Fire protection and security services leave little room for manoeuvre. Safety is paramount and the expertise and knowledge that comes from a reliable firm not only ensures compliance boxes are ticked but also gives peace of mind to all concerned.
Taking that message out to a wider audience was the driving factor behind investment by Bedford firm TEC Fire and Security into finding new premises, expanding the team and installing systems that streamlined processes and knocked down any barriers to growth.
The company was founded in 2011 by Simon Philp, originally specialising in security systems. He was joined by fellow director Les Millard in 2015 and together they build a company delivering bespoke security systems that meet the requirements of clients in the education and commercial sectors, including access control, CCTV and intruder alarms. The customer base stretches across Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes and Cambridgeshire.
In 2018, fire safety expert Richard Mitchell joined TEC to develop that side of the business, and the firm now offers fire risk assessments and prevention services such as fire detection, fire doors, extinguishers and fire training.
Having established a reputation for reliable information that helped clients make informed decisions about what was needed to keep personnel and premises safe, the directors were keen to see TEC grow into new markets and the next stage of development began.
Simon Philp said: “We were working very much on a paper-based system and spreadsheets and knew that if we were to push ahead and try to attract new business we had to be ready for the increased workload and so we have brought in a new CRM system.
“So now, the engineers can upload jobs on their phones, sign them off when they’re complete, which feeds into the invoicing system, and it also give proof of our response times, which is something we need to evidence as part of our accreditation and audit by industry bodies NSI and BAFE.”
To complement the new system, TEC introduced a new telephony system when the firm moved to new premises in Marston Moretaine at the end of last year – replacing a land line system with 8×8, which allows multiple users and more efficient redirection of calls to those providing a response out of office hours.
Simon added: “It was clear that if we wanted to grow we needed systems that would enable us to cope with expansion. We didn’t want to advertise our services if the chances were that someone might not be able to get through on the single landline.
“Now, with an office system that is more streamlined and gradually moving us towards a completely paperless process, we are ready to move forward. A lot of our customers are in the education sector, so it’s the commercial clients we want to reach. The move to Marston Moretaine puts us in a great central position to make further inroads into the market in Milton Keynes as well as the surrounding counties, so it’s a very exciting time for us.”
Find out more about TEC Fire and Security on 01234 345117 or visit www.tecfireandsecurity.co.uk
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