IT’S A NUMBERS GAME AS SSGC MANAGES ITS POST-COVID SUCCESS GROWTH

Specialist security business appoints Haines Watts accountants to manage rapid growth trajectory

One of Britain’s fastest-growing specialised security businesses has appointed a leading national accountancy firm as part of its planned expansion strategy that has so far seen a substantial turnover increase to over £60m.

Robust systems and bespoke technology has enabled SSGC, a niche provider of fully-vetted security officers, deploy hundreds of veteran boots on the ground to secure and marshal the Covid-19-related testing programme at centres across the UK, building on the significant growth already achieved throughout 2019.

It has now appointed Haines Watts, a top UK accountancy firm with more than 50 offices nationwide, to manage its financial affairs as it draws up its long-term expansion plan after securing contracts which has seen robust and rapid growth in turnover.

Swindon-based SSGC, which has demonstrated its ability to rapidly provide hundreds of guarding personnel within very tight time windows, many of whom are former military personnel returning to front line duties as part of the national Coronavirus effort.

“Reinforcing our front line in the fight against Covid-19 has meant making some sound decisions as we rise through the ranks of security firms to be part of the top flight of specialist businesses – and appointing an equally top flight accountancy firm was always part of our long-term planning,” said David Stubbs, managing director of SSGC.

“Growth has always been a major part of our strategy, but our ability to demonstrate a robust response to the Government’s needs during Covid lockdown suddenly accelerated those plans.

“We had already established a good relationship with Haines Watts, so a complete move to take advantage of a strategic finance partner that complements our own direction of travel will definitely help us shape our future direction.”

Mike Lloyd, partner with Haines Watts, said: “We provide services to thousands of businesses, many of which, like SSGC, are going through a phase of significant growth in a short time. Expansion presents new and exciting challenges and secures SSGC as a major corporate player – a target they were already headed towards before current events arose.

“Accountancy services fall broadly into two distinct areas – compliance and planning. From the compliance side we can make sure they meet all of the legal and tax requirements while with planning we can help optimise around areas such as tax management, financial modelling and scenario forecasting to maximise the financial fluidity of the company under growth.

“We are already busy working with the directors on both fronts and looking forward to working alongside them at this key time in the company’s evolution, and ongoing.”

A signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC), SSGC is an ethical business committed to supporting the military community through remobilisation projects and is also being supported by other key partners in Skipton Business Finance and Squire Patton Boggs (SPB) solicitors in delivering on the government’s call to action.

Mr Stubbs, himself a former military policeman, added: “This is a very exciting time for the business as we transition into the next phase of our development. Working with Haines Watts helps provides seamless access to the financial services and expertise we will be leaning on this year as we execute the next phase of our growth”. For more information on SSGC, visit www.ssgc-net.com.