For many people working with a close family member could be a recipe for disaster, but for our business administrator Chloe, it’s been a great experience that has made her decide what we do is the career for her.
Chloe is the daughter of our managing director, Mark Stone, and has worked alongside him for the past two years after joining the at the age of 17.
Her role encompasses everything we do, from visiting clients to discuss their requirements, drawing up plans, visiting the site to assess the specifications and then visiting during the installation phase.
Then there is the product R&D, marketing, social media and new business activity, meaning that no two days at Securiscape are ever the same.
It helps that what we do is in Chloe’s blood: Mark previously ran a company which sold street planters and then extended its range to move into security installations, which iswhen Securiscape was born.
Now, we supply a wide array of security products, from reinforced HVM guardrails to our SecuriPod temporary barriers, from our innovative IWA-14-rated Glide Bollard systems to our PAS 68 bollards, which have been installed in locations including the City of London, Wembley, Nottingham, Blackpool and even New York and Dubai.
New products and new installations are already in the pipeline, which means that Chloe is climbing a steep learning curve and taking on new information every day.
And all the while, Mark is by her side, whether on inspection visits to sites across the UK or planning new projects back at the company’s base in Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
She said: “I love working for a family business and there is nothing else I would rather do. I’ve done a couple of apprenticeships but they weren’t for me, I’m really enjoying being a part of the business and learning alongside my dad.
“When we first talked about me joining the business, he said ‘are you sure?’. I know it’s not something everyone would want but it’s working out really well and I really like all of the aspects of the job.
“I know this isn’t a typical job for a 19-year-old woman and people are a bit surprised when I arrive on site, but I’ve definitely grown a lot over the past two years and I’m looking forward to developing my skills.
“I’ll be completing some qualifications this year, like forklift truck driving and banksman training so that I can carry out more tasks. I’m also talking to customers a lot more, which is a really important part of the job.”
