LDM-E01-S2 LM03 MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2014 LEICESTER MERCURY 27 leicestermercury.co.uk BUSINESS DAILY Future of firm secure as expansion plan unveiled BOOST: NEW PREMISES ACQUIRED AND JOBS TO BE CREATED by ISOBEL FRODSHAM Demotion after failing to be re-appointed PICTURE: ANDY BAKER / LEAB20130830J-012_C POSITIVE: From left, Zula Parmar, John Connell,Kiran Gohel, Surrekha Chouhan and Anand Gohel, at Mint Securities, London Road, Leicester ...no one knows local property like us THE NEW LOCAL HOME FOR PROPERTY leicestermercury.co.uk/property A safety deposit company is expanding into new premises and creating jobs less than two years after launching. Mint Securities, which has its main premises offering safety de- posit in London Road, Leicester, has acquired a 6,000 sq ft ware- house in Macdonald Road, Bel- grave, for their business. The London Road safety deposit box depot opened in October inside the former Allied Irish Bank fol- lowing a £1 million investment. The new Belgrave site is being refurbished, and will open in June. The business was launched in Oc- tober 2012 by Surekha Chouhan and John Connell after many high street banks decided to withdraw their safety deposit box services. Joint managing director Surekha Chouhan said: “We’re providing a service to give people a peace of mind because banks are withdraw- ing this service. “This is a more secure service and our insurance premiums are much lower than other busi- nesses.” Ms Chouhan said she and Mr Connell had to find a location for the business which had good ac- cess. She said: “Our criteria was cus- tomers had free secure parking. “This is so that they wouldn’t be walking the streets with their valuables, making them vulner- able. “London Road has nine spaces and Macdonald Road has six.” The company employs six people, and plans to recruit a further six for their Macdonald Road branch. She said they were also looking to expand further afield and are looking at sites in Birmingham. She said: “We can’t say what our turnover is, due to confidentiality, but it is in- creasing each month. We hope to expand nationwide.” Most banks provided safe deposit boxes to current account holders for a yearly fee. But because of cost-cutting meas- ures, they are now being phased out by many. Barclays bank blamed storage is- sues for withdrawing its boxes and said the scheme had become com- plex and costly. Lloyds and NatWest have also closed their service to new customers. THE only female chief executive of a Leicestershire-based stock mar- ket-listed company has been demoted. Louise George had held the role at hi-tech scanning firm Image Scan, of Barrow-upon-Soar, since 2009. However, after failing to be re-ap- pointed to the board as chief exec- utive by shareholders, she has ac- cepted the role of finance director. She has also regained her place on the board. William Mawer, who had been working as a consultant with the business for four months, has be- come chief executive. Mr Mawer also took over the role of chairman from Brian Emslie, who stood down on Friday. Image Scan, which trades as 3DX- Ray and employs 16 people, makes three-dimensional scanners used to detect terrorist devices at air- ports and railway stations. Mr Mawer has held senior positions at Smiths Detection, a world leader in security X-ray technology. Nick Fox, founder and former chief executive of Image Scan, has stood down from the board and has been replaced by Dr Richard Leaver. Ms George, one of the finalists in last year’s Leicester Mercury Busi- ness Executive of the Year Awards, oversaw the company’s first-ever profit in its 16-year history in 2011- 12. However, the company made to a loss last year. Tributes as town solicitor retires A SOLICITOR has retired after 30 years of working in a Leicestershire town. Peter Chadwick has taken early retirement from QualitySolicitors Mander Cruickshank, in Belvoir Road, Coalville. Originally from Merseyside, Mr Chadwick ar- rived in Leicestershire in the 1970s to study at the former Leicestershire Polytechnic. Mr Chadwick, who is married to Sarah and has two grown up children, Alice and Nick, said: “It’s been a pleasure to serve the people of this town and I’ve made many friends, so while I’m looking forward to the future there is somewhat of a heavy heart. “Law has changed beyond recognition but what hasn’t is the good high street solicitor.” Fellow partner Jim Abbott said: “I speak for everyone when I say we shall all miss Peter greatly. We shall be poorer without his wit and warmth.” PR awards shortlist A COMMUNICATIONS agency is in the finals of a global PR industry awards. Word Association, in Hinckley, has been shortl- isted in the CIPR Excellence Awards. It is one of six finalists up for the best external publication award for a commemorative book the team produced for Walsall Housing Group. The book is called The Home That Jack Built, to celebrate the group’s 10th anniversary. BUSINESS PLEASE CALL LISA ON 0116 2224499 to sell any item over £100 £10 * * Items between £100-£250. Excludes pets, motor vehicles and trade sales. www.thisisads.co.uk Call 0844 406 0281 Classified Business Services