For this newsletter, we’re throwing the spotlight on one of the newest tenants at our business centres, Mark Cowie of KeySpot Security Ltd. Mark is using Hope Street Xchange as a place to develop a completely new product in a category all of its own: ‘Disguised Security Technology™’.
Describing how his innovation came about, Mark explains how his experience highlighted an overlooked area. “I’ve worked as a locksmith for years, so I’ve seen first-hand where traditional security solutions fall short”, he says. “KeySpot® came from wanting to solve a real problem in a practical way creating something that improves security without making properties more vulnerable.”
During his career as a locksmith and security specialist, Mark noted how the property management sector required accessible keys for many people per property – not just for contractors and staff, but keys would also need to be provided for emergency situations. However, providing this access came with a problem: “visible access points were often being targeted, creating unnecessary risk”, Mark says.
The idea for KeySpot® came from seeing first-hand how visible key safes were being exploited. In many cases, access solutions solved one problem but created another by signalling where keys were stored. Having identified the problem, Mark started to develop practical solutions, he says, “focused not just on strong security, but on reducing visibility itself”.
This research and development led to KeySpot®, a discreet key storage system which targets risk by removing visual cues that attract attention. Mark surmises its creation: “I began exploring ways to provide access without advertising it. That thinking eventually developed into the KeySpot® concept – a disguised key safe designed to blend into normal external fixtures rather than stand out.”
Since then, the idea has progressed from concept to working prototype and ongoing development. Like many early-stage innovations, Mark identifies the main challenges as being development time, funding, and navigating the certification and design process to ensure the product meets professional standards.
Mark says that balancing the running of a business while developing a new product has also been demanding, but working with advisors and support organisations has helped move the project forward.
“We’re not just developing a product, we’re developing a new category called Disguised Security Technology™, which focuses on protecting properties without visibly advertising security weaknesses”, Mark says, expanding on how creating a truly innovative product also means creating a new genre. “KeySpot® is the first example of how that approach can work in real-world situations, and we’re now working with partners to take it toward certification and pilot use.”
Mark has found working at Hope Street Xchange to provide real advantages in this challenging period. “Being based at Hope Street Xchange has been extremely valuable” he says. “The environment provides access to advice, networking, and collaboration opportunities that are difficult to find when working alone.”
He also highlights the importance of being located in the centre of a business community: “Having a professional workspace and being around other businesses has also helped maintain momentum and focus on the long-term development of the project.”
Find out more about KeySpot at https://keyspotkeysafe.co.uk/
