What EA-RS Group does

EA-RS Group is a UK-based, privately held provider of integrated fire, security, electrical, and data infrastructure solutions, operating as the parent of EA-RS Solutions Ltd. Founded in 1996 by Alan Wheal and headquartered in Witham, England, the group has grown through a buy-and-build strategy backed by private equity firm Rockpool Investments since January 2021, with a £40m debt refinancing package from Ares Management Credit Funds and Barclays Bank secured in October 2024. The group operates through 12+ subsidiary brands including Circum Fire Engineering, Air Projects, Crane Communications, Bonnell's, Vulcan Fire, Firesec Compliance, Surefire Services, APW Fire Protection, and UKFSD, delivering design, installation, and maintenance services across 16 industry sectors ranging from data centres, healthcare, and social housing to financial services, government and defence, and retail.

The group's core technology stack spans fire detection and alarm systems, aspirating smoke detection, sprinklers, water mist, gas suppression, PAVA, fire extinguishers, passive fire stopping, fire door inspections, and smoke/fire dampers; on the security side, CCTV monitoring, access control, intruder alarms, audio/video entry systems, automated doors/gates/barriers, security fencing, and bespoke Secured by Design aluminium doors and windows; plus electrical services (EICR, PAT testing, EV charging, rewires) and data infrastructure (structured cabling, AV systems, digital noticeboards, visitor management). Differentiated IP includes the proprietary Nexus fire compliance software platform for multi-site owners and the UltraGuard portable mist fire suppression system. The group holds over 130 third-party accreditations including LPS, BAFE, ISO 9001/14001/27001/45001, CHAS, SSAIB, NSI Gold, and Secured by Design.

EA-RS generates revenue through professional services delivered on project-based, quote-driven pricing with multi-year maintenance contracts for recurring compliance work. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales, serving NHS, government departments, financial institutions (Citibank, UBS, Mastercard), major retailers (Amazon, River Island, JD Wetherspoon), data centre operators (ARK Data Centres), housing associations (Octavia, Platform Housing, A2 Dominion, L&Q, Midland Heart), the Ministry of Defence, and Tier 1 contractors. Disclosed revenue stood at £90m+ with 550+ staff across England, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, having grown from approximately £8m in 2013. Leadership transitioned in February 2026 with Mark Wheeler promoted to Group CEO and founder Alan Wheal moving to Founder and President.

Name

EA-RS Group

Legal name

EA-RS Solutions Ltd

Website

https://ea-rsgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

EA-RS Group is a UK-based, PE-backed provider of integrated fire, security, electrical, and data infrastructure solutions, serving enterprise and public sector clients across 16 sectors including healthcare, financial services, data centres, and social housing through 12+ subsidiary brands with £90m+ revenue and 550+ staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire, Security and Electrical Life Safety Services

NAICS

Security Systems Services (56162), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Investigation and Security Services (5616)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire Alarm & Life Safety Systems Integration (BPAKAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Access Control Management & Credentialing (Badging/Visitor Management Ops) (BPABAMAG), Fire & Life Safety Services (Inspection/Testing/Sprinklers/Alarms) (IMAIAAAI), Fire Alarm Monitoring & Dispatch (BPAKAFAC)

Keywords

• Fire safety services
• Security systems installation
• Electrical compliance services
• Fire suppression systems
• Integrated life safety solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Witham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fire Safety Systems and Services: Design, installation, and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems, fire suppression systems including sprinklers, water mist, and gas suppression systems, covering both new installations and ongoing maintenance contracts
2. Security Systems and Services: CCTV monitoring, access control, intruder alarms, automated doors/gates/barriers, security fencing, nurse call systems, warden call, and audio/video entry systems
3. Electrical Services: Electrical installation condition reports (EICR), electrical installations and rewires, PAT testing, storage heaters, EV charging installation
4. Data and Communications: Structured cabling installations, data and audio visual systems, digital noticeboards, visitor management systems

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

EA-RS Group is the UK's first One Solution Life Safety provider, delivering integrated fire detection and suppression, security systems, electrical compliance, and data infrastructure services to enterprise clients across the UK. The group covers design, installation, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance of fire alarms, sprinklers, water mist, gas suppression, CCTV, access control, intruder alarms, electrical installations, EV charging, and structured cabling through 12+ subsidiary brands. Services are delivered primarily to data centres, healthcare, social housing, financial services, government, defence, retail, hospitality, and facilities management clients.

Product overview

EA-RS Group is the UK's first One Solution Life Safety provider, delivering integrated fire, security, electrical, and data solutions through multiple specialist sub-brands. The portfolio includes fire detection and alarms, sprinklers, water mist, gas suppression, CCTV monitoring, access control, intruder alarms, electrical installations, EV charging, structured cabling, and data/AV systems. The group operates through sub-brands including Circum Fire Engineering, Air Projects (ventilation/smoke control), Crane Communications, Bonnell's Electrical, Firesec Compliance (with Nexus compliance software), Vulcan Fire, Surefire Services, UKFSD (security doors), APW Fire Protection, and CCSS Fire & Security, all unified under the EA-RS Solutions Ltd legal entity providing comprehensive life safety compliance across 16 sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UltraGuard: Portable mist fire suppression system for domestic and residential fire protection
• Nexus

Products and services

• Fire Detection & Alarms Design, installation, and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems for early fire notification and emergency response.
• Air Sampling Detection Aspirating smoke detection systems that sample air through pipes to detect fires at very early stages for sensitive environments.
• PAVA Public Address Voice Alarm Systems Voice alarm systems for emergency evacuation announcements in buildings and public spaces.
• Fire Sprinkler Systems Automatic fire sprinkler system design, installation, and maintenance for fire suppression in commercial and residential buildings.
• Fire Extinguishers Supply, installation, and servicing of fire extinguishers to BS5306 standards.
• Water Mist Suppression Systems Advanced water mist fire suppression systems using fine water droplets for fire control in sensitive environments.
• Gas Suppression Systems Specialised gas-based fire suppression systems for sensitive environments such as data centres and server rooms.
• Kitchen Suppression Systems Fire suppression systems specifically designed for commercial kitchen cooking equipment.
• Passive Fire Stopping and Fire Door Inspections Fire compartmentation measures and fire door inspection services to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through building structures.
• UltraGuard Portable Mist Fire Suppression System Portable mist fire suppression system for domestic and residential fire protection, designed to prevent serious fire incidents.
• CCTV Monitoring and Security Systems Closed-circuit television surveillance systems, access control, intruder alarms, and automated doors/gates/barriers for security monitoring and incident recording.
• Access Control Systems Electronic access control systems including biometrics, key cards, fobs, and mobile credentials for commercial and residential premises.
• Bespoke Security Doors Bespoke aluminium security doors, windows, and curtain walls with Secured by Design and Certisecure accreditations, manufactured and installed by UKFSD.
• Electrical Installation and Compliance Services Complete electrical installation services including EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Reports), PAT testing, electrical rewires, and emergency lighting for commercial and residential properties.
• EV Charging Installation Electric vehicle charging point installation services for commercial and residential properties.
• Data Infrastructure and Structured Cabling Data infrastructure installation including structured cabling, audio visual systems, digital noticeboards, and visitor management systems.
• Nexus Fire Compliance Software Proprietary SaaS-style fire compliance software platform that allows multi-site owners to manage fire risk compliance across sites with full transparency.
• PaD Protection and Detection Insurance Exclusive platinum-standard insurance offering reserved for accredited professionals, introduced through Consort Insurance Ltd.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 years of experience in fire, security and electrical solutions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments15 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jaguar Building Services LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Partnership to deliver two-day Fire Detection and Protection Apprenticeship Events for electrical apprentices. Jaguar Building Services coordinated and delivered the programme alongside EA-RS industry experts covering fire safety systems, compliance, and life safety strategy.
• HoneywellcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2026Represented by Tom Ford at apprenticeship events covering BS 5839 fire alarm installation and maintenance, Alarm Receiving Centres, detector spacing, system design, and self-test detection technology. Long-term platinum sponsor of EA-RS conferences.
• Shawston InternationalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 December 2024Platinum sponsor of EA-RS Annual Conference. Specialist construction and building materials distributor. Provides products and materials for EA-RS installation projects.
• Consort Insurance LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024EA-RS Solutions Ltd acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative of Consort Insurance Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA. EA-RS offers exclusive PaD (Protection and Detection) Insurance reserved only for trusted, accredited professionals, providing platinum-standard insurance to clients.
• Checkfire GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2023Gold sponsor of EA-RS Annual Conference. Specialist distributor of fire protection and safety equipment.
• VideconminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2023Gold sponsor of EA-RS Annual Conference. Distributor of security and CCTV equipment including leading brands.
• Jewel FireminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2023Silver sponsor of EA-RS events. Fire safety equipment distributor.
• Notifier by HoneywellcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Platinum sponsor of EA-RS Annual Conference. Leading manufacturer of fire alarm and detection equipment. EA-RS provides installation and maintenance services using Honeywell/Notifier systems.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Mitie Group: UK-listed integrated facilities management and security services provider serving enterprises, government, and regulated sectors. Comparable as both a customer channel (CBRE style) and competitor in fire and security services delivery at scale, though Mitie operates across a much broader FM portfolio.
• Securitas UK: Global security services giant with substantial UK fire, security, and electronic security systems integration capability. Comparable in enterprise/government client coverage and integrated security solutions, though Securitas is broader in manned guarding and global in footprint.
• Sodexo UK & Ireland: Large-scale FM provider with fire and life safety services integrated into its facilities management offering for clients in healthcare, defense, and corporate estates. Comparable as a competitor for one-stop-shop FM contracts and as a customer of similar fire/security delivery via partnerships.
• Honeywell Building Technologies: Global fire alarm (Notifier), building management, and security systems manufacturer and integrator. Comparable in fire detection/security systems installed base and engineering standards, with deeper product manufacturing and global reach.
• Johnson Controls UK: Global provider of fire detection (Tyco/Autocall) and integrated building security technologies, with significant UK installation and service operations. Comparable in fire suppression, detection, and integrated security delivery for data centres and large enterprises.

Direct peers

• Marlowe plc: UK-listed acquisition platform that has consolidated fire safety, security, and environmental compliance services. Closest direct peer given parallel buy-and-build model in the same UK regulated services verticals (fire, security, electrical compliance), with similar GP Services and testing operations.
• Chubb Fire & Security: UK arm of Carrier Global's fire and security division; installs and maintains fire detection, suppression, CCTV, access control, and intruder alarms nationwide. Directly comparable product portfolio and enterprise client base, supported by global backing.
• BES Group: UK-based safety, compliance, and environmental services group operating across fire safety, electrical compliance, and structural safety testing, particularly in social housing. Closely comparable in vertical mix (social housing, regulated testing), with PE backing and a buy-and-build history.
• Reliance High-Tech: Independent UK electronic security systems integrator specialising in integrated access control, CCTV, intruder detection, and fire systems for enterprise clients. Comparable scale and product/customer mix, especially in financial services and corporate estates.

Regional players

• Alecto Group: UK-focused fire and security integrator and compliance service provider specialising in fire risk assessments, fire alarm installation, and passive fire protection. Comparable product mix and regulated client base (NHS, councils, housing associations), with similar scale to EA-RS pre-2021 acquisitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/earsgroup

Compliance16 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about EA-RS Group