LEIGH ROBINSON finds out about past success and future plans at Cirencester Intruder Alarms.

A Cirencester family business founded 20 years ago is investing £1 million to develop it further for the future.

Cirencester Intruder Alarms (CIA), headed by owner Colin Harrison, his wife Nicci and son Matthew, has embarked upon redevelopment of a building adjoining Love Lane.

This will eventually provide a 10,000-square foot facility to respond to major levels of new customer requirements for intruder alarms.

They also hope to have a training centre, both for CIA apprentices and as a centre of excellence for other businesses in the industry requiring training for their staff.

Colin Harrison said: "We have a five-year plan that has come about because of the support of our employees and customers, who together have raised us to a significant level."

CIA has acquired a building in Chesterton Lane, Cirencester.

Refurbishment, which will take up to six months, will include a second floor, new roof, extensive enhancements to the exterior and internal remodelling to provide state-of-the-art business, management and training facilities.

Current staff levels of 40 - office staff, engineers and alarm response officers - is likely to grow as the company's key activities increase, particularly in fire alarm systems developments and the training of apprentices.

The Harrisons have built CIA on the key principles of quality, customer service and value.

"We talk every day about providing the best possible solutions for our customers, the best possible employee development and support for our customers," said Colin, pictured above.

From those modest beginnings, 20 years ago, the growth facts today are impressive.

During 2007, the team: l undertook 12,500 new jobs l travelled 220,000 miles - roughly eight times around the world l spent 90,000 minutes on mobile phones l spent 139 days on training l installed 133 kilometres of cabling - equivalent to driving from Cirencester to London Twice a week, everyone who can gathers at CIA for breakfast, and during 2007 they ate 300 eggs, 450 sausages and 350 slices of bacon, not to mention hundreds of pieces of toast and cups of tea and coffee.

"We are a team and we get together as a team," said Colin.

"We are in a people business and you have to know each other - the good and the bad, the strengths and the weaknesses, the problems and the happy times."

As with many businesses, Colin started out using his home as a base while also being a partner in a building maintenance partnership.

As CIA developed, the partners divided the business, with Colin devoting all his efforts to CIA.

And with staff increasing, they outgrew his and Nicci's home, so they moved into Cirencester, where CIA does much for the community.

Macmillan Cancer Research takes huge amounts of their time. Colin is also junior vice president of the Rotary Club of Cirencester and CIA sponsors Cirencester's annual fireworks display, organised by the Round Table, of which Matthew is a hardworking member.

They also help to send parcels to British troops abroad, and put much effort behind a children's Christmas appeal.

Jonathan Stanford, who began as an apprentice and is today leading the fledgling Fire Division said: "I love the family factor.

"There are many opportunities here, and your efforts are always recognised and rewarded."

Charlotte Bignell joined CIA on leaving Cirencester College, a year ago. The 19-year-old is Matthew's personal assistant, with responsibility for quotations, letter writing, survey inquiries.

Charlotte, who spends much of her spare time keeping fit through running and aerobics, is described by colleagues as "totally dedicated".

In turn, she said: "When I came to CIA I discovered the demands of business, while at the same time recognising that to move forward in your life you have to give as well as receive."

3:42pm Tuesday 1st April 2008

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