Teesside Security Firm Set to Create 100 New jobs

Specialists in manned guarding and security systems for business and residential, Middlesbrough-based Vistech expect to double their workforce over the next 12 months as they continue to grow a client base that already sees them protect property worth eight figures.

Having created around 100 jobs over the past two years, Vistech is targeting a £5 million turnover by 2017.

Vistech, which bases its headquarters in Middlesbrough’s Boho Six building, is currently carrying out security work for Third Energy’s gas field in Kirby Misperton in Ryedale, where the local council recently gave permission for fracking work to begin to release shale gas.

Event security was provided at a Rod Stewart concert at Castle Howard, security and dog patrols have been supplied for both the Yorkshire leg of the Tour de France and to protect the thousands of cycling fans who attended the Tour de Yorkshire, while a security team will also be on hand at Redcar Athletic’s popular Steel Gala.

Northern Gas Networks utilised Vistech’s asset protection service when North Yorkshire floods damaged gas pipes across a number of rivers, whilst security staff have attended university protests and provided trackside security for the rail network on behalf of railway engineering specialists QTS. 

Security staff are being provided, free of charge, to protect Teesside Hospice’s forthcoming ‘memory wall’ of 1,000 sunflowers in Middlesbrough’s Captain Cook Square.

Vistech also protect power sites on behalf of the National Grid, provide night patrols for a recently closed M&S store in Bishop Auckland and provide 24-hour security for a large industrial site at Cowpen Bewley, near Billingham, along with a host of North-East construction sites.

Jobs further afield include a waterworks and a Travel Lodge site in Aberdeen and another key client in Orpington, Kent

General manager Annmarie Hope said: “We’ve doubled our turnover during the past 12 months, creating dozens of jobs across Teesside, the North-East and beyond. We’ve doubled our workforce too, creating dozens of jobs, the vast majority of them local.

“We now have 15 staff in our Boho Six headquarters – up from just four a year ago – together with a team of more than 80 security specialists. We’ve recently taken on an apprentice we’re looking for another. 

“We’re still in the building stage of the business but we have big ambitions for Vistech Services. There’s certainly no reason why we can’t create another hundred jobs over the next 12 months.   

“We have some good people building the firm’s foundations, as we target an increasing number of construction sites, power companies and health services including NHS sites.”

Whilst the company has bases in London and Aberdeen, Annmarie promises that Vistech’s headquarters will always remain on Teesside.

Annemarie adds: “Whilst we’re increasingly focused on building a strong market across the UK, we’re passionate about retaining our Teesside base, so we’ll be looking to continue to invest locally and create the bulk of our jobs locally too.”

As a Security Industry Authority (SIA) approved contractor, Vistech already boast more quality accreditations than the majority of UK security firms, while the company was recently awarded Safecontractor accreditation in recognition for its commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety.

“We are one of the most accredited security companies in the country, which goes hand-in-hand with the quality of service and basically doing everything the right way. Too many don’t do that, getting too caught up in the bottom line, but our aim is to be a company our staff are proud to work for.

“The security industry doesn’t always enjoy the best reputation but we are setting ourselves apart as a leader in the field. We’ve come this far so quickly through a combination of hard work, have a strong team around us and a willingness to do things that our competitors don’t necessarily do.

“We are innovative within the industry. We’re always looking for the next big thing to ensure we give our customers the best possible service.

“We carry out welfare checks with all of our on-duty staff, providing them with phones to allow them to check in every hour, whilst all our vans have trackers installed so we can tell our customers where we’ve been and at what time.”