The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the global economy, and the UK has been as vulnerable to the virus’ economic impact as it has the virus itself.
The Office for National Statistics’s figures indicated that the UK’s Gross Domestic Product (‘GDP’) was down nearly 10% at the start of the year compared to February 2020, the last full month before COVID-19 preventative measures were implemented across the country, even when allowing for temporary recoveries during the interim period.
Released figures indicated that this was largely driven by a significant drop in output from the service sectors, which has been a key part of the UK economy since the major decline in the manufacturing sectors. The hospitality sector, which includes a proportion of the related events and entertainment sectors, has been particularly affected. A briefing note in the House of Commons library indicated that the hospitality sector’s economic output was down 90% in April 2020 when compared to 2 months earlier.
Within this context, the fortunes of Security Elite Limited, established in March 2020, are truly remarkable. A well-known trader and Investor Samuel Leach, and business partner security expert Aaron Franks have defied the COVID-19 downturn to deliver a premier full-service security firm to the entertainment and hospitality sectors.
The brains behind the company
Samuel Leach is better known as one of Yahoo Finance’s Top Traders To Follow in 2020, specialising in Forex as well as Stocks, and was ranked 7th in the Fintech Disruptor Awards in 2020. But, his recent move into VIP close protection, event security, and property protection with business partner Aaron Franks is the focus of his industry-disrupting business approach.
The two have built Security Elite up since March 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic started to impact the UK and its entertainment and hospitality sectors in particular, to the full-service provider that it is now. Not only does the enterprise offer key holding, mobile patrol, security guarding to a range of commercial properties and real estate, but its main focus is on VIP close protection and door supervision and high-capacity event security.
Samuel and Aaron have developed a dynamic and creative business relationship, with Aaron stating “It’s been great to be able to bounce ideas off of each other and have someone that brings fresh ideas to the security world”.
Beating COVID-19 impact to build a business
Whilst COVID-19 had and is having a disastrous effect on the events and hospitality sectors with nightclubs, music venues, restaurants and other commercial and retail outlets being closed and struggling to re-open under ever-changing regulations, Aaron and Samuel took the opportunity to launch Security Elite. They have built up a broad clientele base and have commenced service offering within these sectors with a particular focus on the VIP close protection and high-capacity concert venues.
The world of VIP and high net worth client close protection is the most elite remit of Security Elite with their highly trained operatives being offered to many celebrities including DJ Calvin Harris, rapper Stormzy, and singer Bruno Mars and other high-profile individuals. This is proving to be an exciting growth area for the one-year-old start-up enterprise.
Protecting staff to protect the client
Both Samuel and Aaron recognise that the key to the success of the business has been the well-being of its security staff.
Aaron explains, “Security Elite in my eyes separates itself from other companies for so many reasons, but our focus is to make sure our guys out working are as happy as the client is. We always keep in mind this is a hard job and our staff need good support and are rewarded for hard work. We have to keep the highest level of professionalism and that only comes with having an amazing team and keeping them as our core focus”. Samuel reports that he is actively developing resources that will enhance the staff’s physical and operational effectiveness leading to improved performance and client satisfaction.
Perhaps this attitude is the private security equivalent of the Napoleon quote that “An army marches on its stomach” or a reflection of the modern focus of employee well-being. Either way, in conjunction with increased demand and well-established client relationships Security Elite is having to recruit heavily to keep up with demand for their professional security service. They are working closely with their local community in Watford and alongside the Watford & West Herts Chamber of Commerce they plan on bringing onboard young talent via the government kickstart scheme.
As real-life returns as COVID-19 is increasingly managed and controlled, Security Elite will no doubt continue in guarding its established position within the private security market whilst aggressively seeking out further opportunities for growth throughout its areas of operation.