Partner Spotlight with Darren Keegan from All Round Security

Partner Spotlight: A Conversation with Darren Keegan, Managing Director at All Round Security

Following dormakaba UK's recent divestment of our northern servicing operations, we're proud to introduceAll Round Securityas our new servicing partner for the region. To help customers get to know the team behind the name, we sat down with Darren Keegan, Managing Director of All Round Security, to talk about the business, the transition, and what customers can expect moving forward.

dormakaba:Darren, let’s start with a bit of background. Can you tell us about the history of All Round Security and how the company has evolved over time?

Darren Keegan:Absolutely. All Round Security has been trading since 1986. We actually started out as a lock and grille business. But natural expansion didn’t take long. Pretty soon, we were securing national contracts with big names like the Arcadia Group. The business grew steadily, underpinned by a family ethos that really helped us build long-standing client relationships.

Over time, we expanded further, including the acquisition of Mitie Doors. And most recently in 2024, we became a supply partner for dormakaba through the divestment of their servicing business. Today, we’re proud to be the UK’s largest independent provider in our field, with over 100 engineers working nationwide.

dormakaba:That’s an impressive journey. What would you say are your core areas of expertise?

Darren:We’re a turnkey solutions provider for our clients. That means we cover everything from automatic doors and industrial doors to gates, barriers, fire doors, and pedestrian doors. But what really sets us apart is our “can-do” attitude. We’re known for being dependable and responsive. No job is too big or small for us.

dormakaba:Who do you typically work with? Is it mostly commercial clients, or do you serve a mix of sectors?

Darren:It’s a mix. We still serve high street retail, public sector, manufacturing, and even airside accounts across the UK. But we also look after smaller operations like charities with just one asset. Our client base is really diverse.

dormakaba:Let’s talk about the new partnership. How did it come about?

Darren:Initially, we were in discussions with dormakaba about helping deliver their industrial door work on a national scale. That’s an area where we’re especially strong, thanks to our manufacturing facility in Haydock, which also happens to be our head office.

Those conversations quickly evolved into a business divestment opportunity. I had the chance to present our capabilities to dormakaba’s Senior Vice President, Paul Wright, and the rest is history.

dormakaba:And what does this change mean for customers in the North of the UK?

Darren:In practical terms, we’ve taken on two new branches, one in Washington and one in Falkirk, and welcomed 33 engineers and 26 office staff into the All Round Security family. We've integrated these teams into our existing operation, and that’s allowed us to expand our in-house services even further, including fabrication of industrial doors.

So for customers, this means quicker turnaround times, more responsive service, and seven-day-a-week support.

dormakaba:Which specific services and products will you now be responsible for under this new setup?

Darren:We’ve deepened our commitment by expanding training across all dormakaba automatic door products, including swing and slide doors. We've even set up a dedicated training room at our Haydock site, where dormakaba experts are helping deliver ongoing training. It’s a true partnership.

dormakaba:Some customers may wonder about continuity. How are you ensuring a smooth transition?

Darren:That was definitely a priority. With the transfer of TUPE employees, continued access to client data, and our own systems and approach, we've worked hard to blend the best of both companies. The result is a new team culture built around client satisfaction and reliable service delivery.

dormakaba:Do you operate under service level agreements (SLAs)? What kind of response times can customers expect?

Darren:Yes, we have multiple SLAs in place. Some are very stringent—like 60-minute responses where we have dedicated labour. But across the board, we aim to hit:

• 4-hour response times nationally

• 24-hour service for standard issues

• 7-day and 28-day scheduling for specific services

We hit 95%+ of these targets consistently.

dormakaba:How do you maintain service quality and consistency across such a large team?

Darren:Our Operations Director, Mike Smith, and his management team are responsible for compliance, inspections, toolbox talks, and skills audits. We're also setting up a new master database in our job delivery system, Big Change. This will give our team real-time access to engineer certifications, training records, and skillsets, 24/7, 365 days a year.

dormakaba:And your engineers will continue to have access to dormakaba training and parts?

Darren:Definitely. Our engineers receive the same support, training, and access to parts as dormakaba’s own employees. That’s key to keeping quality consistent. We really see ourselves as an extension of the dormakaba team—with a bit of the All Round Security family business twist!

dormakaba:Looking ahead, what are your main goals over the next 12–18 months?

Darren:Initially, it was about a smooth transition and I think we’ve done that well, with a client retention rate of around 87%. Now, with a stable business plan and measured growth, we expect to increase our revenue by 40%, with a target of 60% growth by 2026.

dormakaba:How do you see the relationship with dormakaba evolving?

Darren:We want to integrate even further across projects, processes, and innovation. By working closely together, we can keep pushing our capabilities and deliver even more value to customers.

dormakaba:Are there any new services or developments on the horizon that customers should be excited about?

Darren:Yes! We're expanding sales and installation of the full dormakaba product range with industry-leading lead times. Our airside operations manager is currently in Belgium with BEA, reviewing their innovative sensor technology. We’ll be sharing more about that (and other exciting developments) on our new website soon.

dormakaba:Finally, what’s the best way for customers to get in touch?

Darren:The easiest way is through our website at www.allroundsecurity.com or by emailing us atinfo@allroundsecurity.com. That inbox is managed by our dedicated service desk team.

dormakaba:And do you have any final message for customers who may still have questions about the transition?

Darren:Yes. Rest assured, the high standards of service you’re used to from dormakaba are continuing. The difference now is that they’re delivered with the All Round Security family ethos, namely dedication, innovation, and a hands-on mentality. And if anyone wants to come and see what we’re about, our doors are always open for a tour of our head office or branches.

We’re excited to see what the future holds for this new chapter, and we know our customers in the North are in safe hands with All Round Security.Partner Spotlight: A Conversation with Darren Keegan, Managing Director at All Round Security

Following dormakaba UK's recent divestment of our northern servicing operations, we're proud to introduceAll Round Securityas our new servicing partner for the region. To help customers get to know the team behind the name, we sat down with Darren Keegan, Managing Director of All Round Security, to talk about the business, the transition, and what customers can expect moving forward.

dormakaba:Darren, let’s start with a bit of background. Can you tell us about the history of All Round Security and how the company has evolved over time?

Darren Keegan:Absolutely. All Round Security has been trading since 1986. We actually started out as a lock and grille business. But natural expansion didn’t take long. Pretty soon, we were securing national contracts with big names like the Arcadia Group. The business grew steadily, underpinned by a family ethos that really helped us build long-standing client relationships.

Over time, we expanded further, including the acquisition of Mitie Doors. And most recently in 2024, we became a supply partner for dormakaba through the divestment of their servicing business. Today, we’re proud to be the UK’s largest independent provider in our field, with over 100 engineers working nationwide.

dormakaba:That’s an impressive journey. What would you say are your core areas of expertise?

Darren:We’re a turnkey solutions provider for our clients. That means we cover everything from automatic doors and industrial doors to gates, barriers, fire doors, and pedestrian doors. But what really sets us apart is our “can-do” attitude. We’re known for being dependable and responsive. No job is too big or small for us.

dormakaba:Who do you typically work with? Is it mostly commercial clients, or do you serve a mix of sectors?

Darren:It’s a mix. We still serve high street retail, public sector, manufacturing, and even airside accounts across the UK. But we also look after smaller operations like charities with just one asset. Our client base is really diverse.

dormakaba:Let’s talk about the new partnership. How did it come about?

Darren:Initially, we were in discussions with dormakaba about helping deliver their industrial door work on a national scale. That’s an area where we’re especially strong, thanks to our manufacturing facility in Haydock, which also happens to be our head office.

Those conversations quickly evolved into a business divestment opportunity. I had the chance to present our capabilities to dormakaba’s Senior Vice President, Paul Wright, and the rest is history.

dormakaba:And what does this change mean for customers in the North of the UK?

Darren:In practical terms, we’ve taken on two new branches, one in Washington and one in Falkirk, and welcomed 33 engineers and 26 office staff into the All Round Security family. We've integrated these teams into our existing operation, and that’s allowed us to expand our in-house services even further, including fabrication of industrial doors.

So for customers, this means quicker turnaround times, more responsive service, and seven-day-a-week support.

dormakaba:Which specific services and products will you now be responsible for under this new setup?

Darren:We’ve deepened our commitment by expanding training across all dormakaba automatic door products, including swing and slide doors. We've even set up a dedicated training room at our Haydock site, where dormakaba experts are helping deliver ongoing training. It’s a true partnership.

dormakaba:Some customers may wonder about continuity. How are you ensuring a smooth transition?

Darren:That was definitely a priority. With the transfer of TUPE employees, continued access to client data, and our own systems and approach, we've worked hard to blend the best of both companies. The result is a new team culture built around client satisfaction and reliable service delivery.

dormakaba:Do you operate under service level agreements (SLAs)? What kind of response times can customers expect?

Darren:Yes, we have multiple SLAs in place. Some are very stringent—like 60-minute responses where we have dedicated labour. But across the board, we aim to hit:

• 4-hour response times nationally

• 24-hour service for standard issues

• 7-day and 28-day scheduling for specific services

We hit 95%+ of these targets consistently.

dormakaba:How do you maintain service quality and consistency across such a large team?

Darren:Our Operations Director, Mike Smith, and his management team are responsible for compliance, inspections, toolbox talks, and skills audits. We're also setting up a new master database in our job delivery system, Big Change. This will give our team real-time access to engineer certifications, training records, and skillsets, 24/7, 365 days a year.

dormakaba:And your engineers will continue to have access to dormakaba training and parts?

Darren:Definitely. Our engineers receive the same support, training, and access to parts as dormakaba’s own employees. That’s key to keeping quality consistent. We really see ourselves as an extension of the dormakaba team—with a bit of the All Round Security family business twist!

dormakaba:Looking ahead, what are your main goals over the next 12–18 months?

Darren:Initially, it was about a smooth transition and I think we’ve done that well, with a client retention rate of around 87%. Now, with a stable business plan and measured growth, we expect to increase our revenue by 40%, with a target of 60% growth by 2026.

dormakaba:How do you see the relationship with dormakaba evolving?

Darren:We want to integrate even further across projects, processes, and innovation. By working closely together, we can keep pushing our capabilities and deliver even more value to customers.

dormakaba:Are there any new services or developments on the horizon that customers should be excited about?

Darren:Yes! We're expanding sales and installation of the full dormakaba product range with industry-leading lead times. Our airside operations manager is currently in Belgium with BEA, reviewing their innovative sensor technology. We’ll be sharing more about that (and other exciting developments) on our new website soon.

dormakaba:Finally, what’s the best way for customers to get in touch?

Darren:The easiest way is through our website at www.allroundsecurity.com or by emailing us atinfo@allroundsecurity.com. That inbox is managed by our dedicated service desk team.

dormakaba:And do you have any final message for customers who may still have questions about the transition?

Darren:Yes. Rest assured, the high standards of service you’re used to from dormakaba are continuing. The difference now is that they’re delivered with the All Round Security family ethos, namely dedication, innovation, and a hands-on mentality. And if anyone wants to come and see what we’re about, our doors are always open for a tour of our head office or branches.

We’re excited to see what the future holds for this new chapter, and we know our customers in the North are in safe hands with All Round Security.