5 Minutes With Dale Johnson

In our continuing “5 Minutes with” series, we’re delighted to introduce Dale Johnson, Regional Manager for the Central region at Corps Security. With over two decades of experience in the security industry, Dale brings a wealth of operational knowledge and leadership expertise. His commitment to client retention, team development, and community engagement is exemplary.

What does your role entail?

As Regional Manager for the Central region, I oversee operations from Birmingham up to Newcastle. I manage a team of Contract Managers across Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, and Newcastle who are responsible for our day-to-day operations at over 140 sites.

My role involves line management of Contract Managers and Account Managers within my region, working closely with Corps support teams such as HR, recruitment, and central support to manage employee attraction and retention. I attend quarterly business reviews with our major clients such as JCB and West Midland Police as well as national clients such as CBRE. I also support Contract Managers where required in conducting monthly KPI meetings to ensure we’re delivering consistently excellent service.

My role is diverse. One day I might be reviewing performance metrics on our system dashboards, the next I’m visiting customers or supporting Contract Managers with client liaison. I particularly focus on our teams that need additional support, ensuring our operational teams have what they need to succeed.

What roles have you worked in prior to joining Corps Security?

I’ve been in the security industry since I was 21, so that’s over 20 years of experience. I started as a Relief Officer with Initial Security, which was later acquired. Over a decade, I worked my way up through various positions – Security Officer, Supervisor, Scheduler, Response Officer, and eventually Contract Manager.

Later, I worked as an Account Manager for a security provider on a JLL contract, and I have had management experience with 2 or 3 other security companies before finding the right fit with Corps Security in 2019. The transition to Corps involved taking on more financial accountability as well as the operational day to day running of a portfolio, managing profit and loss accounts and understanding how daily operational decisions affect financial performance. This was challenging initially but I’ve learnt a lot with the support of my Corps colleagues and direct line management. It has made me a more rounded Contract Manager.

Tell us about your journey within the company

I joined Corps in 2019 as a Contract Manager looking after the East Midlands area out of the Birmingham branch. After establishing myself in that role, I regularly stepped in to cover for the Regional Manager during annual leave, supporting the Regional Director. In April 2022, this led to being promoted to Regional Manager for the Birmingham branch.

Last April, my responsibilities expanded to include Manchester, Leeds, and Newcastle branches. This growth came with challenges – integrating new teams, managing staff transitions, and handling sites requiring intensive support. We’ve now got a solid team that’s delivering excellent results across the region.

What steps has your development taken and how has Corps supported you in this?

Corps has been incredibly supportive of my development. I’ve completed additional training courses to aid my development, and during the period between my predecessor’s departure and my promotion, I received substantial support from senior leadership. They were really invested in me and wanted me to succeed. This level of support and trust has been instrumental in my growth as a leader and is something I try to extend to my own team members.

What’s been your biggest highlight in your role?

One of my greatest highlights was when our JCB team won Team of the Year at the Fire and Security Excellence Awards in 2024. We took over this contract in January 2022. The existing security team was disengaged and facing significant challenges in service delivery. By promoting from within, working closely with the client, and immersing ourselves in their community events, we transformed the operation.

Other major highlights include retaining the West Midlands Police contract for another five years and successfully renewing our contract with Walsall College after 20 years of service, demonstrating that we’re consistently delivering a quality service to our clients.

What do you love most about working at Corps?

What I love most about Corps is that it feels different from working for just another security company. Corps has a purpose beyond just making money. It’s there to support veterans and help local communities. This sense of purpose makes a real difference to how I approach my role.

We’re actively involved in charitable initiatives too. I’ve participated in charitable cycling events for Combat Stress and I help organise our annual charity football tournament. Being immersed in the “Corps way” gives meaning to our work beyond profit margins.

What are the key ingredients to finding happiness at work?

I believe having a sense of humour is essential, even in stressful situations. If you’re ever stressed and can’t see a way out, my advice is simple – ring your boss and have a conversation. It might not resolve the situation immediately, but getting things off your chest helps enormously.

I make a point of keeping in touch with my team, often calling them during commutes just to check in. These conversations aren’t always about work, sometimes they’re about personal matters or offering support when they need it. As the old BT advert used to say, “It’s good to talk.”

What helps you create a good work/life balance?

The key is having a great team around you. I’m fortunate to have a team where we all support each other, no matter the challenge.

While I do choose to keep an eye on emails during some time away from work, I do switch off when traveling abroad with my family as I know my team has support from the senior team when required. Corps has given me a work-life balance I didn’t have before, which is particularly important as I have a young family. The security industry will always have its out-of-hours challenges but having a supportive team makes all the difference.

At Corps Security, we’re proud of our people who work tirelessly to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our organisation and the clients we serve. As one of the UK’s leading specialist security companies, we put our people at the heart of everything we do. If you’re interested in working with us, please get in touch.