A DETERMINED entrepreneur is expanding his local business by opening a new £500k headquarters and creating new jobs.

Ryan Clark has moved his technology-driven security firm, Safer Scotland, into three units at Port Glasgow's Kelburn Business Park.

He says that making the major investment and creating at least four new posts for local people is his way of showing his thanks for the support he has received here.

Ryan started out on an Inverclyde Council training scheme in 2004 when he was 18 and unemployed.

The programme covered the cost of his training and his first security licence, and was the first step on his career in the industry.

Ryan set up Safer Scotland in 2016 and in 2019, he was named Young Business Person of the Year.

The businessman is now ploughing in half a million pounds to transform a 6,000 sq ft site in the Port Glasgow industrial estate into a 12,000 sq ft headquarters for his firm.

A total of four Inverclyde people have already been recruited and Ryan plans to take on more staff to support his six-strong management team in the coming months.

Ryan has thanked Inverclyde Council, and particularly Councillor Michael McCormick, for their helping in securing the lease of the units.

He hopes the business, which is part of the Safer Security Group, will be fully operational by March 2022.

He added: "We're delighted to now be based firmly in Inverclyde.

"We are currently fitting out the new premises with state-of-the-art facilities which will include a mezzanine floor to take our total available space up to 12,000 square feet.

"Safer Scotland’s strengths until now have been in construction, void property protection and rail.

"We will aim to move swiftly into new markets in sectors such as roads and highways, and utility infrastructure protection."

The headquarters will feature a CCTV monitoring station, manufacturing and assembly area, and administration space, and will accommodate a 35-strong team.

Ryan hopes setting up the Port Glasgow headquarters will help the firm double its turnover to £4.5m in the coming year.

Safer Scotland is accredited with the Security Industry Authority and has been involved in securing hundreds of flagship projects for construction, engineering, and corporate clients across Scotland.

Councillor McCormick said he's delighted that the council's support of Ryan's business dream is helping him reap such 'tremendous' rewards.

He added: "Ryan’s ambition to build a clever, technology-driven security business which trades throughout the rest of the UK and Europe from an Inverclyde base is one we heartily embrace.

"The business is bringing quality jobs to the area and has the potential to play a key role in building future prosperity across Inverclyde."