40 Years of Dedication: Celebrating Paul Griffin's Journey

In an era where the average security career spans just a handful of years, reaching a 40-year milestone within the same organisation is rare. That is exactly what Paul Griffin, Chairman of Unitrust Protection Services celebrates this year. His journey offers a unique lens on the transformation of the UK security industry, from an unregulated profession to today’s landscape of licensing, accreditation, compliance and client accountability.

When Paul Griffin joined his father’s business in 1985, the company looked very different from the trusted, 550-strong organisation it is today. The company operated from a three-storey apartment above shops on a busy high street, with the family home on the upper floors, and the team was small enough that everyone knew everyone, and everyone in the family pitched in. Back then, there were no clearly defined roles, no industry licensing, no TUPE regulations, and not many multi-manned sites. If a client needed extra support at short notice, you very often rolled up your sleeves, stepped onto a shift and made it happen.

A Life Shaped by Service

Although Paul was born in the UK, he grew up in Vancouver after his parents moved to Canada during a post-war recruitment drive. After University, Paul built a successful career first with the Royal Bank of Canada, running branches across the province. But by the mid-1980s, he was ready for a change. He missed his family, wanted to play on decent cricket grounds and felt the pull of home. So in 1985, he returned to the UK and to Unitrust.

The Early Days at Unitrust

Paul joined as a Personnel Administrator, handling everything from recruitment and client visits to setting up new jobs and covering last-minute shifts. “We all did a bit of everything,” he recalls. “If a client needed support, you stepped in, that’s just how it was.”

Workloads were intense. Smaller sites were often harder to manage than the larger ones because officers worked alone, without the team support that is present on multi-manned locations.  But Unitrust’s reputation for doing things properly was already forming. “It was always about providing what the client needed and invariably more than they needed,” Paul says. “If that meant overservicing, then so be it. The focus was and still is always the client.”

A Turning Point: Growth, Change and Professionalisation

The late 1980s marked a turning point. After winning a major clamping contract with the Metropolitan Police, the business moved into larger premises in Wembley and expanded its investigative and security work. Work with major clients such as GlaxoSmithKline and Diageo followed, marking a shift toward larger, more complex and professionally managed sites.

At the start of the new millennium, the security industry was undergoing a fundamental cultural shift. SIA licensing was introduced, TUPE regulations emerged and accreditation became a key marker of professionalism.  For Paul, these changes shaped the company’s future “We were always in favour of security  licencing as my Father had helped in setting up licencing in Vancouver, Canada.  TUPE was one of the best things to happen. It made transitions smoother, brought consistency and stability while ensuring officers’ rights were protected.”

Accreditations became another cornerstone. Although not mandatory at the time, Paul and his father recognised that independent inspections and recognised standards would separate the best from the rest. Unitrust committed early to achieving those accreditations, a decision that still influences its approach and reputation today.

Building a People-First Culture

As Unitrust grew, one challenge became clear - how do you maintain a family ethos when the team increases tenfold?  Paul maintains the solution then, and now, is about being visible and ensuring every officer matters, whether on a flagship site or a single-man night shift, being visited and acknowledged is key.   “People want to feel part of something bigger,” Paul reflects. “They want recognition and they deserve it”

That ethos still runs through the business today. Many of Unitrust’s senior leaders including Paul, Managing Director Scott Gough and Paul’s sister, Sarah who is the Compliance & ESG Director began their careers as security officers. They understand the work and know what matters.

“Thirty years ago security was not widely viewed as a long term career path, but that has changed,” Paul says. “The pay is better, the standards are better, and there are many paths people can take within the security industry. Helping people progress has always been important to us.”

Leadership, Legacy and the Next Chapter

Paul became Managing Director after years of hands-on leadership, before stepping into the role of Chairman, a position he has held for the past decade. His father, the company’s founder, always believed that if you looked after your people and provided exceptional service, success would follow. Paul has carried that philosophy throughout his entire career.

One of his guiding principles has remained constant: deliver above and beyond. It’s a philosophy inherited from his father, who believed the client should always feel they were receiving more than they paid for, even if it meant tight margins in the early days. “It was always about providing the best service we could,” Griffin says. “If that meant overservicing to maintain standards, that was acceptable. Reputation mattered.”

When Scott Gough joined Unitrust as Managing Director, Paul knew the company was in capable hands. “It was obvious Scott had the skills, the ability and drive to propel the company forward,” he says. “He’s taken the legacy and is building on it brilliantly.”

Looking back over four decades, Paul is modest about his achievements. What makes him proudest?  “That we’ve been in business since 1978 and remained true to our ethos. Not many security companies can say that. It’s a testament to everyone who has worked here.”

As for his legacy, Paul hopes Unitrust will continue to be an example of a company known for its professionalism, integrity, and industry-leading standards but above all, for its people-first approach.

Advice to the Next Generation

If Paul could offer one piece of advice to his younger self and to those entering the industry today  it would be this,  “Don’t stress over what you can’t control. If there’s a problem you can solve, move heaven and earth to fix it. But if you can’t, don’t let it weigh you down.”

It’s a lesson learned through decades of challenges from overnight contract launches to industry reforms, economic shifts, and the demands of running a growing business.

A Remarkable Journey

Paul’s 40 years at Unitrust tell a story of transformation.  From a small family run business, to one of the UK’s most respected security providers. But at its heart, it’s a story about people, the clients who trusted the company, the officers who delivered exceptional service, and the leaders who built something lasting. 

As Unitrust approaches its 50th anniversary, Paul’s influence remains woven through the culture, values, and reputation of the business.