In this episode of the Chester Centurions Podcast, Alan Bark chats with Steve Jackson, founder of Jackson Fire & Security—a business that’s been protecting people and property for over 35 years. Steve shares the journey from starting out in 1991 with just a few fire extinguishers to building a nationwide franchise network of 12 (and growing) branches, employing 80+ people across the UK.

Steve reflects on the early days: how a casual favour for a friend turned into a career pivot, how he and his business partner bootstrapped their way through the ups and downs, and how the company has grown by staying laser-focused on compliance-led services like fire alarms, CCTV, intruder alarms, and more. He also explains why franchising became a game changer—restoring local service quality while scaling nationally.

The conversation covers key business lessons, including why keeping overheads low in the early days is critical, how building the right team is non-negotiable, and the power of keeping things simple (including the classic wisdom: make sure more money comes in than goes out). Steve also dives into the challenges of staying innovative in a highly regulated industry, the importance of investing in the right tech and systems, and how his business thrived through COVID by focusing on essentials.

Looking ahead, Steve talks about ambitious plans to grow their franchise footprint to 20-30 locations, enhancing their ability to serve major national contracts while keeping the personal touch that sets them apart. He’s also brutally honest about the mindset required to succeed: resilience, pragmatism, and a willingness to hire people better than you at the stuff that bores you.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Steve offers gold-standard advice—choose an industry with real demand and longevity, obsess over your numbers, and surround yourself with a rock-solid team.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone in service industries, franchising, or simply looking for battle-tested business wisdom from someone who’s built it all from the ground up.