Leading security firm moves to Derby
THE headquarters of a multi-million-pound security firm has been moved to Derby by city entrepreneur Kavita Oberoi.
About 35 employees have transferred with Octavian Security from its former Nottingham base to Pride Park.
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city switch: Kavita Oberoi has teamed up with Sukhi Ghuman at Octavian Security.
The switch comes weeks after Mrs Oberoi joined the company as a director and investor. That came just days after the company went into administration.
More jobs will be created by the relocation, which sees the firm moved into the same building as Mrs Oberoi's IT firm, Oberoi Consulting.
Mrs Oberoi, known for her appearance on Channel 4 TV show The Secret Millionaire, said the move was a positive step forward.
She said: "We've actually been interviewing people from Derby this week because we're looking to increase some departments.
"I'd actually been renting out some office space to clients, who left last September, so when I bought into Octavian earlier this year it seemed like it was meant to be.
"It will help the two firms improve integration, working together and cost-cutting, so it will be good all round.
"Pride Park is a fantastic address and we have already tapped into some of the business here, so it's going well."
Octavian, which specialises in providing security services, temporary labour and corporate cleaning to leading companies, was forced to call in administrators Begbies Traynor in January.
Owner and founder Sukhi Ghuman negotiated a back-to-back deal to buy the business as a going concern and joined Mrs Oberoi in a dual investment.
The firm, originally based in Colwick, recruits 750 staff nationwide, including people from Derbyshire.
It currently turns over £14m and has won a number of business awards.
Mrs Oberoi said: "We're already sharing staff resources and client base and seeing where the two firms can cross over in their work.
"The move was one of the first areas we looked at because Octavian was paying huge rent and rates in Nottingham.
"It made sense to move it into a building I own and the staff have been very good about it."
Mrs Oberoi's husband, Deven, operates his business, Oberoi Grand Interiors, single-handedly from an office next door to his wife. She said: "It's great to have so many entrepreneurs working together in such close proximity.
"Derby brings so many business and investment opportunities."
2 Comments
by Mark, Derby
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 1:33PM
“Sukhi can you give my wife a job please. Shes just spent 3 years doing a degree in Engineering and obtained 2.1 BEng. She cannot even get a job at a local supermarket stacking shelves. Last time I went there a shelf stacker couldn't answer my inquiry as she could not speak any English!”
by John John, Belper
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 10:10AM
“Why is it that Directors who oversee a company fail can then buy the company from the Administrator at a knock down price relieved of all the debts and then take all the profits from a streamlined business. They have no obligation to repay the original creditors many of whom I am sure are small businesses and individuals who can least afford it.
Heartwarming PR for the Oberoi dynasty but let us not forget the human cost behind this "deal"”