SIA New Member Profile: Zitko Group

New Security Industry Association (SIA) member Zitko Group is a global recruitment partner for the fire and security industry. The company is headquartered in St Neots, England, with staff across the United Kingdom (UK) and clients in the UK, the European Union and the United States.

SIA spoke with Zitko Founder and Managing Director George Zitko about the company, the security industry and working with SIA.

Tell us the story of your company.

George Zitko: Zitko started off in my house back in 2010 as a security and IT recruitment business. Since then we’ve had three changes in office location around St Neots, dropped IT recruitment and picked up the fire, created 14 products to contribute to the development of the industry, won five business awards and even managed to make a quite a few friends along the way. We currently sit at a company of 26, with all our employees working together to achieve the same goal – providing excellent service to all our candidates and clients across the fire and security industry.

What solutions/services does your business offer in the security industry? And what makes your offerings or your company unique?

GZ: Over the last year, Zitko Group has been working meticulously to create a diverse range of products to solve as many challenges in the industry as possible. That list continues to grow as we find the perfect solution to these challenges – both new and old. Our products range from videography through our brand performance package to support during exit interviews through Zitko outplacement to our Zitko Managed Service/RPO, where we manage all things recruitment for you and your company ourselves to provide you with top-quality candidates to help your company not only grow, but thrive. All our products and solutions have been created with a mind to improve talent retention and engagement within the market. 

What is something we might not know about your company – or something new you are doing in security?

GZ: At Zitko we offer a specialist talent solution to bring new individuals into the industry – to not only engage with high-quality candidates already in the fire and security marketplace, but make our own pool to pull and distribute from. With our top-class assessment and screening processes, we are confident that the individuals we introduce into the industry will improve its quality as a whole and enable it to thrive in the years to come. 

What is your company’s vision, and what are your goals for the security industry?

GZ: Our vision is to recruit and retain the best possible talent for our partner employers in the security industry. We believe Zitko Group can bridge the gap between our employers and the top talent that exists across other industry sectors. By leveraging our sourcing and attraction expertise, we fill roles that no one else can.

What do you think are the biggest opportunities in the security industry right now?

GZ: After years of global turbulence across economies, livelihoods and careers, the security industry has continued to grow and offer the people within it continued stability and personal development. It’s our mission to promote these factors, as we believe there are very few better industries to work in. By partnering with employers who share this vision and understanding, we are supporting the continued growth of our industry as it delivers more and more exciting projects.

What are the biggest challenges facing your company and/or others in the security industry?

GZ: One word – talent. We are providing the solution.

What do you enjoy most about being at your company – and in the security industry?

GZ: I love changing the face of the security industry, solving problems at a strategic level and ultimately being rewarded for nothing more than building mutually beneficial long-term partnerships.

What does SIA offer that is most important to you/your company? And what do you most hope to get out of your membership with SIA?

GZ: SIA offers thought leadership, industry news, networking and learning opportunities. It offers a platform to promote our brand as well as a shared ethos in making the security industry a better place to work and grow. Zitko Group is looking to expand its talent solutions offering to the U.S. market and sees SIA as a key strategic partner in that process.

How does your organization engage with SIA? What are your plans for involvement in the next year (e.g., events, accessing member resources)?

GZ: We have already engaged with SIA through the RISE community, and I have been honored to take part in webinars around or discussing talent and retention strategies, as well as mental health and wellbeing in the workplace with other like-minded peers. I would be very happy to engage further with SIA and promote everything that this wonderful industry has to offer.

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association.