Our Story So Far

ARE WE NUTS? 

In 2011, we asked, ‘are we nuts’?. You can check out some of our earliest marketing efforts in this video.

We always want to know if there’s a better way of doing things and want to solve the problems of tomorrow, and not just today - so we listen to our customers. They told us they wanted something versatile, 100% safe, cost-effective, durable and visually appealing. Enter the Alumni Finger-Ejecting Guard.

2011 also saw our Head Quarters move into Skypark, in Finniestone near Glasgow’s City Centre, where we built our first development workshop to speed up our product developments, a tiny 1mX2m cupboard - and how we have grown since then...

ENTERING THE MENTAL HEALTH SECTOR

Having mostly operated in the Education sector to date, the Safehinge team identified an opportunity to support environments within Mental Health NHS facilities.

Founders Philip and Martin were visiting a friend in the hospital who had been sectioned when they spotted how unsuitable the door was in an environment for recovery.

They work to launch a door components package specifically for Mental Health, focusing on durability, hygiene and anti-ligature features along with aiding patient recovery.

This included:

Surehinge - an anti-barricade pivot system. The patented no-gap pivot system is anti-ligature, anti-barricade, and FD60 fire rated.

Sureclose - a concealed door closer. A concealed fire door closer that’s robust, secure and simple to fit anti-barricade doors.

Movastop - an anti-barricade wall-mounted door stop. The unique rapid-release mechanism allows staff to open doors outwards anytime within 15 seconds.

In 2013, the team also attended the first Design In Mental Health Exhibition to meet partners and customers. The Team are keen supporter’s of the exhibition, attending annually and often bagging awards for innovation and new product developments. Philip attended the AGM after this show and joined the board. This was driven by his personal passion and interest in improving Mental Health environments.

We moved into developing our first electronic product based on the Internet of Things (IoT) with our Electronic Lockset (Passport).

Passport locksets have a mechanical override system to overcome even the most determined barricade attempt, or in case of lockset damage - this can function as an emergency override system. It had all of the anti-barricade features of the 5-way lock but also included electronic access that supports the patient's independence.

In 2015, we also launched a new product innovation - enter the Swiftfit rapid-installation steel frame!

Team headcount: 8

AWARD WINS

The team continues to grow! And ‘jazz hands’ within team photographs makes its debut!

Our Ensuite Door won Product Innovation of the Year at the Design in Mental Health Awards 2017 and is then “highly commended’ at the Building Better Healthcare Awards.

Described by DIMHN judges as a “lifesaving” product, our en-suite door was recognised by the BBH judges as “responding directly to a real need”. They commented that they “liked the double-door entry, which would fit almost anywhere” and expect it to be “widely embraced”.

WELCOMING VIKKI

After such a challenging 2020, 2021 was a real year of triumphs in the business.

Our turnover increased by 37%, and we led the creation of an Executive Board, including the appointment of our first female statutory director, Vikki Macleod joined the board as our Non-Executive.

One of our biggest triumphs is our Door Alarms' impact on clinicians and patients, with Surrey NHS reporting a reduced response time of 60%.

We won the Concept Product Innovation of the Year award for our work on ‘older people’s door with full-door ligature alarm’ at the 2022 Design in Mental Health Awards. We used our full door alarm with standard door hardware, balancing other risks and needs like slips, trips and falls and the familiarity - critical for older users.

We are finally reunited, growing and able to have a summer party together!