Ex-PC returns to TOPS

An ex-police officer has found a home from home after returning to his former police station to launch an exciting new business enterprise.

Dave Green, 41, has returned to the former Heywood police station after 10 years to get his new company, Benchmark Security Solutions, off the ground.

When Dave first worked at the premises in the 1990’s he was used to pounding the beat, working undercover as a plain clothes police officer and fending off major terrorist threats at Manchester City’s football ground.

Now, following the successful conversion of the station and Magistrates’ Court by Rochdale Development Agency and New Heart for Heywood into managed workspace, he’s putting his 15 years’ experience to good use by training clients in all aspects of security from becoming a doorman to the installation of CCTV.

Heywood police station was built in 1935 and converted last year into 29 state-of-the-art managed work units known as TOPS (The Old Police Station). The crime fighting heritage of the building, so appropriate to Dave’s company, has been made a feature by keeping the original cell corridor and courtroom intact. The impressive courtroom is now used for business conferences, meetings and exhibitions.

Dave started his new business two years ago but has only just moved into his new head-quarters to better manage his 60-strong team of staff out in the field.

Describing his new role, Dave, who now lives in Bolton, said: “It feels a bit strange moving back to the place where I once worked, but it’s refreshing doing it in the capacity of being my own boss rather than as a police officer.

“And the building itself really is in good shape now, it looks markedly different inside than it did as a police station and is now entirely built around modern office space.  Visitors are impressed by the police cells and court room that have been kept as they were. The acoustics in the court room are just fantastic. You could hear a pin drop.”  

Apart from providing security-based training, Benchmark Security Solutions offers its clients manned security and services such as key holding and covert security.

Since its launch, the firm has enticed clients from a wide range of sectors including shopping centres and retail.

Dave continued: “I believe my 15 years’ experience as a police officer has instilled a great deal of confidence in my clients. I’ve had experience in everything from being a member of CID to heading anti-terror operations. “

“People come to me from all walks of life and security is all about providing people with the means to protect themselves. The training I provide also allows people to gain a BTEC level 2 award in security.

“I have several clients in the Heywood area who I supply security guards to.

“I’m pleased to say the company really is going from strength to strength and I’m hoping to expand it even further in future.” 

Since the transformation of the former Heywood police station, a total of ten small businesses (including a business advice service and a nationwide charity) have already moved in, with 2 companies taking more than one office each. More than half the accommodation is now occupied. Another two businesses are due to move in, in the very near future.

Construction work at the site was managed by Pennine Land – the development wing of Rochdale Development Agency. North Manchester Enterprise Group now manages the 9,000sq ft of offices and meeting rooms in the building from a central reception area created for the purpose.

John Hudson, Chief Executive of RDA, said: “Dave Green’s success story in setting up his own business reflects what we set out to achieve at Heywood’s new business centre.

“The superb accommodation has already attracted a number of start-up businesses and we hope it will bring about many more job opportunities to the town in the months to come.”

Susan Coates, Chair of the TOPS Steering Group said “We are on target to fill all the office spaces with businesses. Whilst we are quietly confident we are not complacent and monitor and audit all the time the progress of the centre. This is another accolade for the centre and it is nice that a former employee of the station has returned home to his roots to build his business and we wish him well for the future.”

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