Aico celebrates 35 years

by Featured NewsPeople

Aico, the Shropshire based home safety brand are celebrating 35 years of producing domestic Fire and Carbon Monoxide protection.

Founded in 1990, Aico has experienced growth and development, adapting to the ever-evolving market landscape. Since the beginning, Aico has cultivated a reputation for innovation, quality and excellent customer service, resulting in a portfolio of products and solutions that have set industry standards. 

In addition to products, education is a key part of home life safety and therefore is at the core of everything Aico does. This is reflected in its multiple award-winning CPD-accredited training courses which are designed to promote quality at every stage of the supply chain.

Aico designs products to simplify the creation of safer homes, this is demonstrated by the HomeLINK Connected Home Solution, which has grown to connect over 451,000 devices across the UK and 74,496 live gateway systems.

Education

These systems aim to support landlords and protect residents. It is also important that landlords keep informed about changing legislation to ensure they continue to stay compliant.

Aico has supported and empowered landlords to network, develop and learn through the development of the Social Housing Professionals Network (SHPN), as well as the SHPN roadshow.

As well as educating the supply chain, Aico has seen the value of developing the knowledge of the future.

With the introduction of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme in 2018, Aico has accumulated 249 educational visits, including visits to schools and colleges, and students coming to Aico’s headquarters for the day.

These visits are there to inspire students and get them thinking about their future careers. This initiative has supported over 16,400 students, and most recently in 2024 over 3,259.

Additionally, the CSR team organised the volunteering programme which has accumulated 7,547 employee volunteering hours for 247 causes. This support is set to continue and grow along with everything Aico does.

Managing Director, Aico, Neal Hooper’s statement

Neal Hooper, Managing Director, commented on Aico’s longstanding success: “It has been an incredible 35 years of growth. We have doubled our turnover approximately every five years whilst providing life safety solutions to millions of homes.

“Our market leading technology is being developed into new areas, further establishing our position as the dominant European manufacturer.

“The fact that we have colleagues who have been with Aico for the whole of its history, as well as a senior team wholly promoted from within, demonstrates the quality and loyalty that we are blessed with.

“We would like to thank all our clients for the support since 1990, without which we would not be celebrating such a milestone following another record year. It is massively appreciated.

“And finally, to the millions upon millions of households protected by Aico, thank you for choosing the very best solutions, it makes us very proud. We will continue to strive to provide world-class quality, innovation, service, and education for the next 35 years and beyond.”

Commercial & Finance Director, Aico, Matt Small’s statement

Commercial & Finance Director, Matt Small, has been with Aico for almost 26 years and added: “I joined Aico as a warehouse apprentice back in 1999. Over the past 25 years, my role has evolved significantly, and my warehouse days are well behind me – thankfully, as I don’t think I could keep up these days!

“I’ve had the privilege of watching the company grow and transform over the last two and a half decades. Looking back, it’s incredible to see how far we’ve come.

“The technology behind our products has advanced dramatically, with innovations like RF connectivity, launched in the mid-2000s, now commonplace.

“Today, 1 in 3 installations use RF interconnection, revolutionising how our systems operate. Similarly, multi-sensor technology has seen remarkable growth, with 1 in 3 alarms sold now being multi-sensors.”

Aico starts celebrations for their 35th anniversary: Summary

This year, Aico celebrates 35 years of providing life safety solutions, creating alarms and sensors. Aico’s Managing Director said that the milestone highlights their incredible growth as a company.

Aico celebrates 30th anniversary

by Events

Aico recently celebrated 30 years of renowned market presence in Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) protection solutions.

Incorporated in 1990 in Oswestry, Shropshire, United Kingdom, Aico has grown over its 30-year history, with the growth being marked by the move to a new, bespoke head office.

The new 7-acre site came as a necessity as Aico’s growth and success has seen significant expansion to the team and operations. The new building provides a bold welcome to company visitors and passing traffic.

More than half of the overall site is taken up with landscaping, paying homage to the wider county’s famous green countryside, which is a key theme throughout the new build, aiming to preserve current eco-systems and encourage wildlife to flourish.

The building was designed to facilitate the company’s key goal of a healthy work environment with employee wellness to the fore. Multi-functional rooms make space for the company’s core people development practices and team building, something Managing Director, Neal Hooper attributes to being the strength of the company.

Aico MD, Neal Hooper said, “We have a passion for developing people and it shows in our culture. We hold ourselves to high standards and make sure our values of integrity, excellence, teamwork, commitment and sustainability come to life in the way we work. Each member of Aico understands that this new site is theirs and for their teams’ infrastructure to grow and develop in for years to come.”

At the beginning of the year, the Lion Quays Resort in Shropshire played host to an event marking the special occasion, with employees treated to a surprise guest speaker in the form of footballing legend Kevin Keegan. Mr. Keegan took to the stage to congratulate Aico on its 30-year anniversary and regaled staff with anecdotes from his impressive career.

Reiterating Aico’s ethos of Education, Quality, Service and Innovation, Mr. Keegan spoke of the importance of teamwork, attitude and commitment.

Technical Advisor for Aico, Dave Jennings has an impressive 26-year career with the company. He commented, “I started my career with Aico in 1994 and seeing the company’s growth over the past 26 years has been incredible. Aico has advanced and expanded and it’s great to see the new apprentices coming in now so that Aico has a future for generations to come.”

/www.aico.co.uk/

UK commemorates Grenfell Tower’s third anniversary

by Breaking NewsEvents

The United Kingdom has marked the third anniversary of the Grenfell Tower apartment block fire with a virtual church service to remember the 72 people who died in the blaze.

Sunday 14th June marked three years since a small kitchen fire in the west London public-housing block turned into the worst domestic blaze in the country since World War II.

The fire spread rapidly and engulfed the 24-story building, shocking the nation and prompting a widespread investigation into low-cost and flammable cladding at high-rise buildings.

“As a nation, we are still dealing with the consequences of what happened and working to make sure it never happens again,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a video message to be shown at an online commemoration service. “While those affected by Grenfell are not able to gather in person, I want you to know that all of us in this country are with you in spirit.”

“I remain absolutely committed to uncovering the causes of this tragedy and ensuring it is never repeated.” In tribute to each victim who died in the fire, the bells of London churches will toll 72 times and green lights will glow from tower block windows to show solidarity with survivors and the bereaved.

The Humanity for Grenfell group recently held an online, multi-faith service and a 72-second moment of silence to remember the victims. Campaigners have also accused local and national authorities of allowing the installation of dangerous external cladding that became a major contributor to the rapid spread of the fire.

A public inquiry into the disaster was paused in March because of the coronavirus pandemic and is due to restart in July. Police have said no one is likely to face criminal charges until 2021.

The continuing Grenfell Tower Inquiry published its first report in October, highlighting “significant systemic failings” by the London Fire Brigade, including poor evacuation, command and communication procedures. Fire chiefs rejected the criticism.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick promised changes to building regulations to “ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.”