Years of Experience spark innovation in fire safety solutions | Interview with Caroline Barrett, Omni Group

Entrepreneur Caroline Barrett has built Omni Group into a leader in the fire health and safety sector, combining expertise, innovation and investment in people to drive growth, resilience and long-term success.

London’s Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which resulted in the deaths of 72 people, suddenly raised the consciousness of many in the construction sector of the urgent need for better fire safety.

It is though, something that the Omni Group of companies based in Carluke has more than 20 years of experience in tackling through one of its constituent firms, CVD Fire Protection.

Caroline Barrett, managing director of the group, says that - built on trust, reliability, and performance - CVD has established itself as a dependable contractor within the fire protection sector.

She describes Omni Group as a specialist sub-contractor to the construction and allied industries comprising CVD Fire Protection Ltd, Omni Care Drilling Solutions Ltd, Omni Interior Solutions Ltd and Omni Door Solutions Ltd.

"We're predominantly a construction and service business which began as a joinery company that came from our knowledge of fire protection," she says.

"We understood how walls, floors, ceiling and doors were built from a fire protection point of view, a compartmentation that not all companies grasped and we've also added an industrial door company Omni Doors Solutions, the newest addition to the group that ensures that clients receive ongoing support and specialist expertise in industrial access solutions."

She adds that working together, the group's companies provide a synergy that results in streamlining delivery, improving efficiency and generating cost savings for its clients.

"By working collaboratively across several disciplines, we reduce delays, eliminate duplication, and provide a seamless experience from start to finish which allows us to build useful long-term relationships with clients."

The common thread she says, remains fire protection: "We can deal with firewalls, fire ceilings and fire doors plus fire doors, shutters and everything in between.”

"That was a logical way to go to solve one of the major problems the industry had, which is that people weren't building buildings from an overall fire protection point of view."

She agrees that, while Omni had always seen the importance of compliance and that it was completing work to specific standards, the Grenfell disaster changed the industry's awareness of need for fire protection.

"It didn't change our behaviour, because we were certified, we were recording our work according to those standards and had the paperwork in place. What changed for us after Grenfell was that there was an industry-wide recognition of that need."

Working as a sub-contractor Omni Group has worked for some prominent national brands including House of Fraser, Sports Direct and Specsavers to ensure their premises are fire-safe, compliant and comfortable, "We’re constantly evolving to meet clients' requirements," she adds.

“We're able to take on a varied range of projects that include the construction sector, the facilities management industry and also care homes and hotels - all of which makes my work very interesting” says Barrett.

The company, she explains, undertakes government and Ministry of Defence work as well as projects for universities, colleges, schools and new builds as well as retrospective works, all of which can involve a complex degree of tendering. "It can be very challenging” she agrees.

Although there is now more competition on the fire protection front, she says that Omni Group approaches its work from a different angle.

“For example, for us it's not just building a wall-it's building a fire compartment.”

Barrett went straight from school into industry, initially working for Motherwell Bridge, which delivers engineering solutions, from precision crane assembly and maintenance to high quality steel fabrication and which also has a strong commitment to safety.

"I then went into the industrial door sector in a company similar to ours but diversified my interests along the way and believe that while I understand the business I also have a good understanding of people - and to be honest I very much rely on my team, whose expertise in the technical aspects of the business makes them the real heroes."

Some of them, she adds, have been with Omni Group for more than 20 years. “I want to give them the opportunity to grow so invest in training and and am also involved in mentoring."

"That's something I particularly enjoy and it's another area of my career that has evolved. I want the best for these people, and I coach members of my team, taking them to management and director level and I also now mentor in schools and MCR Pathways (a national charity helping care experienced and disadvantaged young people realise their potential through education and mentoring) every week."

She believes that many people, especially in post-industrial towns in Scotland's central belt have little confidence in realising their potential.

"Which is a shame – if you simply believe in yourself, the opportunities are there."

She herself joined Entrepreneur Scotland several months ago and is enjoying the journey, meeting many inspiring people.

Her experience is a common one. "Being an entrepreneur, you're often in a lonely and vulnerable place but there you find others who have experienced what you have gone through at some stage."

"I believe it plays a vital role, and people should shout more about its benefits," she adds.

In terms of the future, Omni Group has taken on joinery apprentices on a regular basis, and has plans for a training school. “I’m proud that we have a female industrial door engineer director via an apprenticeship."

"I find that if you invest in people, they tend to be loyal, and while people sometimes move on, they also tend to come back.”

This article was written by Colin Cardwell as part of The Herald Business HQ Monthly. Click here to read the full edition.