Business Report: Tesco contract is in the bag; SECURITY: Firm pulls in new business after relocating.

Byline: By Staff Reporter

A SECURITY firm has landed a deal with supermarket giant Tesco after expanding into new premises.

Mercia Securities and sister firm Liger Technology recently expanded to a new base on the Bayton Road Industrial Estate at Exhall.

Bharat Panchal and Paul Vuckovic, who started the business in 1992 in Leamington, found over the years they have been increasingly asked to provide security services using new technology.

As well as providing services such as CCTV, the company now also offers security guards to a range of businesses.

Since moving to Bayton Road, Mercia Securities has picked up business with neighbouring companies and has also been employed by Tesco to provide guards for its supermarkets in Warwick and surrounding areas.

Mr Panchal said: "It's been a very big year for us. Previously, we were operating under one name but we now have specialist companies for each service we provide.

"We've moved to this new location and we've picked up some major contracts such as the one with Tesco."

The company employs six staff and can call upon up to 200 security guards from a pool for certain events or contracts.

Mr Panchal said: "The IT company was our first foray into business. That is still very successful as we offer everything from networks to communications.

"But we were finding that security and IT were starting to require very similar expertise. Once we moved into the area of IT security, it made sense to add manned-guard services to the list of what we are able to offer."

Commercial property agents Shortland Horne said it was the latest in a series for the Bayton Road estate, which is enjoying a surge in popularity because of its good transport links and location.

Cameron Thomson, of Shortland Horne, said: "We have seen a flurry of activity on the Bayton Road Industrial Estate in recent months, with many businesses choosing to locate there.

"It's still one of the largest commercial areas in the region and is superbly located, close to junction 3 of the M6, for firms of any size or discipline."

CAPTION(S):

BOON... Cameron Thomson (left) of Shortland Horne with Mercia Securities' Paul Vuckovic (centre) and Bharat Panchal.