US home security firm opens UK headquarters in Manchester

SimpliSafe, which claims to be the fastest growing home security company in the US, has selected Manchester as the location for its new UK headquarters.

It will oversee the UK launch of its award-winning smart home security system from its new home in Spinningfields.

Founded in 2006, SimpliSafe was the first home security provider to offer US homeowners professional-grade monitored home security with no long-term contracts and honest and fair prices. It is now protecting more than two million Americans.

In its first six months SimpliSafe UK has built a team of five customer support and sales representatives in its Spinningfields call centre, with plans to double the size of the team by the end of the year.

Following the appointment of Jonathan Wall, UK general manager, back in January, SimpliSafe has also begun building out the UK marketing team.

Will Brooks – who has joined them from Manchester fashion retailer Missguided – has been brought in as UK product manager to lead the e-commerce offering, alongside Andrew Thompson who has joined the team as the UK head of brand and communications, following a career working with brands such as Sage and Iceland Foods.

Not only has the business put down roots in the city, but it has also built a network of local partners who have supported in getting the UK operations off the ground, including Manchester’s inward investment agency MIDAS, the Northern Powerhouse Investment Hub, Trafford Park-based CAE Logistics who hold stock and help fulfil orders, Forward Roll Recruitment, and Dentsu Aegis Manchester, who are supporting SimpliSafe in delivering a multi-channel marketing strategy.

Jonathan Wall said: “We’re really excited about our new UK headquarters in Spinningfields and thrilled to be a part of the Manchester technology culture.

“We chose Manchester to be our UK HQ for many reasons including the exceptional international travel links, convenient travel times to London, but none more important than the incredible depth of talent that can be drawn upon in the Manchester technology and marketing scene.

“Our aim is to build a UK marketing, digital and support business at our UK HQ and Manchester was top of our list.”

He added: “This year is all about building operational excellence, taking a test and learn approach, whilst listening and reacting to customer demand which will allow us to perfect the product drive scale and deliver against our mission statement ‘Every Home Secure’ in the months and years to come.

“Recent studies also suggest three quarters of UK homes have no security system, so there couldn’t be a better time to bring our award-winning solution into the UK and make our presence known on the Manchester scene.”

Tim Newns, MIDAS chief executive, said: “The technology and security sectors are currently driving record levels of investment in Greater Manchester and SimpliSafe is one of the latest firms to establish operations in the city region, enabling them to capitalise on the high-growth market and the wealth of expert tech talent available here.

“Greater Manchester is also a hotbed for innovation and collaboration, providing the security company with ample opportunities to join forces with other world-leading brands that have also chosen to establish operations in the city region.”

Natalie Bain, deputy director of the Northern Powerhouse team at the Department for International Trade which helped advise Simplisafe on its expansion to the UK, said: “The company’s growth plans will benefit from the North’s skilled workforce, easy connections to airports and to London and the availability of competitively-priced real estate.”

SimpliSafe says it offers British homeowners an unrivalled whole home security system.

Its ecosystem of finely-tuned sensors works with 24/7 monitoring to safeguard against intruders, and to alert users to fires, floods, temperature changes, and power outages.

For next level security, SimpliSafe also provides a pro premium interactive monitoring plan, which provides 24/7 professional monitoring, plus police dispatch on video verification of criminal activity, text message alerts, smartphone app controls, and camera footage storage.