As young boys, Ian and Dennis always had visions of owning their own company, but never really knew what to focus the business on. Over the years, they went into different industries; Dennis became a lock fitter and Ian, an electronic engineer.
It is often said that great entrepreneurship comes from our own experiences, and this was true in the case of Ian and Dennis. After Dennis’ flat was broken into and completely emptied, they quickly realised that security was something people would always need – and so came the inspiration to set up ID Security Systems Ltd.
Ian and Dennis faced many difficulties along the way, however they received support from Professor Kiran Trehan, who specialises in supporting entrepreneurship and diversity, and a peer-to-peer mentoring group. This helped to not only grow, but also sustain their business. The mentoring network provided a group of people to share their challenges and successes with, and gave them opportunities to learn from likeminded entrepreneurs.
As well as running a successful business with a large client base – including the NHS, Birmingham City Council and A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd – Ian and Dennis give back to other businesses by sharing their skills to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs. They also support their local community by working with Bringing Hope, a charity that supports families of prisoners, offering a second chance to ex-offenders and supporting them into self-employment.
Unfiltered Lives - ID Security
More about Professor Kiran Trehan