Who Wants To Be A Private Detective?

WHAT MADE THE BOSS OF NORTH COURT INVESTIGATIONS WANT TO BECOME A PRIVATE DETECTIVE?

What made me think about becoming a private detective? Well for me there was only one reason and that was a television program called ‘Boon’ which starred Michael Elphick as Ken Boon and Neil Morrissey as his side kick ‘Rocky’.

The series ran from 1986 till 1992 and was really quite popular and my parents used to let me stay up late so I could watch it and I must admit I was hooked. I used to be amazed at the situations they used to get themselves in and remember thinking what an exciting job that must be. However, life went on, I left school in 1990 and lost interest in the program as any 16 year old male probably would do!

After 4-5 years doing college courses, working on farms, working as a plasterer’s mate, mending pot holes, packing soaps, packing books, becoming a chef for three whole days (well there’s only so many carrots I’m prepared to peel and chop) I finally became old enough to take my HGV test and become an owner driver. I managed to pass my HGV test first time and before I knew it I was driving around the south of England in my very own brand new Leyland DAF concrete mixer and was officially known as the youngest owner driver in the UK working with ARC (who then became known as Hanson). I was very happy doing this, although it was long hours, I was earning at twice as much as my friends and life was pretty good.

However, this niggling feeling kept coming back and I just couldn’t get rid of it. After about two years I came across a home study course in how to become a private investigator. I paid my money and ordered it and for the next year I looked forward to the end of each month as I would receive a new module. By doing this it really gave me a great insight into what private investigators do and the type of work they generally get involved with and the type of clients who generally instruct a detective agency.

Finally after seven years of owning my own truck and getting up at 5.30 am every morning and working very long hours I finally decided I wanted to try something different. I came across a company who sold franchises in private investigation. After undertaking lots of research I finally decided to go ahead and purchase a franchise with this company. I undertook intensive training with them and finally was allocated with Oxfordshire as my very own unique territory. Purchasing a franchise gave me the confidence to communicate with clients and prospective clients in a very confident and professional manner because of the ongoing support I was receiving from my franchise manager.

I stayed as a franchisee with this company for 6 years, after this I then set up my own company North Court Investigations. Since setting up North Court in March 2009 we now have nine offices and private detectives throughout the UK. Actually owning my own business has given me the freedom to market my business how I want to and not have any restrictions on marketing and advertising. However, saying this I am not knocking being a franchisee, I personally feel that purchasing a reputable franchise is one of the best ways to have a good understanding of how the industry works and get a foot in the door of the PI industry.

Since becoming a private detective my life has changed in a way I could only dream of when driving my lorry. I have been to places such as Spain, Thailand, Dubai and Pakistan whilst working on certain cases. I have also been chased by people whilst trying to serve legal process, been involved in high profile cases and have been instructed by quite a few famous people.

However, it’s not always a bed of roses, there are times when we have been very quiet and things have been worrying when the phones are not ringing. This is something that most people who are in business have gone through before and it is a case of staying positive and thinking of different ways of marketing and promoting your business.

Being a private detective and running you your own agency can be exciting, boring, rewarding and un-rewarding all at the same time. But I certainly wouldn’t want to do anything else!! I love my job