Ask the Local Expert

Welcome to the newest series on our Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub Business Support Blog - an interview series, shining a spotlight on some the great businesses and success stories across our region.

This time, we're catching up with Richard Morgan of MES Systems Limited - asking questions about recent business challenges, how their business has changed in the 35 years it's been operating and why being based in Nuneaton is key in their success!

If you enjoy entrepreneurial spirit, learning more about local business and understanding what it takes to continue a long-standing family business then take a read below.

What's you role at MES Systems?

I’m the Managing Director, I’m responsible for ensuring my team has everything they could possibly need to deliver complete peace of mind to our customers.

What does MES Systems do?

We supply, install and maintain security and life safety systems such as CCTV, fire alarms and automated gates. We are one of the longest standing SSAIB accredited companies in Warwickshire!

What advantage does being based in the Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough give to your business?

Our central location brings many benefits, we're well connected through strong transport links, allowing us to service customers locally and further afield with ease. We also have an advantage, being based on a busy and community driven industrial estate which allows us to connect with local business and support each other where we can, whether it's carrying out work or collaborating on new projects.

How has the business changed over time? 

My father started the business nearly 35 years ago as an electrical contracting business mainly working in residential premises. I joined my father and Ian (MES Systems' first apprentice - who has been with the business for 28 years!) in 2009 with a view to sustainably grow the business. At the time our base was a home office in our garden.

As the business grew, we were reaching capacity at our home office, our garage was full of stock and parts... and my Mother wanted her house back!

The following year, we set about finding a new location and eventually moved to Centenary Business Centre on Attleborough Fields Industrial Estate in Nuneaton which gave us the space to expand, increasing our stock holding plus allowing us space to take on an office administrator and two more engineers and apprentices.

The move also allowed us to take on more commercial work, as well as continuing to look after our existing (and rapidly growing) residential customer base!

Following further growth, in 2014 we made the decision to purchase our current premises, located on the main road running through Attleborough Fields Industrial Estate. The size and location were perfect and moving to this site allowed us to further grow our office-based service/support teams and increase our stock holdings to support our expanding operations. Since 2014 we have further increased our commercial customer base while being selective in terms of client locations to ensure we don’t compromise on our quality of service. We look after a wide range of customers from microbusiness with a single site, to a McDonalds restaurant franchise of 28 sites! 

We also specialise in helping schools and colleges move away from multi-national providers where they usually have issues with poor service levels. We also supply and maintain monitored CCTV for Warwickshire Business Centres including Centenary Business Centre (our previous location until 2014!) and Eliot Park Innovation Centre (where the Warwickshire Skills Hub Team are based.)

We now have a 20 strong team and we are currently recruiting for a new commercial service engineer to help support our growth! 

I run the company with the help of our great management team, including my brother, Ashley (Sales Director, after first being an installation engineer for 5 years). Over the years my dad instilled great traditional values to my brother and I, encouraging us to be open and honest in how we deal with our people and our customers. I see this as a key to our continued success as it has aided us in building a great reputation with our clients, which is of vital importance in the fire and security industry. Over the last few years we have worked with a local business coach who has helped motivate us to build a fantastic business managed by a great team with amazing loyal customers who keep on recommending us!

My father is still involved with the sales side of our business, with his new role to promote our brand through his passion for networking. The next chapter of the business for me involves continually developing my team to ensure our growth as experts in delivering peace of mind. It also entails focusing on staff retention, recruitment and marketing our offering to other potential customers across the Midlands.

What are the biggest challenges you've faced in the last 12 months?

Recruitment of skilled security engineers!

What advice would you give to other businesses facing similar challenges?

Looks after your people, continually invest in your people and their development and ensure you have an apprenticeship or training program in place so you can develop your own talent! There is lots of support available from local services such as the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub and Warwickshire Skills Hub - take advantage of the services available to support you!

How has working with the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth hub helped you?

The support and knowledge of the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub has been invaluable, initially coming and talking to us about our business and our plans, then putting us in direct contact with the various organizations that they work with who have helped us with training, recruitment and access to grant funding which has supported us with additional training for our team and purchasing new tools and equipment to support our growing team!

Who do you work with and how do you support your clients?

MES System’s have worked on a large scale project for Instarmac Group PLC. The objective was to provide state of the art security & life safety systems in their new logistics facility. Our solution was to design, install and maintain bespoke access control, CCTV, Intruder & fire alarm systems for management of personnel, security & safety. Our team at MES Systems have provided solutions to all required aspects of the project and industry requirements set out. Watch the case study below or on YouTube.