OPINION
Meet the Leader – David Gilbertson
28 Feb 2023
As featured in The Times.
David Gilbertson has been at the helm of WCCTV since it was formed in 2001, steering the Rochdale-based company to become a market-leading supplier of redeployable CCTV, electronic site security, body-worn cameras and time-lapse video cameras.
In March 2021, David and his management team chose to partner with LDC. We made a £30million minority investment in the business, and the partnership has helped to supercharge WCCTV’s growth both in the UK and the USA.
Over the last two years, the company has expanded across the UK, with new premises in Edinburgh, Newport, Birmingham and Newcastle – plus its first city centre office in Manchester. The US business has also grown from five employees to 45 and now accounts for more than 20% of the company’s revenues, with new offices in Austin and Houston planned for later this year.
Here, we speak to David to understand his experiences of partnering with a private equity investor to support the company’s growth journey.
The LDC team trusts us to get on with things. They give us objective insights without being overpowering. It’s a true partnership.”
Did you have any concerns about taking private equity?
I did have some reservations at the start. We were a nimble management team, used to making fast decisions. Would a private equity partner interfere? Would we lose control of the business? But those worries were unfounded. The LDC team trusts us to get on with things. They give us objective insights without being overpowering. It is a true partnership.
Why did you choose LDC?
After meeting the investment team and realising that they had the experience to help us deliver on our international growth plans, we spoke to multiple businesses who had worked with LDC, in good times and bad. LDC had a great reputation and were known for understanding what different management teams need at different times, whether that was light touch, or more hands on. And not overreacting – when things get tough. They were willing to invest in us and back our vision.
How did LDC support you and your business to grow?
With private equity behind us, we’ve been able to supercharge the business in both the UK and US. The partnership has really put us on the front foot. In just two years, we’ve doubled our headcount, expanded into new sites across the UK and America and significantly grown our revenues. For me personally, it has also helped me to focus on the future instead of just the day-to-day. I’ve become more of a strategist.
What advice would you give to anyone considering private equity investment?
It’s really important to be honest with your investment partner about how you’d like the relationship to work. Outline your personal objectives and understand how they can help you along the journey. Get to know the team you’ll be working with and make sure they fit your company culture. Remember, they’re there to guide you, not take over.