Last summers newslettern next one out in the new year !!! watch this space

1. The Zone
THE NEWSLETTER OF ASSURED FIRE & SECURITY SUMMER 2010
ASSURED FIRE Notes from the MD
AND SECURITY:
THE MOVIE Its been another busy few months since our last
update, as usual a lot of new faces and customers
to add to our story of growth during these trying
economic times, but also we continue as ever to
strive for customer excellence for existing
customers as well as new.
We are on target to grow another 30 % this year
with 1 month to go everybody is pushing to reach
our targets.
Its been a proud time for our organisation, with
our presence on the board of the FIA driving
standards forward, being asked to attend fire
safety discussions on BBC radio and several key
pieces in major papers all showing our reputation
as a competent fire safety and security choice is
growing every day.
Since we moved into our new premises we have
metamorphasised into a larger company that has
senior and middle management, team leaders and
the all important staff that work on the coal face,
what's more satisfying than ever is the fact that
we still have that local company family feel which
COMING soon to a Theatre near you ... we will never loose, if a customer has an issue
they still feel they can call me or the senior team,
which I am glad to say they hardly do.
Well, not quite – but visitors to the “I felt it would further enhance our
Assured website are now able to see website to provide a short video clip We are stealing more market share from our larger
Managing Director Simon Stokes giving explaining what Assured Fire and Security competitors who don't seem to have the closeness
a guided tour of the company’s Sheffield is all about offering a quick guided tour to their customers that we enjoy, proving while
head office. of our head office,” said Managing companies need a reliable stable fire and security
Director Simon Stokes, “We like to be at company to support them they also value the
The filming was carried out by James the forefront of new technology and to personal touch more than ever.
Goodchild, creative director of North keep up to date with developments on
West production company Zippyangels the web, the video will prove to be an To under pin our attitude to great customer service
Productions. extremely effective introduction to the we have invested in more staff, training, software,
company and our values, this runs along IT systems and purchasing of the best equipment
James’s TV credits include stints on hits side other links such as a BBC Radio available to ensure we can not only maintain
like Brookside, Hollyoaks and Grange Hill, interview we gave recently where you standards but strive to improve in everything we
James said, “It was obvious from our first can listen to a topic which covers the do, that's why our new customer order
meeting that Assured are a quality rise in fire enforcement notices and how acknowledgement letter has the personal mobile
organisation with a proud MD that has to ensure you comply with fire safety and email of every department manger including
mine.
total focus on customer service, you can legislation, in addition to this there are
also tell that from the cleanliness and free services where you can down load But don't take my word for it, we would love to
tidiness of their premises and the way a fire safety log book, request a survey hear your feedback, so please visit our website at
you are treated by the staff that they or fire and security audit.” www.assured-ltd.co.uk and complete the customer
are not only professional but very friendly survey with the chance to win a bottle of free
as well, my main aim was to translate champagne or call me on 0845 402 3045 as all
this to video as it’s difficult to get this feedback is welcome.
across in words.”
Inside : Installation & Contracts…
Assured People…Training & Events

2. INSTALLATION AND CONTRACTS
Safety and security Assured at Loadhog
Award-winning Sheffield company Assured Assess the
Loadhog has turned to Assured Fire and
Security to provide enhanced fire security Fire Risk for GLH
at its Sheffield headquarters. Assured is continuing to strengthen its links with
one of Britain's most popular charities.
After successfully installing a Police
Response intruder alarm system for Assured sales consultant Kevin The company will be working with Golden Lane
Loadhog, Assured has now been Matthewson commented: "We are Housing, the charity established by Mencap in
contracted to provide a state-of-the-art delighted to be working with an exciting 1998 to provide quality homes around which
analogue addressable fire alarm system. young company like Loadhog. individuals with a learning disability can build
their lives.
Ed Stubbs at Loadhog said "after several "We are particularly pleased that, having
successful years looking after our sister successfully completed one contract, we In a contract worth £65,000, Assured will be
company Gripple, we invited Assured to have now been given further areas to providing fire risk assessment for GLH's 450
tender for both fire and security systems protect for this increasingly well-known properties across the country.
at our new facility, they proved not only brand.
they could extend that great service to Chief fire risk assessor and fire training manager
Loadhog but also beat off several "It's also really important to Assured to Terry Gormley commented: "We will be providing
competitors proving they didn't take be working with other Sheffield a bespoke service for GLH, carrying out
advantage of our relationship by staying companies in addition to our many comprehensive fire risk assessment on everything
competitive as well." national contracts." from small terraced houses to multi-occupancy
properties.
Assured signs outdoor leisure contract "Having worked with Mencap on fire safety issues
Assured have been awarded several new national cover and they are different to for eight years now, we are delighted to be
major contracts with one of Britain's other national providers because of their developing our relationship with them in this
leading independent camping and transparency and hands on approach way."
outdoor retailers, we are providing new right through the organisation which is
fire alarms, extinguishers and intruder unique with larger companies".
alarm systems for Yeomans Outdoor
Leisure new stores. "We are delighted to be working with
Yeomans Outdoor Leisure as they
Established in Chesterfield in 1904, continue their programme of expansion,"
Yeomans Outdoor Leisure has over 100 said Assured Operations Director
years experience in the camping Matthew Spivey. "We already have a
equipment market, with one of the heavy concentration of national fire and
largest selection and stocks of tents security contracts so it is a great pleasure
available in the UK today. for us to be able to add a locally-based
company to our portfolio. "This
Projects Manager at Yeomans, Roy demonstrates again our increasing ability
Woodfield commented "Assured have to work at both a regional and national
provided an excellent service for several level with equal
new contracts we have awarded them, success."
we need a company who can provide
Research Labs get protected by Assured fire suppression
Peter Grimwade, Project Manager of Scientific companies who could provide this service &
Lesser comments "we needed a quality, they provided a trouble free installation, we
experienced water mist fire Suppression have since contracted Assured to provide the
Company to protect our new Cardiff facility. maintenance on this site.
It is vital to our client that their facility is
safe from fire, especially with the extremely Assured's fire suppression expert Paul Savage
high value of the protected equipment. added, "we are proud to provide a service to
such a prestigious quality company, this is
The nature of the research in the laboratories part of many water mist solutions we have
One of the country's leading developers of meant that gas suppression was not suitable, completed this year that gives an alternative
laboratories and research facilities has teamed and we did not want high volumes of water. to gaseous systems saving the client time &
up with Assured to install a new £190,000 money."
water mist fire suppression system. Assured were one of the few independent
Welsh company Scientific Lesser Limited
provides design and project management for secured a £50,000 contract to install new
advanced research facilities and needed a fire Library gets the works fire safety and security at the library.
protection expert for it's client Quotient Bio
Research in Cardiff. STAFF safety at Harehills Library in Leeds Included in the project was a new access
has been given a major boost thanks to the control system, intruder alarm fire alarm
For the last 25 years SLL has designed and Assured approach. and staff panic alarm system.
built many individual Research, Development
and Process Projects for a host of different Working under contract to Wheatley's Another major part of the contract was the
clients within the Pharmaceutical, Scientific Mechanical and Electrical Services, Assured introduction of a new CCTV service.
and Electronic sectors.
FIRE ALARMS • FIRE EXTINGUISHERS • CCTV • INTRUDER ALARMS • ACCESS

3. ASSURED PEOPLE
The other new face at Assured is Gary Flockton, focusing on things like maintenance contracts
Michael Turton - of Leeds, who joins the company's head office but now it is an enormous part of what we
sales team as an estimator and designer, do," he points out. "The great thing about the
Service Manager ensuring that all fire safety and security system field I work in is that every single building you
Michael Turton has joined the Assured team designs meet the highest British European walk or drive past has some sort of
as service manager. The 43-year-old has almost standards. requirement for a maintenance contract.
a quarter of a century's experience in the fire "Basically, that's a huge market and good
and security industry. Joining the sales team are Kevin Matthewson, maintenance is something people cannot do
James Ashby, Keith Bardsley, Gavin Pennington, without - and the great thing for the company
He is now overseeing the Assured service teams Gareth Rees, Darren Moulding and Lee Hogben, is that it's recurring revenue!"
and helping in the vital development of the the southern engineering team has been
company's national expansion. "Since I joined strengthened with Andy Parkes and Darryn With many years industry experience behind
the company I have carried out a full capacity Rivolta. him, Simon adds that he has never worked
review so we logistically know where every anywhere quite like Assured. "I love my job,"
single bit of engineering time is needed and Additions to the finance team include Emily he laughs. "I think it's something to do with
when it is needed," Michael said. "I've now Grainger our new credit controller and David the mentality of the company. "I've been at
been here six months and we have increased Bradley our new Finance Director. Managing other places and not
efficiency massively and doubled turnover in director Simon Stokes commented: "As Assured really enjoyed it
the department, continues to expand both nationally and because they are not
increasing productivity internationally, it is important that we have team focused but here
by 35 per cent! "The a strong team to meet increased demand, its everyone works
whole team has pulled always great to get new staff on board and together to get things
together and done a we always feel proud when we can offer people done and that makes
fantastic job. They've a chance to join our organisation. "These new it a much better place
done everything we've appointments play a vital role in securing a to work."
asked - and then a bit successful future for the company, ensuring
more!" that we maintain our reputation for quality
and outstanding customer service."
Matt Tolkien -
Erto Suleyman - Sales Manager
New Operations
Southern Chief Engineer Director for Assured Matt Tolkien has been appointed Assured sales
manager, with specific responsibility for looking
It’s all change for Assured chief engineer in after the company's growing sales team.
the south Erto Suleyman. For the 38-year-old
Londoner had only recently become father to
Fire and Security "Matt is our longest serving sales person and
baby Alara when he decided to take up the Matthew Spivey, the General Manager of has an excellent track record," said MD Simon
challenge of a post with Assured. But now he Assured Fire and Security, has been promoted Stokes. "He consistently achieves targets and
insists he's loving both being a dad and being to become the company's Operations Director. works well within the team. "He has done a
part of the Assured team! fantastic job and it was a real pleasure to be
In his new post, Matthew will still be able to give him this promotion."
Erto has worked in the fire and security responsible for the day to day running of the
business for 20 years and over recent months
had become increasingly aware of the Assured
Sheffield head quarters, but he will also now
take up a place on the company's board. He Gina Baldock -
name. "Basically, it was one of those things
where a colleague had already started with
will be particularly responsible to ensure the
strategic growth strategy is backed up with a Service Co-Ordinator
the company and seemed to enjoy it so when sound operational plan, optimum performance WHEN she's not at her desk at the Assured
the opportunity arose I decided to try it too," and continue with great customer service. Dinnington head office you're most likely to
he explains. That was more than six months find Gina Baldock walking her dog in the Peak
ago and now he is firmly established as chief Matthew, who is 37 and lives with his wife District.
engineer for the whole southern region, a large and two young children in Matlock, Derbyshire,
area that covers not only London but extends joined the Assured team last summer. Not that the 25-year-old from the Norton
as far north as Birmingham. area of Sheffield has much time for walking
"The variety of work is Managing director Simon Stokes said: for she says her post as service co-ordinator
great and I particularly "Matthew fully deserves this promotion."He keeps her very busy all of the time!
like the fact that a lot first joined the company less than 12 months
of what I do is now ago as general manager, he has shown great Gina joined Assured last year and is now
based around fire acumen in his role and to have proceeded to responsible for keeping the engineering team's
security," he says. this level so quickly is a clear indication of his schedules completely up to date and keeping
"It's a job I'm really dedication to the company, this is a well- track of emergency call outs. "It's very
enjoying." deserved reward for all his hard work and demanding," she says. "It can be extremely
commitment." busy at times but I really enjoy that - I'd rather
be busy than not."
New faces at Assured Simon Ord - One of the reasons Gina has settled so well
Fire and Security Service Sales Consultant into the Assured family is, she says, because,
the company is so staff orientated.
Assured Fire and Security has made several Based in Scunthorpe, where he lives with "They really do make sure everybody is okay,"
new appointments, Simon Glew, of Sheffield, partner Roxy and her young daughters Aimee she says. "I think that level of concern is quite
joins the Assured team as Installations and Caitlyn, Simon Ord has been with Assured rare nowadays.
Manager. He will oversee the installation of since 2007 and is now responsible for service "I think it's the first
fire safety and security systems for both sales nationwide. It is, as he concedes, a big company I have worked
national and local account customers. He takes potential market to develop - but that's just for that has taken me
the place of Simon Ormrod, who has been the sort of challenge he enjoys. aside and told me I'm
promoted to the post of Projects Manager, doing well. it really
with responsibility for major overseas and UK "When I first arrived there was no-one makes you feel you're
projects. specifically looking after service sales, nobody doing the right thing."
CONTROL • FIRE TRAINING & RISK ASSESSMENT • EMERGENCY LIGHTING & MORE

4. TRAINING AND EVENTS
the team from the Leicester branch of Abel
Mencap Marathon Alarms but Assured, who had only put in a Compliance training
team at the last minute, managed to bag
Assured MD Simon Stokes demonstrated
his commitment to national charity and a respectable runner-up place. for our staff
client Mencap as he took up the grueling Maintaining standards for excellence at
challenge of the London Marathon. Simon
was hoping that his participation in one of every level, all new members of the Assured
the world's most famous sporting events sales team have recently been on a training
would raise something in the region of session with the Fire Industry Association.
£2,000 for the charity which has been an "Being a complete solutions company, we
Assured client for the past eight years. have to ensure all our new consultants in
fire and security attend these courses to
But come the day he actually managed to
raise a marvelous £3,500 after completing
3 Peaks Challenge ensure they can provide the best possible
the course in a very creditable three hours, The Assured team like to keep as active as design services for our customers," said
59 minutes and 15 seconds. "We already possible. And that's how our MD and sales manager Matthew Tolkien. "It is vital
have a strong bond with Mencap and I can't colleagues Matt Spivey, the company's head that all consultants are kept informed of
think of a better or more deserving operations director, and Kevin Matthewson, the latest fire suppression developments."
organisation to have been running for," said fire and security consultant for the
38-year-old mountaineer and sports Midlands, found themselves taking up a
challenge from clients Coda Studios and Similarly, all the company's installation and
enthusiast Simon. "I'd really like to say service engineers have attended the Fire
thanks to the Assured customers, suppliers, Knight Frank to join them on the grueling
Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge. Industry Association's fire suppression F
staff and friends and family who helped
raise so much money." Gas course.
Taking in the peaks of Pen-y-ghent,
Simon admits that training for the event Whernside and Ingleborough, the peaks "Basically, any engineer that is working on
proved the hardest part of the challenge. form part of the Pennine range, and encircle a gas that could be potentially released
"The race itself was not too bad. I didn't the head of the valley of the River Ribble,
in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. into the atmosphere has to be approved
stagger over the finishing line or anything and certified to demonstrate that they can
like that and I was quite happy with my "It's the county's three biggest peaks and
they have to be completed in one day," work on these difficult cases," said
time."
said Simon, whose long-term ambition is installations manager Simon Glew
to conquer Mount Everest. "For Assured this is an essential investment,
"We finished the 23 and a half mile climb meaning our customers
in just under 10 and a half hours - not a are guaranteed the
bad result!" best service."
Assured Team are
Media attention 2 Inspired
increases our Assured have retained the services of
reputation Executive training Harrogate based inspirational leadership
Our reputation as fire safety and security training company 2 Inspire for a personal
experts was further enhanced recently MANAGING Director Simon Stokes is development program across the company.
when BBC radio Sheffield invited our MD strengthening his place in the corporate
Simon Stokes in to discuss the recent rise world after signing up with the largest Chief After successfully attending course's last
in fire safety enforcement notices issued Executive training and support organisation year for the management team and senior
by Fire Brigades to businesses and other in the world. With more than 14,500
members, Vistage International is the executives we have invested in our staff
organisations, Simon put forward our again this year.
opinion on the prime time Toby Foster world's foremost Chief Executive Leadership
Show, you can check this out on our Organisation. Vistage's Executive Leadership
website, we were also invited in by The Programme provides access to new ideas Management will be attending the
Yorkshire Post and Sheffield Star for special and fresh thinking through monthly peer executive inspiration leadership course and
editorials on how our business has grown group meetings, one-to-one mentoring, the inspirational development program,
and developed from our inception and speaker presentations from hundreds of along with refresher training and
through the recession. top industry experts, social networking and introduction courses to be carried out in
an extensive online content library of
house by the founder and managing director
Assured team scores articles, best practices, podcasts and
webinars. of 2 inspire Rob Northfield, we are also
in national five-a-side "Being a managing director can be a bit
lonely," said Simon. "This group is excellent
looking to set a bespoke program across
the Company.
contest because it is made up of people who have
had similar problems and experiences and MD Simon Stokes said, "most companies
The lads from Assured Fire and Security know the best way to tackle problems at are used to management training which
didn't set the pitch ablaze...but they did the top. "I have already learnt a lot from
manage a respectable result when they being a member and attending sessions we carry out as well, but we find 2 Inspire
joined in a national five-a-side football and that extra knowledge should help particularly useful as it concentrates on
tournament. Assured to continue its plan for growth in developing our softer skills along with
The keen amateur footballers, who all work the future." emotional intelligence helping us to
for the sales team with at the Sheffield Studies have shown that Vistage-member understand how people work and see things
HQ, entered the Samsung Five-a-Side companies outperform their competitors from the other persons point of view, this
Football Tournament, which featured some and, on average, grow their is key to improving our
of the big names from the industry, revenues at three times the value as a caring
including ADT and Chubb. The overall percentage growth rate
winners, for the second year running, were after joining the organisation. company and employer."
EMAIL sales@assured-ltd.co.uk
Tel.0845 402 3045 WEB www.assured-ltd.co.uk