OUR STORY
The Evolution
of Evolution
In January 1996, Richard Lambert and John Wust sold their houses to finance the formation and development of a new security company.
Both had over 15 years’ experience in the electronic security industry and having worked together since 1990 had long held the ambition to set up on their own, but wanted sufficient finances to buy themselves the time to develop a business that would have the capability to provide security systems to multi-site, national and international clients.
evolution noun 1. a gradual change in characteristics over successive generations. 2. a gradual development, esp. to a more complex form: the evolution of modern art. 3, a pattern formed by a series of movements or something similar. 4. an algebraic operation in which the root of a number, expression, etc. is extracted. 5. an exercise carried out in accordance with a set procedure or plan. evo’lutionary or, evo’lutional adjective.
Explaining the driving force behind their vision, Richard remembers,
“In the first few weeks of setting up our business, I received two enquiries from a local engineering consultant to tender for the security at several water treatment sites.
“It was a very exciting time for us, but at that early stage in our history, we hadn’t even decided on a company name.
“With a demand for quotes within days - not weeks, I remember waking up at exactly 3:10am on Wednesday 10th January 1996 and grabbing the Oxford English Dictionary in the hunt for a suitable name for our business.”
Richard continued,
“The business ideals were clear to both John and me; we wanted to be recognised as providing security systems that would grow and adapt to the changing needs of our clients, being easily upgradable, and not to box them into a corner with obsolete systems as their sites developed.
“That’s why we decided on the name Evolution.
“Our goal was to provide security systems that would evolve with our clients as their threats and needs changed and in doing so be able to demonstrate a quicker return on their investment through lower running costs.”
The Next Chapter
2025 Onwards
After three decades of dedicated leadership, Richard and John passed the torch to a new generation of leaders. In June 2025, Jake Rackham and Mark Corrigan were appointed as Joint Group Managing Directors, marking a significant milestone in Evolution's continuing journey.
This transition represents the natural evolution of our company, staying true to our name and founding principles. Our leadership brings fresh energy and perspectives while building upon the solid foundation established by our founders.
"Evolution has always been about adapting and growing," says Jake Rackham, Managing Director. "Richard and John built something extraordinary, and we're honoured to lead Evolution into its next phase of growth and innovation."
Mark Corrigan, Managing Director, adds: "The beauty of our employee ownership structure is that everyone here is invested in our success. Combined with the wisdom of our founders, we have the perfect blend of experience and fresh thinking."
Mark Corrigan and Jake Rackham
Joint Group Managing Directors
Since its formation over 30 years ago, Evolution has worked across Europe, further afield, and has expanded to eight offices across the UK, Ireland, Norway, and The Netherlands. Evolution has consequently developed new areas of business and expertise in risk and design, fire and life safety, and professional services.
In April 2022, Evolution transitioned to an Employee Owned Trust (EOT) for the future benefit of all employees. The Evolution Trust owns 77% of the company and every EOT member shares in the profits for as long as they are part of the business.
This structure ensures that Evolution's future is secure, independent, and driven by the collective expertise of our entire team, a fitting evolution for a company built on the principle of continuous adaptation and growth.
