Who's behind Guardfather?

Quick facts

• Brand: Guardfather, the brand behind The Guardfather Security System, with the hardware built by our manufacturing partner
• Company: SafeQuote Ltd, trading as Guardfather Security (Company No. 15892478)
• Started by: Simon Gillam, security engineer
• Based in: the north-west of England
• What we sell: a wireless home alarm you fit yourself, delivered in the UK only for now
• Subscriptions: none, for anything
• Support: from me personally, by WhatsApp and email
• Guarantee: a 60-day money-back guarantee, and a 2-year warranty on every device
• YouTube: Simon Security Expert, with install videos for every device and honest advice on all kinds of alarms

Where I learned the trade

I've spent over 12 years installing alarms and security equipment. I learned the trade in a family-run, NSI Gold accredited security company, working on everything from ordinary family homes to high-risk buildings housing medical equipment, and banks. That accreditation belongs to the family firm. Guardfather is my own brand.

The family firm has a story I love. My mum and dad were greengrocers until a big supermarket opened nearby and took their trade almost overnight. My dad had no background in alarms, but he's an incredibly hardworking and technical man. He went into a local alarm shop, they gave him a system to work on, and after a week or two of working out how it all fitted together, he started fitting intruder alarms, with my mum running the office. That was over 30 years ago, and customers still tell me they remember the greengrocers.

I still enjoy fitting professionally installed systems in homes and businesses, so I see what actually goes wrong in real homes, and what doesn't.

Why I started Guardfather

The way people protect their homes has changed. Not everything needs cables any more, and lots of people would rather look it up, watch a video and do it themselves. A local installation business can only look after its own patch. Guardfather lets me look after homes right across the country.

I also saw a gap. A lot of DIY alarm brands lean hard on monthly subscriptions, and with some of them the app or key features barely work unless you keep paying. I didn't want to do that. With The Guardfather Security System, you buy your system, I show you how to fit it, I'm on the other end if you need help, and once it's set up it's yours, with full control of the app and nothing held back.

And I wanted a real face behind the brand. When you message Guardfather, you get me.

The name

I wanted a name that's memorable and a bit different, something people remember after hearing it once. That's the Guardfather.

How I run it

• Steady over fast. I'd rather grow steadily and look after every customer properly than grow fast and let people down.
• Every message gets a reply. I reply to every message and comment, whether someone buys or not.
• A video for every device. Every device has its own step-by-step install video, made by me, and most customers have their system fitted in under an hour.
• No risk in trying it. If it isn't right for you, there's a 60-day money-back guarantee.

What Guardfather isn't

It isn't a police response system, and it isn't for everyone. If you want police response, or you'd rather someone fitted it for you, I'll happily point you to a local NSI or SSAIB approved installer instead. I'd rather you ended up with the right system than the wrong one from me.

Help beyond Guardfather

On my YouTube channel, Simon Security Expert, I help people with all kinds of alarms and CCTV, not just mine. Over the years I've professionally fitted all sorts, such as Texecom, Ajax and Risco, and pretty much every other alarm you can think of. I share what I've learned so people can make better choices, whatever they buy.

Where Guardfather is going

I'd like Guardfather to become a name people trust the way they trust the big brands. I'm in no rush. I'll get there by looking after every customer properly, one home at a time.