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.”
RICHARD LAMBERT
FOUNDER
Richard began his career in the electronic security industry in 1982 rising to Director-level prior to co-founding Evolution in 1996. When Richard is not thinking about work his passion is classic cars. Richard has spent several years ‘Historic Racing’ in a 1973 Lancia Fulvia and he has also built a hot-rod over 11 years. Richard’s boyhood dream is finally realised as he is now the proud owner of a Jensen Interceptor.
JOHN WUST
FOUNDER
John originally trained as an electrician and started in the security industry in 1980 as an installation engineer rising through the ranks to General Manager prior to converting to a sales career. Seven years later he co-founded Evolution in 1996 with Richard. Outside of work John has played in bands since he was 14 years old and is still playing. He has a collection of guitars and a few motorbikes.
Since its formation over 25 years ago, Evolution has worked across Europe, further afield, and has expanded to six offices across the UK, Ireland, and The Netherlands. Evolution has consequently developed new areas of business and expertise in risk and design.
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 will share in the profits for as long as they are part of the business.
Current owners and founders Richard Lambert and John Wust retain 23% of the company to ensure management continuity and as a signal of their ongoing commitment to employees and customers alike.
