Security life with Ian Teader of Ranger Fire and Security which has multiple NSI certified brands in its portfolio of brands
What are the company’s main business activities?
Our aim is for Ranger to be the one-stop solution for the fire and security market. Ranger was set up just over a year ago to help reduce the highly fragmented nature of the fire and security industry which often stops highly skilled businesses from scaling. UK and Irish businesses within the Ranger group able to collaborate and benefit for shared growth and cross-selling opportunities. We encompass all areas across fire and security including passive fire, gas suppression, sprinklers across the whole marketplace, majoring in all the disciplines, but with a primary focus on fire detection and electronic security.
In the Group, some of our brands are quite specialised in disciplines such as passive fire and we also have a fire door company and a gas suppression business, but the NSI certified companies that we have within the Group are predominantly focused on active fire and electronic security. Our brands include AFIL, Ignis Fire Protection, Syncro Group, IPH Fire Solutions, Fire Door Specialists, KSS Fire Suppression, Secureshield and most recently McGoff & Vickers Fire and Security Systems.
What emerging technologies do you see shaping the future of the industry and how is your company adapting to stay ahead?
These days, everything seems to be pushing towards the digital world, smart technology and automation with all the associated elements. We’re working with major suppliers to make sure that we stay ahead of the game, building those strong relationships and partnerships. To make sure we can deliver modern solutions we are training our engineers to deliver technology to clients that achieves results.
What way do you think NSI certification differentiates your companies from their competitors and enhances their credibility?
With all of the businesses we have acquired, it is important they have the relevant accreditations that are required. We see this as a badge of honour as it makes our businesses stand out from those who aren’t certified to high standards. This allows us a greater opportunity to go into wider markets and offer more services to high-end clients. Realistically, certification is an indicator to show that we are what we say we are and enforcing our commitment to quality and compliance.
By bringing together NSI and other certified businesses under one roof we can make it easier for clients to access a range of top-quality services and provide peace of mind that they are working with the best suppliers in the industry.
How has the rise of smart and home automation technology influenced your business and the services you offer?
The evolution of smart/home automation has not affected much of our business as we don’t focus on the domestic market. We’re very much focused on commercial, B2B projects rather than B2C, but we have seen interest from our customers in being able to access systems from the cloud to improve first time fix rates and know what the problems are before being on site in high end commercial applications.
What is the most common misconception or myth about the security industry?
I think it’s the saying that “if you’ve got security systems on a property than it means there’s something there worth stealing” that comes to mind. There’s more to security than just stopping stealing, it also allows for business intelligence, giving companies the power to track patterns and give clients greater insights. Having security in place can help to preserve the safety and security of people and infrastructure ahead of time.
Read the full interview in the April 2025 edition of PSi magazine
