A self-made entrepreneur hopes to have the Leeds alarm market locked down with the opening of his new company.
The Leeds Lock Centre has been launched in Gipton with help from Sharing the Success, the Leeds Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) programme.
Dennis Bainbridge, 59, first stepped into the employment world as a marine engineer in the merchant fleet at BP before settling down in Leeds.
Repeatedly made redundant
He remained in the engineering industry until he started installing alarms, where he was repeatedly made redundant over a number of years.
Turning to his local job centre as a last resort in Christmas 2007, he was frustrated at the lack of opportunities for people who had been unemployed for less than six months. At the centre he was pointed towards Leeds Chamber's 'Enterprise Rehearsal' scheme which is funded by Sharing the Success and designed to assist Leeds residents to think in a more enterprising way and see self-employment as an alternative source of income.
Bainbridge wanted to make the most of his engineering background by opening an alarm shop which would provide a specialist service to fit and repair security systems. He had the chance to turn this concept into a business without taking any risks by going for an initial meeting through the 'Enterprise Rehearsal' scheme to discuss the practicalities of making his idea into a profitable venture.
Semi-derelict building transformed
Last month he opened the Leeds Lock Centre, a home security service, providing both lock and alarm systems.
Bainbridge, of Seacroft, chose a semi-derelict building owned by Leeds council on Gipton Approach as the premises for the business. The council helped with the refurbishments and transformed the building into a contemporary space.
Plans for the future include employing two young apprentices, one to take on the alarm side and one the lock side of the business.
Bainbridge finds being self-employed hugely rewarding. He said:
"My advice to anyone considering starting their own business would be to surround yourself with support and be open to help from people who have done it already so that you're confident that your decisions are informed."The support I have received from 'Sharing the Success' and its partners, Leeds Chamber, the Council and the Enterprise Rehearsal scheme, was invaluable.
"I now feel happy that my future is not dependent on others and that I'm in charge of providing a great, personal service from which I get great job satisfaction."
Leeds was awarded £15.6m over three years in Round 2 of the government funded Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) in 2006. This was extended by £5m in December 2007. 'Sharing the Success' is the brand name for this programme in Leeds. The free phone contact number is 0800 048 0054.
Sharing the Success is based on three themes: engaging people, business and investors. It focuses on opening up opportunities for employment, self-employment and investment in the city's most deprived areas, allowing everyone to share in the economic success of Leeds and play an active part in its growth.
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