Meet the installer

Meet the installer Celebrating 60 years in the industry with Richard Hewes of Hewes Group

Did you always want to be a tradesman or were there other dream careers? Leaving school I wanted to join the Met Police, but failed on my eyesight. Whilst waiting I had numerous jobs in the City starting as a post boy in a stockbrokers, not liking that, and in a short time I had three jobs in offices. But I wasn’t cut out for that. I had relations in the alarm industry so I started with AFA, who had just taken over Autocall, Sentinal, and Clarrion, in Wellington Street near Covent Garden when it was in use and I saw all the guys with their flat leather hats to carry all the produce on their heads. I was in AFA’s office due to the fact I came from an office environment, but I was not happy there and asked to work on the tools so they moved me to Parker Street.

You began as a locksmith then moved into installing alarms, what was the attraction? When I began my career in the security industry we use to install contacted Chubb locks to control the setting of alarms silently in newsagents and off licences which operated out of normal hours. It was then using those locks that led me into fitting locks for other people. Then after many years I wanted to work for myself, so I use to go out knocking on doors to ask people if they wanted any locks fitted. It was during this time I became a Master Locksmith.

Can you remember what the early alarm installations were like? Which manufacturers were around? There were no electronics, just hard wiring. On windows we use to fit tube and wiring, microswitches on doors and to fully protect a door, we used to wire the doors with fine wire and then cover the door with hardboard. In those days alarm companies made their own equipment; the first electronic technology that I can remember was an ultrasonic unit which was in a small black Name: Richard Hewes

Job title: Chairman Time in security/fire: 60 years Company: Hewes Group Location: Essex

Areas of expertise: Intruder, CCTV, access control, fire and safes

Accreditations: NSI Gold, ISO 9001:2008 and members of NASIC, FPA, Essex Chamber of Commerce, BFC

box that resembled a speaker. Then came a product from Ademco called a Contronic.

How did you learn your skills in both security and the business side of things? In the alarm industry I was a trainee to begin with, working with other senior engineers, until I was competent enough to install on my own. We had supervisors who used to arrive on site unannounced to check your work. When completed they would visit the site and if anything was amiss we had to return and correct it in our own time.

What is the best thing about working this industry? Working in many types of premises; residential, and commercial and also seeing many other types of industries. “The first electronic technology that I can remember was an ultrasonic unit which was in a small black box that resembled a speaker. Then came a product from Ademco called a Contronic”

Has third party accreditation been beneficial to you? After leaving AFA I joined Brocks Alarms and moved to their branch in Southend-on-Sea. I became the supervisor and when Brocks was taken over by Modern Alarms, I eventually became a surveyor, but my dream was to work for myself. I left Modern Alarms in the mid-70s and because I had become a Master Locksmith with

Three generations of the Hewes family work for the company with grandson Joshua now an apprentice

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“Being a family business with both my sons, Matthew is my MD and Nigel my sales director, we are always on top of any problems that may arise”

the MLA I took the plunge and ventured into the physical side of our industry, installing locks and safes. It was not long when I was being asked to install alarm systems, which I did. Many insurance companies that I knew would not recommend me unless I was approved. So I became the first privately owned company in Essex to become NSCIA. Then again the first to acquire BS5750 All this was achieved from working from a railway arch in Chelmsford.

Are there any common requests from customers that give you problems? Have these changed since the early days? Being a family business with both my sons, Matthew is my MD and Nigel my sales director, we are always on top of any problems that may arise. We also became members of NASIC, which is the National Association of Security Installation Companies with over 60 members nationwide. This gives our company the opportunity to look after many national contracts.

What is the security/fire industry’s biggest myth? Not sure if there is a myth, but as an old school alarm guy I could not get my head round the difference of alarm zones and fire zones.

Do you currently have any ‘go to’ technology/manufacturers? In recent years we have been using Hikvision and a London based company called GTec for CCTV, but CSL has been an inspiration. Right from the early days of meeting Simon Banks as a young man, that company has impressed me for many years.

What has been the most important technology change in your time in security?

The mobile telephone. My first was a Motorola which was fitted into my VW van which I could disconnect. I can remember going to an early IFSEC with this breeze block shoulder carrier thinking I was the bee’s knees.

What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself? Be confident in what you know. Don’t be afraid of going the extra mile for a customer and most of all be honest.

Will England ever win the World Cup again? Sadly I never had the time to follow football as I was always working. But to answer the question, a big fat yes!

If you won £25,000 what would you do with the money? I know many people who I could share it with!