CSS Acquire Graham Robertson Fire, Electrical & Security Ltd
Security and fire systems provider CSS has announced the acquisition of Graham Robertson Fire, Electrical & Security Ltd (GR).
Making the announcement, CSS Managing Director Paul Connelly said this is an exciting and strategic development for us in acquiring a well-respected, long established business headquartered in Stirling.
Like CSS, GR is a family business and operates in similar market places. Having known Graham for over twenty years it is a natural fit to bring these two successful businesses together to complement each other.
The deal was born out of succession planning for the future. Robertson has been at the helm of the GR business for over 30 years and has embarked on a plan to reduce his work capacity and also spend some well-earned time with his family and friends.
Connelly commented that having Graham continue to be on board is key to ensuring staff and customers alike feel relaxed. It will also enable the larger business to accommodate everyone’s expectations albeit in the longer term. Graham’s workload will reduce and deservedly so.
This acquisition is particularly exciting because it opens up new markets for CSS to undertake electrical installations under the GR brand across the extensive CSS client base as well as ancillary expertise GR provide e.g. WiFi and aerials installations, audio and visual installations and supply services to the growing home connectivity market’s internet of things (IOT). It will also open up new opportunities to the GR business for services offered by CSS in fire extinguishing equipment, retail tagging systems, remote CCTV monitoring services and lone worker monitoring services.
Connelly explained there will be a sharing of labour resources across the branch network with bases in Ayr, Glasgow, Stirling, Whitburn and Edinburgh. A rebranding of the security systems side of the business to CSS will be undertaken over the next couple of years and the remaining 50% of monitored security and fire systems that are not already looked after by the CSS alarm receiving centre will be transferred to Scotland from the existing facility down south over the next year or so. Connelly emphasised that this is very much still a family concern with all of the values and integrity that customers expect by working with such businesses. CSS has plans to invest in new IT and expand its logistics business to support the Stirling branch with ready-to-fit stock as well as invest in staff training and career development.
CSS was established in 1986 and celebrates 35 years in business in 2021.
