News: National expansion Assured thanks to UKSE loan

Rotherham-based Assured Fire and Security has been given the green light to go for a national expansion plan thanks in part to a £50,000 loan from business finance company UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE).

The Dinnington company this week received the finance that will enable continued growth and expansion in line with its five-year business plan.

The loan will assist the company to increase turn over in the next five years to £15m; five times that which it reported last year. Equally importantly, it will help the company to quadruple its workforce to almost 200 once the nationwide expansion is complete.

Simon Stokes, managing director of Assured said: "The loan from UKSE is vital to our growth plans and we are delighted to have that level of confidence shown in us by our new investors. We are an ambitious company and aim to become one of the largest independent fire and security companies in the country in the next five years.

"Our growth plan calls for the acquisition of companies in major industry growth areas such as London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Newcastle. We even have plans to further develop our overseas works and develop Assured as an international brand, so this financial boost could see what was once a sole trading company become a global brand."

UKSE is the wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Steel. It provides business finance to a wide variety of companies to encourage business growth and job creation in areas affected by changes in the steel industry. The business investor works in various steel industry areas across the UK providing finance to small and medium sized businesses. It also runs a number of innovation centres that provide office and operating spaces for small businesses.

Keith Williams, regional manager for Yorkshire, Humberside and the Midlands, at UKSE says Assured Fire and Security is a perfect fit for its own business plan which supports growth and enterprise in its target areas.

Keith said: "Assured Fire and Security represent the perfect client for us, when it comes to making an investment. Simon has a solid management team and we like the company's approach to new enterprise, its ambition and growth prospects.

"The company has a clear vision for the future and importantly for us it is one that will play a role in the regeneration of not only South Yorkshire but other regions as well. We are delighted to be a partner in the growth of Assured Fire and Security."

Rotherham-based Specialist Cooling has recently benefited from a UKSE development loan and over 250 small businesses have benefited from UKSE's local Kickstart Funds.

Assured Fire and Security website
UKSE website

Images: UKSE