5 ways to grow your security firm this year
Business is as competitive as ever.
With continued global uncertainty and rising costs, it’s tough managing your own firm.
But security remains essential.
The UK has seen growth in the number of people employed in security since 2021.
And though 2024 saw a slight downturn compared to the year before, there is still room to innovate and grow.
This article will offer 5 ways you can expand your security business this year.
Keep up with your competitors
It’s important to have an eye on what the rest of the industry is doing. This goes far beyond simply knowing your competitors’ prices. Dive into the details of what they offer, what sets them apart, what their reviews are saying.
All this information can help you tailor your offering to reach and cater to the right customers, fill niches in the market, and drive customer loyalty.
Be aware that you’re not just competing against other external security firms. Businesses may also be weighing up the pros and cons of hiring their own internal security teams. Keep this in mind when presenting your own value proposition.
Internal security can offer some benefits, but external firms offer greater flexibility with lower risk, while saving time on management and training that clients may not be prepared for.
Create value through partnerships
While you’re looking across the industry, consider whether any firms have offerings that could complement yours. You don’t always need to offer everything that other firms do, and doing what you’re best at is likely to result in better performance.
By partnering with other security firms, you can offer attractive packages that play to the talents of both firms. One example could be partnering your physical security firm with cybersecurity experts for customers that need both on-site presence and virtual protection.
You can also look outside of the security industry for partnership ideas. Many construction projects require security solutions while new sites are being built. Reach out to construction companies to see if you can create a complementary offer together. Consider what other products and services builders might need access to and find ways to deliver those.
Optimise your scheduling
Many security businesses struggle to schedule their employees efficiently. As your team grows, it can be trickier to ensure everyone is allocated to the right shifts, able to request changes to suit them while still providing an excellent level of service.
Trying to manage a team of even just a dozen employees using a paper rota or spreadsheet can feel overwhelming. Imagine trying it with a team of 50 or more!
Luckily, Findmyshift is the perfect solution for security industry employee rotas. You can simply drag and drop shifts to quickly fill gaps, allow employees to swap shifts with your approval, and send automated reminders to reduce lateness and no-shows.
Know the law
It’s critical that security businesses understand their position within any relevant legal frameworks. Security guards are not police officers and need to be aware of the limits of their authority.
While they typically don’t have any more jurisdiction than other citizens, their training allows them to detain offenders to prevent crimes without committing offences themselves.
Equally, enforcing the rights of your clients will ensure that they are satisfied with the services you provide. Preventing property damage and trespassing is well within a security guard’s remit.
Make data-driven decisions
Whatever decisions you make in your business, commit to making them in line with what the data tells you this year. There are countless areas of your business where data can be generated and used.
If you’re pushing for growth, marketing is an obvious one. Track your ad spend across various media and their results. Ensure you know how customers are finding you and focus on your most profitable avenues. Test new strategies and measure their effectiveness.
Employee metrics are also important. Which employees deliver the highest levels of customer satisfaction and are on-time to all their shifts. These are the ones you’ll want to keep hold of as your business expands.