Special security

UNDER THE RADAR:WHEN ELECTRONICS engineer Paul Creighton started to do a few odd jobs installing security systems around his locality, he didn't reckon it would lead him to setting up his own business.

Now, Advanced Electronic Solutions (AES) is projected to have turnover of nearly half a million pounds sterling in the coming year.

"It was a progressive decision for me," says Creighton, who established the company in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, in 2005, along with his brother Mark.

"We started out doing pieces of installation as an extra money-making scheme at the weekends," explains Creighton.

That led to the establishment of AES, which specialises in the installation of CCTV systems, electric gates and house alarms.

"We would go out on Saturdays and do small jobs for people.

"That became more and more regular until it was every Saturday. Then it was too much for Saturdays and it became Saturdays and Sundays."

The rapid growth in the odd-job business presented Creighton with a bit of a dilemma - pack in the day job or try to maintain AES as a part-time enterprise.

In the end, the volume of work for AES made up his mind for him.

"It got to the stage where I had to leave my job because there was too much work to do it part-time," he says.

"I left my employment in March 2006, and Mark left his job in November 2006."

Creighton had also spotted a niche for more intricate and sophisticated products in the market that led to the brothers designing and manufacturing their own range of security merchandise.

"We realised there were a few gaps in the market for more specialist solutions and we developed and continue to develop specialist products that aren't readily available and that have a bit of uniqueness to them."

Among the company's innovations is the RapidCam, a unique rapid-deployment CCTV system, which is either solar or wind-powered, designed for use in town centres, large building sites, remote areas and at public events.

"It is used in town centres and is used by police for rapid deployment of cameras without the need for cables and electricity supply.

"It saves a lot of money and time and gives you great versatility. The product is totally unique at the moment in the UK and Ireland as far as we are aware," says Creighton.

Another unique product is the FarmCamera, a long-range wireless camera to aid farmers with calving, lambing and foaling.

"The system allows farmers to view calving or lambing pens from the house without need for wires," says Creighton.

"It saves multiple trips to the shed at night that are unnecessary, and it can prevent the loss of livestock because you are able to see what is happening in real time."

The products are built in-house at Cookstown where AES has a manufacturing facility, showroom and office space.

"Most of the products are low-scale manufacturing, less than 50 units a month, but they are high-value, high-speciality items," explains Creighton.

"They are not the type of things you can go on eBay and find half a dozen people selling. They are totally unique."

The company has come quite a way since the two brothers started doing a few nixers on Saturday mornings.

Starting off with a modest investment of around £10,000-£15,000 of personal funds, the company turned over around £300,000 last year, and Creighton expects it to top £450,000 next year.

"We grew by reinvesting company profits back into the business alongside a few small business loans, and we've received some grant aid from Invest NI and from Intertradeireland," he says.

AES now employs five people in addition to the two brothers.

It has established a growing portfolio of clients across Northern Ireland, the Republic, England and Scotland.

Creighton says he hasn't once regretted the decision to branch out on his own along with his brother Mark.

"We have big overheads and a lot of staff to pay but you have a choice when you are starting out - you can stay small, make a modest amount of money or profits or you can take a chance and try to push it into being a bigger business, make a loss for a couple of years and then you settle down to a certain size and make much bigger profits. It's a long-term investment."

ON THE RECORD

Name:Paul Creighton

Age:30

From:Cookstown, Co Tyrone

Background/education:Eight GCSEs, national diploma in engineering, higher national certificate in electronics, part master's in electronics.

Most admires:Richard Branson. "His entrepreneurial skills are impressive to say the least. He started with nothing, and now has many market areas, competing against the giants, eg Virgin Cola, Virgin Rail, cable TV, airlines etc."

Most likes to: "Jujitsu helps me unwind from the daily challenges of business."

Favourite TV programme:BBC's Dragons' Den.

Favourite films:The Godfather, Casino, Goodfellas, The Shawshank Redemption.