Are small businesses fit to supply adequate security...?

pimplumb21 · 29 Jan 2014

I am bringing this discussion over from UK Business Forums as have had a lot of interesting replies.

A guy who runs a security firm was annoyed that a fellow small business owner had rejected his business proposal because he wanted his security provider to be a much bigger company.

The guy argued that using a local, small company would have many more benefits than using a larger security firm, e.g local knowledge, better response times and so on.

Others argued that the business owner was right to want a bigger company for such an important job as protecting their business.

I'd be interested to hear what anyone thinks.

mattylad · 29 Jan 2014

Its upto the business owner who he gets in, if he wants the security of a bigger national firm then thats upto him.

EightyTwo · 29 Jan 2014

The answer to your question is "Yes".

What's the difference between a big national and a small local firm as far as security competence is concerned? I would suggest that it wasn't much. Sure, there will be some small one-man-and-his-dog outfits that wouldn't be fit to supply adequate security but most of the approved firms would be fine. Let's face it, a lot of the national firms' staff were once small independents who have been taken over.

Would you trust a doctor or dentist that wasn't part of a large practice?

Is the small motor mechanic under the railway arches, who has been in business for 25 years, less fit to work on your car than the kid in Quick-..it?

I think that the security guy has every right to feel annoyed but no right to bleat on about it. He should have done a better job with his proposal...

alumni · 30 Jan 2014

It's surprising how many corporate end users insist they have to use one of the big nationals - and then constantly moan about the quality and level of service they receive. What's worse is they already knew what was likely to happen.
Being aware of the client preferences and the likely competitors is half the battle.

EightyTwo · 1 Feb 2014

Good point Alumni. Thinking about it, my small(ish) independent firm has taken over systems from the nationals on many occasions but I can only recall one occasion when we lost a customer to them - and that was because our customer was bought by a bigger firm who wanted to use a national. (I think we've got them back now... Our non-maintained call out charge was less than the national's maintained charge and we could get to site in 20 minutes!)

pimplumb21 · 3 Feb 2014

EightyTwo said:
Good point Alumni. Thinking about it, my small(ish) independent firm has taken over systems from the nationals on many occasions but I can only recall one occasion when we lost a customer to them - and that was because our customer was bought by a bigger firm who wanted to use a national. (I think we've got them back now... Our non-maintained call out charge was less than the national's maintained charge and we could get to site in 20 minutes!)

That was my first thought - that you'd get quicker response times when needed if you used a smaller firm. I think I'd rather take a recommendation of a smaller company who's been around an age, than a big firm who are primarily out to hit targets (probably). Obviously everyone wants to make cash at the end of the day, but I think that a smaller company have much more to lose if they get a disgruntled client.

pimplumb21 · 3 Feb 2014

EightyTwo said:
Good point Alumni. Thinking about it, my small(ish) independent firm has taken over systems from the nationals on many occasions but I can only recall one occasion when we lost a customer to them - and that was because our customer was bought by a bigger firm who wanted to use a national. (I think we've got them back now... Our non-maintained call out charge was less than the national's maintained charge and we could get to site in 20 minutes!)

We've just recently switched from a big company to a small one, that was my interest in the post in the first place. I think it gives you a bit of pride going for a small company as well, especially a local one. Tough times for everyone so good to give a little something back.

pimplumb21 · 12 Feb 2014

If we're rounding this up, I'd like to share this which I found. It silenced a few small security services doubters in UKBF! http://www.acclaimed-security.com/2013/11/security-secrets-importance-local-knowledge-2/

planenut · 12 Feb 2014

pimplumb21 said:
If we're rounding this up, I'd like to share this which I found. It silenced a few small security services doubters in UKBF! http://www.acclaimed-security

That's interesting, as the article is published by the one company it promotes, but that's business.

The OP should refer his proposed client to G4S.

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Are small businesses fit to supply adequate security...?

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