Churches Fire

What Churches Fire does

Churches Fire & Security Ltd is a UK-based, PE-backed provider of integrated fire safety and security services, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire. The company supplies fire detection, suppression, and risk assessment services (fire alarms, sprinklers, extinguishers, emergency lighting, gas and kitchen suppression, dry/wet risers, fire risk assessments, evacuation drills) alongside security systems (CCTV, intruder alarms, access control) to over 40,000 customer sites across the United Kingdom. Its customer base spans multi-site hospitality operators (Mitchells & Butlers, Radisson Blu Edwardian), social housing providers (Wrekin Housing Group), financial services (Leeds Building Society), healthcare (Bupa UK), local government (Hammersmith & Fulham, Burnley, Midlands councils), education, manufacturing, and heritage operators. The business is owned by Horizon Capital following a 2017 investment and is led by CEO Chris Peirce, with Mitch Titley as CFO and Jordan Roberts as CRO.

The company's service delivery is built on three proprietary technology assets: an in-house Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) that provides 24/7/365 alarm monitoring without third-party involvement; the proprietary SCARLETT AI platform used inside the ARC for signal processing and SOP management; and a customer portal that centralises service records, certificates, invoices, and multi-site compliance documentation. Operations are supported by 190+ regional lock-up facilities, a nationwide fleet of fully-stocked technician vans, multi-disciplined technicians capable of servicing fire and security equipment in a single visit, and an in-house Churches Academy for technician training. Accreditations include NSI Gold, BAFE SP205, LPCB, BAFSA, ISO 14001, IFSM/IFE-registered assessors, and Cyber Essentials Plus.

The business model rests on recurring revenue from multi-year maintenance, servicing, and monitoring contracts—typically annual billing with monthly monitoring subscriptions—augmented by one-time installation and project work, and professional services revenue from fire risk assessments and training (Churches Academy). Distribution combines direct enterprise field sales for multi-site anchor accounts, inside sales for mid-market enquiries, a self-serve online quote builder for SMB customers, and referral channels through facilities-management partners such as CBRE. The company has pursued an active buy-and-build strategy, completing 34 acquisitions by 2021, including Alert Fire & Security (2021), Assured Fire & Security (2019), and Eton Fire Ltd (2018). Operational performance metrics include a 98% first-time fix rate and 97.9% SLA adherence on the Mitchells & Butlers contract.

Name

Churches Fire

Legal name

Churches Fire & Security Ltd

Website

https://churchesfire.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Churches Fire & Security is a UK-based, PE-backed integrated provider of fire safety and security services—including installation, maintenance, monitoring, and fire risk assessments—serving 40,000+ commercial, public sector, and residential customer sites nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire Safety and Security Services

NAICS

Security Systems Services (56162), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire Alarm Systems (Inspection/Testing/Monitoring/Service) (IMAIAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire Alarm Monitoring & Dispatch (BPAKAFAC), Fire & Life Safety Services (Inspection/Testing/Sprinklers/Alarms) (IMAIAAAI), Fire & Smoke Dampers / Firestopping / Passive Fire Protection Services (BPABAHAE), Fire Alarm & Life Safety Systems Integration (BPAKAGAF)

Keywords

• Fire safety services
• Security system installation
• Alarm monitoring services
• Fire risk assessment
• Sprinkler system maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Chandlers Ford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fire Safety Services (Recurring Maintenance & Servicing): Recurring service contracts for fire safety equipment maintenance including fire alarms (serviced twice per annum to BS 5839), sprinklers, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, dry/wet risers, kitchen suppression, and fire doors. Contracts are typically annual or multi-year, with customers such as Mitchells & Butlers (1,700+ sites) and Wrekin Housing Group (290 sites) under long-term service agreements.
2. Security Systems (Recurring Maintenance & Monitoring): Ongoing monitoring and maintenance of CCTV, intruder alarms, access control, and alarm monitoring services. Alarm monitoring is managed in-house at the ARC 24/7/365, with NSI Gold accreditation. Monitoring contracts generate recurring revenue from customers including Leeds Building Society (54 sites) and CBRE-managed portfolios.
3. Installation & Project Works: One-time installation of fire and security systems for new projects, refurbishments, and system upgrades. Examples include access control installation for a Grade 1 Listed School (Surrey), CCTV system upgrades for a private museum, and new fire alarm installations across multi-site estates. Works are often project-based but can generate follow-on maintenance contracts.
4. Fire Risk Assessments & Consultancy: Professional, BAFE SP205-compliant Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) delivered by IFSM/IFE-registered assessors. Also includes fire warden training, fire evacuation drills, and consultancy services through the Churches Academy. One-time or recurring revenue depending on portfolio size.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Churches Fire & Security is a fully integrated UK fire safety and security services provider delivering installation, maintenance, monitoring, and consultancy across fire detection, suppression, and electronic security systems. The company serves over 40,000 customer sites nationwide with multi-disciplined technicians, an in-house 24/7 Alarm Receiving Centre powered by proprietary SCARLETT AI monitoring technology, and recurring service contracts covering fire alarms, sprinklers, extinguishers, CCTV, intruder alarms, and access control.

Product overview

Churches Fire & Security is a services company rather than a software product company, offering a comprehensive portfolio of fire safety and security services. The core offering consists of fire detection and suppression systems (fire alarms, sprinklers, extinguishers, emergency lighting, gas suppression, kitchen suppression) and security systems (CCTV, intruder alarms, access control). They provide specialized sub-products including Gent and Notifier fire alarm systems. Supporting services include fire risk assessments, training, evacuation drills, and fire door inspections. Their operations are enabled by an in-house Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) for 24/7 monitoring, a customer portal for service management, and the Churches Academy for technician training. The company positions itself as a fully-integrated provider delivering installation, maintenance, monitoring, and consultancy services without third-party involvement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fire Alarm Systems Design, installation, servicing (twice per annum to BS 5839), and monitoring of fire detection and alarm systems for commercial properties across the UK. Includes specialist Gent and Notifier brand fire alarm systems.
• Fire Sprinkler Systems Full in-house sprinkler system installation, service, maintenance, and monitoring to extinguish fires and minimise damage. One of the few UK providers delivering sprinkler services without third-party involvement.
• Fire Extinguishers Supply, installation, and servicing of water, CO2, foam, dry powder, and wet chemical fire extinguishers for different fire classes. Basic maintenance every 12 months.
• Emergency Lighting Installation and maintenance of emergency lighting systems with monthly function testing and annual full-duration tests per BS 5266 to guide occupants to safety in an emergency.
• Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems Commercial kitchen suppression systems using Ansul and Amerex products for high-risk cooking environments, installed and bi-annually serviced by fully trained technicians.
• Dry and Wet Risers Installation and maintenance of dry and wet risers providing water supply for firefighting in multi-story buildings.
• Gas Fire Suppression Gas fire suppression systems for extinguishing fires and minimising damage in specialised environments such as server rooms and archives.
• Evacuation Alert Systems Evacuation alert systems designed for operation by the fire and rescue services to facilitate safe exit for residents and occupiers of high-rise residential buildings.
• Automatic Opening Vents (AOV) Installation and servicing of Automatic Opening Vents (AOV) providing effective smoke and heat ventilation during a fire incident.
• CCTV Systems Design, installation, and monitoring of CCTV security systems including camera installation for comprehensive property protection.
• Intruder Alarm Systems Installation and maintenance of intruder alarm systems providing detection and alerting for unauthorised entry to commercial premises.
• Access Control Systems Design, installation, and maintenance of access control systems managing building entry and security through integrated monitoring solutions.
• 24/7 Alarm Monitoring Service (ARC) In-house Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) providing 24/7, 365 days a year monitoring for fire and intruder alarms with rapid response capabilities, NSI Gold accredited, and powered by proprietary SCARLETT AI technology.
• Fire Risk Assessment Professional, BAFE SP205-compliant Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) identifying fire hazards, evaluating risks to occupants, reviewing existing safety measures, and recommending compliance improvements. Delivered by IFSM/IFE-registered assessors.
• Fire Door Inspection Visual fire door inspections assessing door leaf, frame, self-closer, hinges, locks, handles, panic hardware, apertures, and glazing for compliance with BS 9999.
• Fire Training Fire safety training including fire warden training and fire evacuation drills ensuring employees receive adequate training as required by The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
• Fire and Security Consultancy Expert consultancy services for fire safety and security solutions, advising organisations on regulatory compliance, system design, and best practices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% first-time fix rate for Mitchells & Butlers (1,700+ sites)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CBREcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 September 2025Churches Fire & Security sponsors and exhibits at the CBRE Supplier Partner Event 2025 in London, using the event to showcase fire safety and security solutions to CBRE's supplier partner network and facilities management clients. CBRE acts as an introducer, connecting Churches Fire with CBRE-managed accounts needing fire and security services, as demonstrated by the Leeds Building Society engagement.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Marlowe Fire & Security: UK fire safety and security services division of Marlowe plc, providing fire risk assessments, fire alarm installation/maintenance, and integrated security solutions to commercial and residential customers. Directly comparable business model, customer base, and service offering to Churches Fire, with similar recurring service contract revenue and buy-and-build consolidation strategy.
• Chubb Fire & Security: UK arm of Carrier Global's Chubb brand, one of the largest fire safety and security service providers in the UK offering fire detection, suppression, extinguishers, intruder alarms, and monitoring. Comparable in integrated fire and security service offering, ARC monitoring, and multi-site enterprise customer base, though operating at substantially larger scale as a subsidiary of a global conglomerate.
• Secom PLC: UK-based fire and security systems installer and monitoring provider serving commercial and residential customers with fire alarms, CCTV, intruder alarms, access control, and 24/7 monitoring services. Highly comparable to Churches Fire in customer segments (multi-site commercial, local government), integrated service offering, and recurring revenue model.
• Banham Group: London-headquartered security and locksmith provider offering intruder alarms, CCTV, access control, and fire safety services to residential and commercial customers. Comparable in security systems installation, monitoring services, and UK customer base, though with greater weighting toward residential/luxury and locksmith services than Churches Fire's enterprise focus.
• Corps Security: UK-based security services company providing manned guarding, electronic security systems (CCTV, intruder alarms, access control), and fire safety services. Comparable in integrated security and fire safety offering, ARC monitoring, and multi-site enterprise customer base, though with stronger focus on manned guarding services.

Broad incumbents

• Mitie Group: One of the UK's largest facilities management companies providing fire safety, security, building maintenance, and cleaning services to enterprise and public sector customers. Overlaps with Churches Fire in fire risk assessments, alarm maintenance, and security systems, but operates as a broad FM incumbent bundling these as part of wider multi-service contracts.
• Sodexo UK: Global facilities management and food services company with significant UK operations including fire safety, building maintenance, security, and integrated FM services for enterprise, healthcare, education, and public sector clients. Comparable customer segments and integrated service approach, but operates as a broad FM incumbent where fire safety is one of many service lines.
• Atalian Servest: UK facilities management company offering integrated building services including fire safety, security, maintenance, and cleaning across commercial, industrial, and public sector customers. Overlaps with Churches Fire in fire alarm servicing, extinguisher maintenance, and security systems, though bundled within broader multi-service FM contracts.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ChurchesFire

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Churches Fire