Home Secretary and Redditch MP Jacqui Smith has saluted the enterprise of a West Midlands security firm that has grown in six years from a company without a contract to one with a £2.5 million turnover.

Forty-year-old entrepreneur Richard Payton has built his Cava Guard Group to one of the largest key-holder security companies in the West Midlands since 2002 and has just launched ten franchised operations in Central London.

The Home Secretary opened the group’s new headquarters building at Regents Court, Far Moor Lane, Redditch, which has a state-of-the-art 24-hour control room and a staff training facility.

Business property consultants John Truslove secured the sub-let for Cava Group until August 2009 at £22,000 pa.

The MP knew of the Cava Guard Group because her office at Greenlands Business Centre was close to the company’s former premises.

The Cava Guard Group now occupies the 2,000 sq ft building previously occupied by landlords Swisslog Digitron, a subsidiary of the Swiss-owned global provider of integrated logistical solutions.

Mr Payton said: “We started with no contracts and just knocked on doors.  Now we are going national with the key-holder franchises and expect to open more than 200 outlets over the next 10 to 15 years.”

It plans to extend its already sizeable franchise operation in the West Midlands following an appearance at the British Franchise Association’s Exhibition at the NEC starting October 3. Cava Group currently employs an experienced team of 30 people plus 12 part-timers.

Its security officers are in regular contact with the centre by radio and telephone and use the latest global positioning satellite technology.

Supervisors are able to direct and control the security personnel round the clock and ensure that if one system fails communications can be maintained.

Jacqui Smith said: “I was delighted to open Cava’s new operational centre in Redditch.  This is clearly a business that is going from strength to strength.  I was very impressed with the presentation about their work and the drive of the leadership team. I hope that in the years to come Redditchwill be boasting about another national success based in the town.”

John Truslove said: “The beauty of doing business in Redditch is its rich diversity of new and older commercial and industrial building stock.

“This was a company that required a new home at short notice with specific telecommunications requirements – and we were able to provide.

“Regents Court is the perfect solution. It is only two miles from Redditch Town Centre with ideal links to the motorway network, Birmingham International Airport and the National Exhibition Centre.

“It comprises nine individual traditionally constructed office buildings, grouped around a central, landscaped courtyard and completed about 15 years ago.”