Three generations of one family are together in a Scottish Borders company heading towards 40 years in the security industry.
Fraser Wheelans, 17, joined dad, Alan, and grandfather, Jake, at the Selkirk-based Border Safeguard Ltd last month. Set up in 1979 by John C Wheelans (Jake), Border Safeguard has outgrown three previous premises in the town and since 2013 has been at a refurbished operating facility at Ettrick Riverside. Some staff have been working with the company for over 30 years; average length of service is 18 years.
Jake said: “The development has been very fruitful in demonstrating the long-term goals of the business in responding to the needs and demands of the customer base right across Scotland. Our business approach, which is to be committed to customer service, and to remain accessible to both staff and customers alike, is key to our success.
Jake began within the security and fire industry in 1973 with Securicor, which gives him 40 years’ experience. He has advised thousands of businesses, large and small, and many home owners on security and fire. Jake has held the positions of regional chairman of the NSI and BSIA in Scotland. The patriarch of the company has always believed in providing a professional operation to customers and has strived to ensure the company’s motto of being ‘a company built of personal service’ has remained the same today from when it was when it was first formed.
He said: “People buy from people and customers prefer to buy security services following advice from the staff and directors at Border safeguard. It is great to have both Alan and Fraser on board. I believe there was a gap in the market for a family run company that was genuinely committed to customer service. Since we started we have been growing at a steady, controlled rate and have achieved many land mark goals.”
In his spare time, Jake, who became Provost of Selkirk in 2016, enjoys spending time with family and friends, golfing and gardening. He also contributes to the running of various and charitable and other associations in the town.
Born and raised in Melrose, Jake is a serving member of the Common Riding Trust within the town having been a long-time supporter of the town’s Merchant Company.
In his younger days Jake excelled at rugby, playing as a fullback for Selkirk Youth Rugby Club, Melrose and the South of Scotland, where he was captain of each.
Still he supports local rugby in the region while even more so in particular supporting and focusing his efforts on the young people within the ranks of Selkirk Youth Rugby Club where he served in one position or another for almost 30 years.
Alan has been with the company for 18 years, starting at the bottom and working his way up the ladder (as and when his tea making skills improved). He has taken various roles, from apprentice, to install leader, to service engineer, when he became one of the first in the industry to gain a SVQ modern apprenticeship.
Alan then moved indoors as office manager, before progressing to becoming operations manager and taking up a position on the management board of directors in 2007 when he was appointed Operations Director. Alan has also served as regional chairman and vice-chairman for the Scottish region with the NSI, the youngest person ever to hold either position, and is a contributor to both the NSI and the BSIA.
Describing himself as a somewhat ‘Dadenpreneur’, Alan enjoys combining his role with Border Safeguard with spending his private time with his three children, family and friends. He is often found standing on the side-lines of many a Borders sports pitch supporting one of his children when playing one of their various sports.
A former Selkirk RFC player Alan coaches one of the Selkirk Rhinos’ mini rugby teams.
New kid on the block Fraser, having wanted to be a farmer when he was younger, is now ploughing through, and getting to grips with, the admin side of the business as Border Safeguard’s Digital Marketing/Social Media trainee apprentice. He said: “I really enjoy the IT side of things such as the apps and engaging with customers via social media. I’m really enjoying the fact that I’m contributing to the development of the business and being part of the team.”
Fraser has also developed a newfound understanding of his elder relatives during his short time with the company. “Sometimes Jake can be set in his ways however this is not always a bad thing as I still see that some of the older ways are the best,” he added. “Alan has now given me the job of making the teas and coffees which is hard going as he drinks a lot of tea and he can be a bit on edge when you don’t make it the right way.”
Pictured left to right are Fraser Wheelans (17), Jake Wheelans (68) and Alan Wheelans (37).
