Physical Security

First ten years for Green Gate

by Mark Rowe

Green Gate Security Access Systems has chalked up its first decade in business. The company started life as a home-based project for Kent couple Neil and Hannah Sampson with the idea of promoting solar security within the domestic sector.

Ten years on, Green Gate plans to offer its 1000th customer a free installation of one of its products, with that milestone expected to be reached over the coming weeks. Green Gate has installed solar and mains powered gates, barriers and access control systems across the UK, including for Ford, BT, and the Saatchi Gallery. It has also had a number of public sector contracts, with hospital trusts and local authorities.

The company is also the UK stockist for two automation brands including O&O barriers and bollards. In May 2006 the company launched with two employees, working out of a bedroom and a leaky lock-up on a farm. It now has a workforce of 11, operating out of a business unit with showroom in Bircholt Road, Maidstone.

Recalling those early days Neil, pictured left, said: “I remember coming home and seeing there being a large delivery at the house, and my wife, Hannah, carrying our baby son in one hand and trying to sign for the barriers with another. I just thought to myself ‘enough is enough, we need an office’ and the rest is history.”

Green Gate was installer of the country’s first lifting gate, the UK’s largest solar school gate in Broadstairs, and the country’s first solar O&O car park barriers at Warwick Hospital.

Neil, the company’s managing director, graduated from the University of Sussex with an honours degree in Biochemistry and Industrial Marketing before working with a number of technology and internet firms. After meeting with the company behind the UK’s first bespoke solar powered gate automation, Neil saw a gap in the market and set up Green Gate to supply the product and in 2014 Neil became the trade body the Door and Hardware Federation (DHF) Powered Gate Chairman.

Neil said: “I can’t believe it’s been ten years. We have achieved so much in our infancy and the Green Gate name is growing rapidly within the powered gates industry. We have put ourselves on the map by not being afraid of a challenge. Rather than just saying ‘no, sorry, can’t help’ when something difficult comes our way, we aim to solve the problem and go the extra mile.

“I’m so proud of our fantastic, hard working family at Green Gate who aren’t afraid to try new things – I would never have dreamt we would have been able to work with such a great team and some of the clients we have. There are so many people who help make the Green Gate brand work and uphold the reputation we have achieved – thank you to everyone, and here’s to the next ten years.”

The company is a supporter of several charities, including The Princess Project, in Maidstone, and oversees at Soteria Business School in Nigeria.

Visit www.greengateaccess.co.uk.

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