Building Partnerships That Last
Kevin Davis joined TP Fire & Security in 2014 as National Accounts Manager, bringing with him a background in business development and sales. Today, as Director of Partnerships, he is responsible for managing and developing relationships with some of the company’s largest commercial customers and contractors.
Having been part of TP Fire & Security for more than a decade, Kevin has seen the business grow significantly, while building long-standing customer relationships along the way. We caught up with him to reflect on his career so far, what makes successful fire and security partnerships and what he’s looking forward to as TP Fire & Security continues to grow.
You’ve been with TP Fire & Security since 2014. What first attracted you to the business, and what has kept you here over the years?
When I joined TP Fire & Security back in 2014, it was clear that the business had ambition. There was a real desire to grow, but without losing the personal approach to customers and the quality of the service we delivered.
What has kept me here is seeing that ambition become reality. I’ve had the opportunity to grow alongside the business, build fantastic relationships with customers and colleagues, and play a small part in helping TP become the company it is today. Every year brings new challenges, new opportunities and something different, which keeps the role exciting.
Looking back on your time here, how has your role changed and what have been some of the biggest milestones in your career?
My role has evolved significantly over the years. I originally joined in a business development capacity, but today my focus is much broader, looking after strategic partnerships, supporting major customers and helping shape the direction of our key accounts.
One of the biggest milestones has been securing and developing relationships with some of the UK’s largest FM providers and national clients. Winning those opportunities is one thing, but seeing them develop into long-term partnerships built on trust is something I’m particularly proud of.
What does your role as Director of Partnerships involve, and what does a typical week look like for you?
No two weeks are ever the same, which is probably what I enjoy most.
My role involves working closely with customers, supporting our operational teams, developing new opportunities and making sure we’re continually improving the service we provide. That could mean attending customer review meetings, working on national tenders, helping resolve challenges, or collaborating with our internal teams to ensure we’re delivering exactly what we’ve promised.
It’s a varied role, but ultimately it’s all about building strong relationships.
What do you enjoy most about working with customers and building long-term relationships?
For me it’s about trust.
Customers want to know that when they pick up the phone, they’ll get honest advice and that we’ll do what we say we’ll do. Building that level of confidence doesn’t happen overnight – it comes from consistently delivering over many years.
It’s incredibly rewarding when customers start to see you as a trusted partner rather than just another supplier.
Is there a project or customer relationship that stands out as a particular highlight in your career? What made it so memorable?
Rather than picking one project, I’m probably most proud of the partnerships we’ve developed with some of the UK’s leading facilities management companies.
Many of those relationships have grown from supporting a handful of sites to managing nationwide portfolios across multiple fire and security disciplines. Seeing customers continue to trust us with more responsibility is probably the biggest compliment we can receive.
How has TP Fire & Security changed since you first joined, and what have been some of the most exciting developments you’ve seen?
The growth has been incredible. The scale of the business today compared with when I joined in 2014 is completely different. We’ve grown our engineering capability, the services we provide and the size and complexity of the customers we support. We’re now trusted to deliver across large national portfolios, which would have been a huge milestone for the business when I first joined.
What’s been most impressive, though, is that despite that growth we’ve retained the values that made the company successful in the first place. There’s still a real focus on quality, customer service and looking after our people.
How would you describe the people you work with, and how important is teamwork in your role?
Teamwork is absolutely essential. I might be one of the people sitting in front of the customer, but the relationship is only as strong as the team behind it.
The partnerships we build externally only work because of the people behind the scenes. From engineers and service coordinators through to technical support, finance and senior management, everyone plays a part in delivering for the customer.
I’ve always believed that the best results come when everyone works towards the same goal.
What have you learnt during your time at TP Fire & Security that has helped you grow professionally?
I’ve learnt that strong relationships are built on honesty, consistency and communication.
Technical knowledge is important, but listening to customers, understanding their challenges and working collaboratively to find solutions is what really makes the difference.
I’ve also learnt that you’re always learning. The industry continues to evolve, and that’s one of the reasons I still enjoy coming to work every day.
What qualities do you think help someone succeed in a role like yours?
I’d say communication, reliability and genuinely caring about your customers.
People remember how you respond when things don’t go to plan just as much as when everything runs smoothly. Being approachable, keeping people informed and always looking for solutions are qualities that help build lasting relationships.
How do you measure the success of a partnership?
Success isn’t just measured by the size of the contract.
For me, it’s about whether customers continue to trust us, whether they’re happy to recommend us, and whether we can continue improving together year after year.
Long-term relationships built on mutual trust are the biggest measure of success.
What advice would you give to someone who’s thinking about a career in the fire and security industry?
Be prepared to keep learning.
The industry is constantly changing, whether that’s new technology, regulations or customer expectations. If you’re willing to learn, work hard and put customers first, there are fantastic opportunities to build a long and rewarding career.
What are you looking forward to most as TP Fire & Security continues to grow?
I’m excited to see the business continue expanding while maintaining the values that have made it successful.
There are some fantastic opportunities ahead, and I’m looking forward to helping strengthen existing partnerships, developing new ones and continuing to support the wider team as the business grows.
Finally, what does it mean to you to have been part of TP Fire & Security’s journey for more than a decade?
It’s something I’m genuinely proud of.
Not many people get the opportunity to watch a business grow over more than ten years and be part of that journey. I’ve been fortunate to work with some fantastic people, build lasting relationships with customers and contribute to the company’s success.
I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given and excited to see what the next chapter brings.
We believe the strongest partnerships are built on trust, communication and consistent delivery. Whether supporting a single location or a complex national portfolio, our approach is the same: understand the customer, deliver what we promise and build relationships for the long term.
If you’re looking for a fire and security partner who takes the time to understand your organisation and can support you across multiple sites and services, get in touch with the TP Fire & Security team to find out how we can help.
