Celebrating 40 Years of Connelly Security: The CSS Journey from 1986

This year, CSS celebrates its 40th anniversary.

It is a milestone that gives us an opportunity not only to look back at how far we have travelled but also to thank everyone who has been part of that journey.

To our clients, suppliers, present and former employees, business partners, friends and families: thank you. Your trust, loyalty, hard work and support have helped make CSS the company it is today.

From three brothers to over 170 employees

CSS began in the summer of 1986 when three brothers, Jim, Pat and Paul Connelly, decided to establish their own family security business.

They started with a small office in Bishopbriggs, two vehicles between them and considerably more determination than money. Their ambition was simple: to build a family owned and operated Scottish security company that looked after its customers properly and provided a dependable, personal service.

Forty years later, CSS employs around 170 people and operates from purpose-built facilities and offices across Scotland.

The company has grown from protecting a few dozen homes to providing security and support to more than 50,000 customers, alongside thousands of businesses and organisations throughout the country. CSS also looks after a variety of blue chip companies as well as many established, well-known Scottish businesses.

Forty years of change

The security industry has changed beyond recognition since 1986 and CSS has continued to develop alongside it.

From supplying nothing more than a straightforward domestic alarm system, we now provide a wide range of security, fire and electrical services, including:

• Intruder alarm systems
• CCTV and access control
• Fire detection and protection
• 24-hour alarm monitoring
• Automated homes and businesses
• Electrical installations and maintenance
• Security and electrical systems for major hotel, leisure, retail and hospitality groups

What began with two vehicles shared between three brothers has become a very substantial fleet of vans and cars. As we continue to modernise, the fleet now includes electric vehicles as part of our continuing efforts to reduce our environmental impact.

Our original small office in Bishopbriggs has also been replaced by a network of facilities serving customers across Scotland, supported by our own state-of-the-art Alarm Receiving Centre.

Building trust through high standards

In the earliest days of CSS, many of today’s industry standards and compliance requirements did not yet exist.

Today, CSS holds some of the most respected accreditations within the security and fire industries. These include NSI Gold approval, formerly known as NACOSS Gold, BAFE approval, BSIA membership and SafeContractor accreditation.

We are recognised by Police Scotland, accepted by leading insurance providers and proud to be a Living Wage employer.

These standards reflect the professionalism of our employees and our determination to provide customers with a service they can trust.CSS has grown to become Scotland’s largest independent family owned and operated security business, but the values on which the company was built remain unchanged: family, service, trust, loyalty, reliability and putting the customer first.

The next generation

The CSS story began in 1986 with three brothers and now, in 2026, the next generation of the Connelly family – Callum, Declan and Lewis – is helping to take the business forward.

Although the people, technology and scale of the company have changed, CSS remains a family business at heart. Our focus continues to be on protecting our customers, supporting our employees and building lasting relationships throughout the communities we serve.

Giving something back

One of the benefits of building a strong and successful business is having the opportunity to give something back.

CSS supports numerous charities and community organisations across Scotland, with Sense Scotland being our main charity. Our employees also play an important part by donating their time and money through sponsored walks, triathlons, fundraising events and voluntary work.

Sometimes support involves raising money. At other times, it simply means giving our time, skills or encouragement to someone who needs it.

We believe success should not be measured only by the size of a company or the number of customers it serves. It should also be measured by the positive difference that a company and its people can make.

You can read more on our blog.

Thank you for being part of our story

Very few businesses have the privilege of celebrating four decades of trading.

CSS could not have reached this anniversary without the people who placed their trust in us.

To every customer who invited us into their home or business, every supplier and partner who supported our work, and every current and former employee who contributed to CSS over the past 40 years: thank you.

Whether you have been with us since the early days or have only recently joined the CSS family, you are part of our story.

We are proud of what has been achieved since 1986, but we are equally excited about what lies ahead.

Here’s to the next chapter.

The Directors
Connelly Security Systems Ltd

A New Chapter for the CSS Leadership Team

As CSS celebrates its 40th anniversary, we are also announcing several important changes to our senior leadership team.

After four decades of helping to build and lead the company, Paul Connelly will step back from his role as Chief Executive Officer and become Acquisitions Director.

In this new position, Paul will continue to support the future growth of Connelly Security Systems (CSS) Ltd, using his experience and industry knowledge to identify suitable businesses and opportunities that can complement the Group.

Joe McEnaney will move from Managing Director of CSS to become Connelly Security Systems (CSS) Group Managing Director.

Joe will oversee the companies operating within the Connelly Group, helping to bring the businesses together under a shared strategy while maintaining the individual strengths, knowledge and customer relationships that have contributed to their success.

Declan Connelly will move from Operations Director to Managing Director of CSS.

Declan will take responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and continued development of CSS, supported by the senior management team and the wider Connelly family.

These appointments represent a natural progression for the business, combining decades of experience with the energy and ideas of a new generation.

Paul will remain closely involved with the Group as lead ambassador and strategist and the values on which CSS was founded – family, customer service, quality and trust – will continue to guide the company as it enters its fifth decade.