Pictured is John Melling, the new Managing Director of Churchill Group. Born and bred in Wigan, John began in security in 2008 as a field officer, providing on-site security for retail and hospitality businesses. In 2011, he joined Chorley-based Churchill Group as a supervisor. He recalls: “I just sort of fell into the industry and started out in an on-the-ground role. Joining Churchill Group was the turning point for me- I really felt like I could build a career there.”
Build a career he did. Working his way up from Supervisor to Assistant Operations Manager and then Client Relationship Manager, by 2018, John was promoted to being a Director of the business responsible for Sales and Marketing. After ten years of working in the company, he was recently offered the MD role.
John says: “I understand what it’s like to work on the ground and can appreciate the immense value that each employee brings to the business, no matter the role. It’s the people that make a company. That’s why our virtues of humility, passion and people first are so important to me.”
Alongside pure graft, John also credits Churchill Group for his progression. “Churchill invests heavily in developing their people and nurturing talent. The business creates opportunities for people of all backgrounds to succeed, not just here in the North West but across the country. I guess I’m a living breathing example of that. As MD, this aspect of the business will always be important to me.”
He adds: “People can sometimes have a false perception of what the private security sector is. Most people will probably picture a bouncer. In reality, there are so many different roles requiring a diverse range of skill-sets. There’s also the chance to make a real professional career, no matter where you start out.”
About Churchill Group
Based in Chorley, it was founded in 1993 as a security company, providing to the private and public sector across the UK. The company has evolved to also deliver facilities management, cleaning solutions and security technology. They’re an approved contractor by the UK regulator the Security Industry Authority (SIA). Visit www.churchillgroup.com.
