive' it making it simplicity itself to use. It combines the power of video imaging and incident reporting to automatically correlate the correct video image from the building's CCTV system with the appropriate fire, security or environmental information.

With the ever growing demands on our customers to reduce the cost of running their data centres, it seemed the obvious time for us to launch our latest product range. This centralises control of all fire, security & environmental monitoring systems, maximising staff efficiency and reducing the running costs of each individual system. Our sophisticated energy management programmes can reduce energy consumption by up to 30%, a major consideration in today's world.

This year's show focussed on the hottest and most challenging issues affecting the data centre sector. These include the rising volume of digital data that has to be processed and stored; the increasing demand for enhanced security; power usage effectiveness; energy efficiency and the latest products and services driving the sector.

John Hatcher, Data Centre World conference director said: "It's great to have Safyre involved in the show. This year's Data Centre World is set to become the biggest yet with over 3,000 attendees over the two days. With many companies starting to implement cloud computing strategies and the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme coming into effect 2012, it's great to see that so many of the sector's leading figures are in attendance to debate these critical issues."

For more information, visit www.datacentreworld.com. For the latest news updates, follow us on Twitter at @DataCentreWorld and via #dcwexpo.

Business trebled its workforce and quadrupled its turnover

Many small companies that reach a certain size find themselves the subject of a takeover bid by a larger concern – but that was never part of Paul Grist’s plan.

As managing director of the Kent-based Swift Alarms Group, Paul is determined not to be swallowed up by the big boys but to join them in the top flight.

Click here to download and read the full article in South East Business's November Edition.

Swift Alarms Group Announces SECOND New Acquisition

The Swift Alarms Group is delighted to announce that it has just completed its second acquisition within the past two months: Following on from its takeover of Southern Intruder Systems in July, the group is delighted to announce that it completed its purchase of JK Security earlier this week.

JK Security was established in 1987 and is based in Hawkhurst, Kent. The company has an enviable commercial and high-end domestic client base, predominantly located throughout the southeast of England. Swift's Managing Director, Paul Grist commented: "I am delighted that we have been in the fortunate position of being able to acquire two high quality businesses in under two months; both companies complement Swift's own customer base extremely well and these two most recent acquisitions firmly establish us as the south's pre-eminent independently owned electronic fire and security systems provider. We are continuing to seek suitable acquisitions to further strengthen our various businesses accross the UK".

The Swift Alarms Group is about to complete its third record year: The Group's sales of new installations in July, a traditionally quiet month, very comfortably exceeded £1.2M. The group operates nationally within the UK and currently has international projects running in Belgium, France and Iceland. The group's continuing success has meant that it has been able to fund this year's acquisition programme entirely from cash generated from within the Group.

Swift Alarms Group Announces New Acquisition

The Swift Alarms Group is delighted to announce the acquisition of the business of Southern Intruder Systems Ltd.

Southern Intruder Systems was a long established and well respected Tunbridge Wells based installer and maintainer of security systems. The company's main area of operation was Kent & Sussex, although it also had a number of customers based further afield, including London.

Swift Alarms Group's Managing Director, Paul Grist said of the acquisition:
"We are delighted to have acquired Southern Security System's customer base and we very much look forward to the opportunity of working with their staff and customers alike. We have a very similar ethos to that of Southern, being a family owned business, we also pride ourselves in affording each of our customers a totally personal and professional level of service".

For further information on the Swift Alarms Group and the services it provides please call us on: 03700 42 42 12.