Jon Hawkins

Red Box Fire Control is no stranger to doing things properly. Since 1987, they’ve been delivering dependable fire safety services from their base in Oxfordshire. When the team decided it was time to modernise, they turned to Uptick’s fire and security software. Six months later, they’re working faster, smarter, and more efficiently.

Built on service

Red Box Fire Control began as a fire extinguisher servicing business and grew into a trusted provider of signage, hire, fire risk assessments, and training. Their team of engineers and support staff now covers a wide region, including the southwest angle of London, Birmingham, Bristol, and Southampton.

They’re known for their honest pricing, high-quality work, and strong client relationships.

“We’re different because we still care,” says Jon Hawkins, Operations Manager. “Our Managing Director built this business on honesty, integrity, and fair pricing. That’s still the standard we hold ourselves to.”

Time to evolve

As their client base expanded, so did the workload. Until recently, everything ran on paper. Engineers filled out forms by hand. Job cards were filed in folders. Reports were typed up manually and shared days after the job.

“It felt old-fashioned. We were overwhelmed with paperwork,” says Office Manager Sarah Soames. “I hated it. It slowed us down and made things harder than they needed to be.”

Paper reports often came back with missing information. In some cases, the handwriting was unreadable. This created delays in processing jobs and raising invoices. Some paperwork didn’t reach the office for days, which held everything else up.

“We spent time chasing techs for clarity on jobs they did three or four weeks earlier,” says Jon.
“It made everything harder, from planning to customer service.”‍

Choosing the right fire protection software

Sarah started looking for a system that would reduce manual work without disrupting the way they operate. Uptick stood out early.

“It’s made me proud, to be honest,” she says. “We took a chance on something new, and it’s paid off.”

The onboarding experience played a big role in their success.

“Aoife [Implementation Manager] from Uptick guided us every step of the way,” says Sarah. “She gave us the confidence to keep going. When we hit a roadblock with data extraction, Charlie [Implementation Manager] jumped in and helped us find a solution. The support was brilliant.”

Easier on the tools

For the engineering team, switching to digital reports has been a relief.

“We’ve got sites with 800 extinguishers,” says Kevin Brooks, Service Manager. “Before, techs walked around with bits of paper and forgot what they needed. Now they see everything on screen. They’re better prepared.”

Kevin estimates that each engineer saves around two hours a day by using the Uptick app.

“It’s click, click, and done. They finish the job, submit the report, and move on.”

Technicians have site histories, job details, and client information in the palm of their hands. It’s helped them work faster and deliver more consistent service.

Smoother in the office

Uptick has also improved how the office team works.

“Everything’s quicker now,” says Anna Thewlis, Office Assistant. “Reports come in straight after the job. We’re not waiting around. Everything we need is in one place.”

Previously, techs would drop off paperwork once or twice a week. Admin staff then had to sort, enter, and check the details. Now, they receive reports in real time and can respond immediately to issues or client queries.

“It’s much easier to stay on top of the work,” Anna says. “The system fits into our flow and makes life better for everyone.”

Better service, faster payment

Quicker job turnaround has created a clear benefit: faster invoicing.

Red Box now invoices within hours of job completion. That means quicker payment cycles without needing to pressure clients.

“We’re getting paid faster,” says Jon. “We haven’t changed our payment terms. It’s just happening naturally because the paperwork is out of the way.”

Clients are also responding to professional, branded reports. When a defect is flagged, the clear format makes it easier to act.

Supporting a high standard

Red Box Fire Control works with major clients across multiple sectors. Their presentation and professionalism have always been strong, but now the tools reflect that same standard.

“Uptick has helped us look the part,” says Jon. “We’ve always delivered great service. Now we’ve got the software to match.”

The team isn’t trying to grow for growth’s sake. They’re focused on delivering quality outcomes, improving their systems, and building a stable business that clients can trust.

Final thoughts from Red Box Fire Control team

“It’s been the best thing Red Box has done,” says Sarah. “Everyone’s on board, and we’re working better together.”

“We believe in what we’re doing. Uptick gave us a system that fits the way we work and helps us do more of what we’re good at,” Jon adds.

“The difference is massive,” says Kevin. “We’re more efficient, the techs are happy, and the service is better.”