Did you Know, Lifeline was 30 this year.
The year 2020 has been a very different and challenging year for all of us. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we think, work, operate and interact with each other. This year has also marked a special year for the team at Lifeline. This is our 30th year in business. Incorporated in 1990, this year has seen the company reach a milestone 30th anniversary.
Initially established in 1990, Lifeline have grown to become the Islands’ leading Electronic Fire & Security Company. The now multi award winning 25 strong team started off with humble beginnings, with just a couple of engineers, two old Bedford Rascal vans and a paraffin heater for comfort. We quickly identified the need to grow and gain accreditation for the work we would be undertaking. The directors immediately saw the need to be accredited with NSI Gold status. That coveted status was achieved in 1996 making 2021 our 25th year of NSI accreditation, which is still proudly held today.
Some of the team that started with Lifeline at the very beginning are still with us today. Cindy Newnham, Ian Turner, Graeme and Jean Lee are all still here, growing older gracefully together. In fact, some customers who originally had their security systems installed by the likes of Ian, are still being supported by the man himself today. Others including Ann & Ali will be celebrating 20 years with the business in 2021 with the rest of the team ranging from one to fifteen years service.
During the past 30 years we have enjoyed huge success and that is in no small way attributed to our loyal and valuable customers. Lifeline have been at the forefront of technology, innovation, standards and awards. We were the first and still only NSI Gold Accredited Island based Fire & Security Company, again, the first and only with BAFE SP203 Fire Alarm Design Accreditation, ISO 9001 Quality Assurance and EN14001 Environmental Accreditation and now Cyber Essentials. These are amongst the highest accreditations available in the UK. We have been crowned winners four times at the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce Awards, including Best Professional & Business Services and Employer of The Year, as well as winning twice at ‘National’ level the National Fire & Security Excellence Awards. We have trained five apprentices, four of which are still with us with one winning Apprentice of the Year and another passing her course with distinction.
We have enjoyed three Open Days, or as they have become more affectionately known, ‘Lifeline Hog Roast’ days. We packed in as many as we could into The Island Security Centre to enjoy a catch up, refreshments and product demonstrations and networking. These have proved to be a must attend event on the business calendar.
Technology has moved on at fast pace as well, with engineers and support staff now finding themselves with a whole new range of skills to add to their extensive knowledge base. Laptops, Clouds and Apps are now the common demands controlling CCTV, Intruder & Access Control Systems all from the palm of your hand. A long way from when started with pagers, BT phone Cards and a screwdriver in the tool box. We have seen CCTV move from tape to hard disk, and now include high definition, thermal imaging and analytics and even smart door bells, intelligent Intruder Alarms are remotely controlled and supported, Access Control includes finger print and facial recognition and Fire Alarms signal off site to improve response times. Out are going telephone lines and in comes IP, Fibre and GPRS. Electronic field-based reporting and signature capture systems have also helped to improve efficiency, performance and service levels. We have also strengthened our relationships with world leading manufacturers such as Texecom, HIK Vision, Apollo Fire, Paxton Access Control, CSL Communications and many others, becoming their preferred, authorised and official partners for the Isle of Wight.
In the last 30 years we have protected an unprecedented thousands of Isle of Wight Homes & Businesses using a combination of Fire & Intruder Detections Systems, CCTV & Access Control. As the months and years continue to pass, we look forward to providing more and more high quality security solutions to our customer family, providing them with ultimate peace of mind throughout 2021 and on into the future.
We have enjoyed working with you all during our anniversary year and look forward to extending that throughout the years to come. With best regards from all the Directors, Managers and Staff at Lifeline thank you all for your continued support and loyalty new and old.
