SSGC CEO David Stubbs wins British Ex-Forces in Business Award

The CEO of an award-winning specialist security company has received national recognition for his ever-growing commitment towards supporting members of the ex-Armed Forces community. SSGC CEO David Stubbs picked up the Business Leader of the Year accolade at the glittering Ex-Forces in Business Awards, with the ceremony held in central London on Thursday 2 December.

The Ex-Forces in Business Awards are a celebration of ex-military personnel in second careers and recognise the business achievements of ex-military members. They also celebrate employers who support current and former members of the British Armed Forces.

A former military policeman, Stubbs was recognised for his outstanding leadership and management which have been instrumental in Swindon-based SSGC’s considerable growth over the last seven years.

When he took over management of the business back in 2014, Stubbs set out with a distinct vision which has resulted in the company since achieving a remarkable 1,500% revenue growth year-on-year.

David Stubbs (centre) receives his Business Leader of the Year Award

As a proud signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, SSGC goes above and beyond the Call of Duty and has been a driving force in helping the veteran community right across the country.

Under Stubbs’ leadership, the business supports the military community through several remobilisation projects including deploying veterans to man COVID-19 Testing Centres across the UK in partnership with the Yorkshire Regiment.

At present, SSGC employs more than 500 veterans as part of its highly-skilled team and helps several of them to combat physical and mental difficulties as they settle back into life after their military service.

Going the extra mile

Commenting on the award win, Stubbs explained: “It’s truly a very humbling experience to be recognised on such a prestigious platform like this and I’m very grateful for the award. Although this is an individual award, a leader is no use without his or her team and the SSGC team is simply amazing. The military community is close to many of our hearts and we always go that extra mile to ensure that its constituents are looked after.”

Stubbs added: “There are thousands of servicemen and women who leave the Armed Forces each year and this creates a rich pool of talent for us as employers. Those individuals are underpinned by skills and values that easily transfer into a wide spectrum of roles. I believe that it’s our duty to look after these individuals who have given so much to our country and I’m grateful to have a platform to be able to do so.”

Stubbs also actively works with Mission Motorsport as SSGC’s charity partner, so far donating more than £50,000 to the organisation, which itself engages with veterans through motorsport. Stubbs regularly drives at Mission Motorsport events, offering beneficiaries high-speed passenger laps around several of the celebrated British racing circuits.

*For more information about SSGC visit www.ssgc-net.com

Security specialist SSGC supports Mission Motorsport charity event

Specialist security firm SSGC recently took to the track at the historic Goodwood Motor Circuit to give military veterans a high-speed day out to remember. The Swindon-based company joined its nominated charity Mission Motorsport at the West Sussex venue to offer passenger rides to former military personnel in honour of Armed Forces Day 2021.

Among the famous faces supporting the day were Chris Harris from BBC TV’s Top Gear and former British Army officer Johnny Mercer MP.

SSGC’s CEO David Stubbs spent the day giving veterans high-octane passenger rides in his race-tuned Honda Civic Type-R as part of the company’s commitment to Mission Motorsport, which has also seen it pledge around £50,000 to the charity in 2021.

For its part, Mission Motorsport works with wounded, injured or sick service leavers and veterans and helps those affected by military operations by way of engagement through sport.

A former military police officer, Stubbs said: “I’ve been involved in motorsport for the last 15 years as an ex-bike racer and I’m a veteran myself, so the link with Mission Motorsport is perfect for us as a company. SSGC is a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, an ongoing commitment to support the Armed Forces community. Taking part in days like this is a big part of that pledge.”

Long-standing link

SSGC has a long-standing link with the Armed Forces community and, last year, deployed more than 4,000 members of staff, many of them military veterans, to marshal COVID-19 Testing Centres across the UK on behalf of the Government.

SSGC’s managing director Demelza Staples informed Security Matters: “Our partnership with Mission Motorsport is really important to us. This event allowed us to give beneficiaries a day out and acknowledge everything they have given to us, not just as a business, but as a country as well.”

Staples continued: “The transferrable skills they bring into our business are just phenomenal. We have COVID-19 Testing Centres which run like clockwork because of our veterans and what they contribute.”

Mission Motorsport CEO and founder James Cameron observed: “Our charity is ultimately about using sport to help people become happy in their careers beyond the military. SSGC is doing wonders in employing ex-military people, while joining events like this is part of Armed Forces Covenant commitment made by the business. As an act of advocacy, it’s just wonderful.”

*For more information about SSGC visit www.ssgc-net.com

**Further detail concerning Mission Motorsport is available online at www.missionmotorsport.org

Senior leadership promotions announced by guarding business SSGC

SSGC – one of many security guarding companies providing vital services to keep the country running during the COVID-19 pandemic – has now appointed a new CEO and managing director following a year of huge growth. David Stubbs is appointed to the newly-created position of CEO of both SSGC and WLTS (a new offshoot firm which delivers temporary labour and recruitment services to businesses), while the business has promoted Demelza Staples to the role of managing director of SSGC. Staples formerly served as operations director.

SSGC has grown from a £1.5 million annual turnover business in 2014 to reach a current turnover of more than £100 million. Both appointments are part of its plan to continue growing as the country navigates its way out of the pandemic.

Last year, the Armed Forces Covenant signatory deployed more than 4,000 members of staff to marshal COVID-19 Testing Centres across the UK, many of whom were military veterans. It has since expanded to provide lateral flow testing support for schools across the UK and launched the aforementioned WLTS business, which has already secured a £40 million contract to provide personnel to Comensura (the business that speclialises in managing supplies of temporary, permanent and contract labour).

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David Stubbs

A former military policeman, Stubbs was a key driver in the management buy-out of SSGC in 2014, while Staples is an experienced retail professional specialising in risk, security, loss prevention, operations and Human Resources.

Continuing ambition

In conversation with Security Matters, Stubbs explained: “I’m delighted to have guided the business to its current position. The creation of the new CEO role is another sign of the continuing ambition of the business as we look to build a winning senior team which will deliver positive change within the security sector.”

He continued: “It’s critical to the business’ ongoing success that SSGC mirrors the country by forging ahead into a post-pandemic world, building a solution which is fit for the new way of conducting business. I’m heartened by the sizable contract wins over the last couple of months. Hopefully, they’re a sign that we’re doing things the right way. It’s especially pleasing that our social value activity is being embraced by the larger, more evolved corporates. As a business, we will continue to invest in a better living standard for all of our staff and the wider communities in which we operate.”

Further, Stubbs stated: “There are many brands emerging from the growth of SSGC as we maintain our focus on specialisation and meaningful innovation. I’m excited by the challenges and opportunities that the future holds. I would like to congratulate Demelza, who has made a hugely positive impact on our COVID-19 testing-related security solutions delivery. I’m certain that she will prove to be an exceptional leader for the business.”

Challenging and rewarding

Reflecting on her own new role with the business, Demelza Staples said: “It’s amazing to have been involved at a senior level in this business’ rise to the top. Very few of us experience 1,500% year-on-year growth where we work and, while the last year has been challenging, it has been the most rewarding of my life. I’m pleased that the Board has afforded me the managing director’s post.”

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Demelza Staples

Staples went on to comment: “Probably the most exciting part for me is the fact that SSGC has already continued with its winning ways. There are a number of really positive announcements to be made at the start of my journey in the managing director’s chair.”

In conclusion, Staples informed Security Matters: “Through our commitment to the veteran community and the Continuing Professional Development of all our employees, we’ve managed to build a highly-skilled team to support our growth programme. I’m delighted to be taking on the managing director’s role and thank the owners of the business for offering me this fantastic opportunity.”

*Further information is available online at www.ssgc-net.com

Security guarding specialist SSGC appoints Haines Watts to manage “rapid growth trajectory”

One of Britain’s fastest-growing specialist 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 £60 million per annum.

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

Further, the business has now appointed Haines Watts, the 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 have underpinned the aforementioned robust and rapid growth in turnover.

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

Mike Lloyd, a partner at Haines Watts (left), with Guy Dungworth (a shareholder in SSGC) and David Stubbs (managing director at SSGC)

Reinforcing the front line

“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,” said David Stubbs, managing director of SSGC, in conversation with Security Matters. “Appointing an equally top flight accountancy firm was always part of our long-term planning.”

Stubbs continued: “Growth has always been a major part of our strategy, but our ability to demonstrate a robust response to the Government’s needs during the COVID-19 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 when it comes to shaping our future direction.”

Mike Lloyd, partner with Haines Watts, responded: “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 a spot for SSGC as a major corporate player. This is a target the business was already heading towards before current events arose.”

Lloyd continued: “Accountancy services fall broadly into two distinct areas, namely compliance and planning. From the compliance side, we can make sure that SSGC meets all of the necessary legal and tax requirements. With planning, we can help optimise areas such as tax management, financial modelling and scenario forecasting in order to maximise the financial fluidity of the company under growth. We are already working with the directors on both fronts at this key time in the company’s evolution.”

Armed Forces Covenant signatory

A signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, 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 Solicitors in delivering on the Government’s call to action.

SSGC is a Security Industry Authority Approved Contractor Scheme registered business that was formed by MBO back in 2014

David Stubbs, himself a former military policeman, concluded: “This is a very exciting time for the business as we transition into the next phase of our development. Working with Haines Watts 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.”