When security and hospitality experience unites

When Aaron Morton moved to Cornwall, he had a wealth of experience in the security industry and spotted an opportunity to provide tailored security services to local businesses. So, in 2019, he founded A.Ron Security Ltd.

Since then, the business has rapidly grown with clients throughout Cornwall, including commercial and hospitality businesses and the National Trust.

From having a beer to starting a new venture

However, Aaron’s business empire was soon to move into a different sector. In 2021, while having a quiet pint in his local, a conversation with the owner led to Aaron, his sister Hannah and Aaron’s partner, Gary, branching out into the hospitality industry. Having frequented The Venue on St Merryn Park near Padstow as customers, the trio saw an opportunity to turn the bar and restaurant into a successful business.

They were thrown in at the deep end when they eventually took over the lease of The Venue during the summer holidays in 2022. However, before being in the security industry, Aaron had also worked in hospitality, as had Hannah, and with Gary’s background in the care sector, they soon had everything under control.

Focusing on the locals, but with a great experience for tourists too

The priority with The Venue was to create a welcoming space to accommodate the locals while providing an excellent facility for tourists staying at St Merryn Park or in the area. They quickly made significant changes to the Venue, including expanding the opening hours, organising charity events and fairs, and holding weekly coffee mornings for the locals.

When they first took over The Venue, the adjacent NISA shop closed. Aaron and his team immediately set up a pop-up shop in their bar area to provide essential supplies to the locals and holidaymakers. Fast forward to July 2023, and they have taken on the shop’s lease to provide a full range of grocery and household items.

They now employ 18 people all year round in The Venue and the shop, with the three directors playing a hands-on role in running the businesses.

Overcoming the fear of change

The biggest challenge they have had to overcome has been dealing with people when introducing changes to The Venue. Initially, they were met with resistance when they wanted to extend the opening times, make changes to the layout of the building and provide different types of entertainment. However, by getting people to try new things, many of their regulars prefer the changes. Since taking over The Venue, they have significantly increased their customer numbers throughout the year, not just in peak holiday times.

Securing the future

Further changes are planned for The Venue, including the whole building having a makeover and introducing a beer garden and a larger children’s play area. With A.Ron Security, Aaron aims to take on more clients in the local area while maintaining the high levels of service he currently achieves with his existing customers.

Freeing up the directors’ time

To help Aaron and his team capitalise on their entrepreneurial spirit, Haines Watts has been able to free up their time so they can focus on running the businesses.

Haines Watts has taken care of the routine tax and accounting tasks, and they have been instrumental in helping me structure all the businesses tax-efficiently, including creating shareholder agreements and helping with business plans. It doesn’t matter what I ask, they always sort it out for me. They are brilliant at what they do! - Aaron.