A fast-growing fire prevention and security company has been rewarded for its social conscience with a prestigious award by the area’s policing boss.
Snowdonia Fire and Security recently beat off competition from US security giants Honeywell to land an £80,000 five-year contract to supply, fit and maintain fire alarms at North Wales’s 120 police stations.
The firm, which has branches Aberystwyth, Waunfawr, near Caernarfon, and Kinmel Bay near Rhyl still finds time to back local football clubs, fly-fishing, music and children’s charities.
They have been recognised as part of North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones’s social value policy which aims to give preference to local businesses when it comes to awarding contracts.
Family business Snowdonia Fire and Security was founded in 1974 by David Greasley in Waunfawr, near Caernarfon, where it is still based but it now employs 68 people and works across the whole of North and Mid Wales and into Cheshire and Shropshire.
Mr Jones said: “The purpose of my Social Value Policy is to use our buying power wherever possible to enhance the wellbeing of communities across North Wales.
“Every pound spent locally generates greater community good and in the coming years this will develop and strengthen the local economy.
“Snowdonia Fire and Security practice this themselves so that not only do they offer a high quality service but they buy local – their fleet of over 50 vehicles is bought locally, they train and employ people from the area they create jobs and do their bit to enhance the lives of communities across North Wales.
“As Commissioner I have responsibility for North Wales Police’s buildings and estates and I believe it is vital that major organisations like North Wales Police use their buying power to benefit the region in which they operate.
“We spend something like £30 million on goods and services and my aim is to use this wherever possible to enhance the well-being of communities across North Wales through social value.
“Snowdonia Fire and Security are themselves a really strong example of social value in action, supporting local employment, local communities, local charities and of course the local economy.”
Snowdonia Fire and Security is now headed by David’s son, Peter, whose wife, Janet, is also part of the team along with the couple’s three sons, Dafydd, Marc and Sion.
They sponsor and have contributed to a number of local football teams including Caernarfon FC, Aberystwyth FC, Llanrug FC, Llanfair PG junior FC, Bontnewydd FC, and Waunfawr FC while Peter, a Welsh international fly-fisherman, also backed a fly-fishing competition for Gwynedd and Anglesey schools .
The company have sponsored the Wales International Piano competition held every four years at Galeri, Caernarfon, and support other local charities including one for young cancer sufferers from the Gwynedd and Anglesey area.
Peter Greasley said: “We believe that as a North Wales firm which trades across the region and draws its staff and customers from the area that we have a responsibility to support the communities in which we work.
“That’s always been important to us and we’re delighted that the Commissioner is so supportive of local businesses and the need to support them.
“Our support for local charities and organisations is another way of ensuring that the money we generate as a business is spent locally and benefits the people who have helped make us successful.”
Arfon Jones added: “Our contract with Snowdonia Fire and Security is worth £80,000 and it’s estimated that each pound of a contract like this is spent over three times in the region and that adds up to a quarter of a million ponds injection into the North Wales economy.
“I believe we have a responsibility to ensure that wherever possible when we spend public money on procuring goods and services we spend it with local suppliers.
“I would urge all other public bodies across North Wales, including local authorities, to do the same to create economic growth, jobs and opportunities for local people.”
