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A FIRE safety firm in Eastleigh that has doubled in size in the past year is putting apprentices at the heart of its expansion plans.
The FireCare Solutions team. From left: Bradley Abrahams; Darren George, Managing Director; Zena Timmins; Sue Warden-Owen, MHL business advisor; and Sam Cole.
FireCare Solutions Ltd has taken on the first of what it says will be an annual intake of apprentice engineers as it wins and services new contracts.
Bradley Abrahams will work as a fire alarm and extinguisher engineer on a three-year electrical apprenticeship run in conjunction with Eastleigh College.
He joins as the company moves ahead on a growth strategy steered by Southampton business consultancy MHL. Two sales team staff, Zena Timmins and Sam Cole, have also been hired to handle enquiries and generate new business.
Latest contract wins are to provide fire protection equipment, training and testing for the Southampton Harley-Davidson dealership and LV Streetwise, the Bournemouth-based health and safety education charity.
FireCare Solutions Managing Director Darren George said: “We’ve taken Bradley on because of the additional volume of work we are generating, twice as much in the past 12 months as in the year before. We are committed to employing local staff and investing in young people and we expect to take on a new apprentice each year.”
MHL, run by City-level consultant Sue Warden-Owen, is providing strategic input on various aspects of the expansion strategy including the business and marketing plans.
Mrs Warden-Owen said: “By investing in apprenticeships, FireCare Solutions will be well placed to improve service, build efficiency and ultimately give clients peace of mind and value for money. There can be very few businesses out there who would not benefit from the safety and legal compliance that Darren and his team provide through risk assessments, equipment, advice and training.”
FireCare Solutions has been in business since April 2010 and is accredited by BAFE, the British Association for Fire Equipment.
As well as Harley-Davidson, Hampshire clients include solicitors Knight Polson and Lester Aldridge, the educational products supplier Ocean Direct and facilities firm Dyno Rod. Outside Hampshire and Dorset, the company has clients in London, Sussex, Surrey, and Berkshire.
MHL works with managing directors, owner business managers and CEOs who want impartial advice on aspects of business management. Among the client base are many members of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and the Institute of Directors.
As well as a City background focusing mainly on mergers and acquisition, Mrs Warden-Owen has industry experience of running multi-million pound marketing budgets and providing PR services to blue-chip clients.
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