Reliance High-Tech, a leader in high-end electronic security, has made a significant investment into the Bracknell BID area. Creating their own dedicated customer Innovation Centre, the team moved into their new £2 million head office in May 2024.
Founded in 1986, Reliance High-Tech has transformed over the years into one of the UK’s foremost independent security integrators. The company now specialises in CCTV, access control, intruder detection, personal safety devices, a lone worker app, health products to monitor epilepsy and cloud-based technologies, serving an elite clientele including retail, healthcare, utilities, government, education and financial institutions. As the name suggests, they pride themselves on being dependable, innovative and agile. With multiple awards under their belt, including recognition as Security Integrator of the Year on a national level, the company is trusted by leading brands and organisations to protect their people, assets and reputations with the latest technology and specialist expertise.
A new home brings new opportunities
Last year, Reliance High-Tech relocated from the Bracknell town centre to Easthampstead Road. This move reflects the company’s confidence in Bracknell as a hub for technology and business excellence. With additional offices in Manchester, Pontefract and Glasgow, the Bracknell head office serves as a base for approximately 25-30 of Reliance High-Tech’s 170 total nationwide employees.
Alistair Enser, Chief Executive Officer, joined the company in 2018 after his time at both Siemens and Stanley Security. He said: “We wanted to stay in Bracknell, as a town it has good access and is well known in the tech industry. We’d been looking for five years to buy a building, but we couldn’t find anything suitable enough for the mix of office and tech space that we needed. We finally found it here.
“Having our own place gives a real sense of belonging and you can feel the team’s, enthusiasm and pride in making this space our own.”
Green Initiatives and Sustainability Goals
Reliance High-Tech’s new premises also represent a step forward in their ambitious sustainability goals. Currently in the process of installing electric vehicle (EV) charging points to the building and exploring solar panel integration, the company is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2040.
“We believe in leading by example,” says David Walton, Chief Financial Officer, who, like Alistair, also has a background with Siemens. “Transitioning our company car fleet to electric vehicles and embracing remote, cloud-based technologies are just a few of the steps we’re taking to reduce our environmental impact.”
Reliance High-Tech’s use of cloud-based systems allows remote servicing, using less hardware and electricity, cutting down on the need for extensive travel for their engineers and minimising their carbon footprint.
David recalls: “We were a fairly early adopter of cloud based technology. During lockdown back in 2020, we were in the midst of fitting security into a data centre company in Milan – a Covid hotspot and the one place you could and would not want to go at the height of the pandemic. We completed that job on time and on budget by sending the equipment ahead, having people locally install it and we finished it all by connecting in remotely.”
Business growth and talent acquisition
Reliance High-Tech’s move to the Bracknell BID area comes at a time of remarkable growth for the company. Over the years, they’ve achieved an impressive 50% growth, driven by their dedication to innovation and employee development.
Alistair said: “We want to grow the people we’ve got but also bring in new talent. We feel that developing younger people is important because there’s not enough skills in the industry to go around. We have experienced people, we retrain people from engineering and other walks of life. One of our female engineers was previously a prison guard and we’ve got ex-military changing careers, then we’ve got the 18-20 year old formal apprentices as engineers or in sales, finance and procurement.”
They recently attended the Bracknell BID Job’s Fair, where they found their new Design Engineer and also have a student due to take up a position at the company by connecting with Bracknell and Reading College at the event. They offer T-level placements and apprenticeships and participate in the Young Enterprise program hoping to inspire the next generation.
The future of technical security solutions
Poised to play a key role in the industry as it once again experiences rapid advancements in technology, Reliance High-Tech are in a strong position, offering expertise and unique products. Their lone worker personal safety device connects straight to their Pontefract office, protecting just under 55,000 health care workers around the UK.
“Within retail, we’ve seen a big increase in bodyworn video because a lot of the staff aren’t necessarily security trained. It helps prevent assault when people know they are being filmed and if something does happen they’ve got it on record.
“We focus on high-end clients, fitting them inside and out with security solutions. We will protect the tower blocks of Canary Wharf, large banking and financial institutions, local authorities, universities, pharmaceutical companies and a number of utility businesses around the UK.” says Alistair.
Their forward-thinking approach, combined with a strong sense of community, positions Reliance High-Tech as a valuable asset to Bracknell and its vibrant business landscape. Whether through innovative technology, sustainability initiatives or educational partnerships, they are a perfect example of what the BID stands for—innovation, collaboration, and growth.
To find out more about Reliance High-Tech Ltd and the services and products they offer, please visit https://www.reliancehightech.co.uk/ or contact info@reliancehightech.co.uk