Ambitious Gloucestershire fire and security specialist Severnside Security has appointed Vikki Kirkwood to a newly created growth and partnerships role, as it continues to invest in its senior team.
Bringing extensive experience and knowledge of social housing, Vikki will focus on developing relationships with housing associations, local authorities, care providers and managing agents across Gloucestershire and the wider South West.
Her appointment follows John Trickett joining Severnside as head of digital and technology, with the two roles supporting the company's emphasis on partnerships, technology and resident safety.
More than two decades of public sector experience
Vikki's career began in public sector bidding, working on PFI healthcare projects and Building Schools for the Future programmes, before moving into planned and reactive maintenance within social housing in 2013.
Alongside her commercial experience, she has developed detailed knowledge of the regulatory landscape surrounding compliance services, including the Building Safety Act and Building Safety Regulator Gateway processes for Higher Risk Buildings.
She is also chair of WISH South West – Women in Social Housing, where she runs breakfast briefings covering issues affecting the sector, including Awaab's Law.
It is that combination of commercial, regulatory and housing experience that Vikki will bring to Severnside, with resident safety at the heart of her approach.
She said: 'I care deeply about people's safety and for the first time in my career I've found an employer I feel truly ethically aligned with.
'Behind every contract there is a resident and keeping them safe is what drives me.'
Putting relationships at the heart of growth
As Severnside's first growth and partnerships appointment, Vikki's remit goes beyond conventional business development.She will work to deepen the company's relationships with organisations across Gloucestershire, while building its presence in Bristol and the wider South West.
Rather than pursuing growth on price alone, her approach centres on understanding the pressures facing clients – from changing regulation to the practical challenges of protecting residents and managing their homes.
Vikki said: 'To me they are relationships, not contacts. Relationships built on understanding a client's pressures last far longer than anything won on price alone.'
Her role as chair of WISH South West already places her within an established network of housing professionals across the region.
Sponsored by Severnside Security, WISH South West is due to bring sector leaders together in October 2027 at an event entitled The New Gloucestershire Frontier: Protecting Tenant Safety Whilst Navigating Unitary Transition, with chief executives from key registered providers also expected to be join a panel discussion.
Investing in the next stage of Severnside's growth
Vikki joins Severnside at a significant point in the company's development.Led by managing director Kane Lewis since 2018, the Gloucestershire business has grown to employ more than 60 people across three regional offices, providing fire and security services to housing associations and public and private sector organisations across the south of England.
Its recent senior appointments offer a clear indication of where the business is heading.
Kane said: 'Vikki’s appointment is a really important step for Severnside. We have ambitious plans for growth, but we want to achieve that in the right way, by building strong partnerships, understanding the challenges our clients face and consistently delivering for them and their residents.
Vikki brings considerable commercial experience, deep knowledge of social housing and a genuine passion for resident safety. She will play a key role in strengthening our relationships across Gloucestershire and the South West, while helping us make sure our growth remains purposeful, sustainable and centred on the needs of our customers.'
While Vikki concentrates on partnerships and the changing needs of clients, head of digital and technology John Trickett is leading Severnside's investment in AI, automation and digital systems, with the aim of improving operational delivery and customer experience.
Severnside is increasingly positioning itself as an asset protection and compliance partner, helping organisations respond to regulatory, structural and technological change.
For Vikki, however, the purpose behind that work remains straightforward: protecting the people who live in the buildings Severnside serves, including residents with a wide range of needs and vulnerabilities.
She said: 'Severnside is building for the future, with John leading real digital transformation that makes the customer experience better.
'This role is my chance to build something across Gloucestershire that people genuinely want to be part of, because we understand their world and we turn up to solve problems, not to sell.
'Look after your clients and their residents properly and the growth takes care of itself.'
Severnside is increasingly positioning itself as an asset protection and compliance partner, helping organisations respond to regulatory, structural and technological change.
For Vikki, however, the purpose behind that work remains straightforward: protecting the people who live in the buildings Severnside serves, including residents with a wide range of needs and vulnerabilities.
She said: 'Severnside is building for the future, with John leading real digital transformation that makes the customer experience better.
'This role is my chance to build something across Gloucestershire that people genuinely want to be part of, because we understand their world and we turn up to solve problems, not to sell.
'Look after your clients and their residents properly and the growth takes care of itself.'
