A Peterborough-based security and facilities management company has been named a finalist in three categories at the National Small Business Awards 2026, for the Customer Care, Trade Small Business and Small Business Owner categories.
Combined Support Services was established in March 2023 by founder and director Nouredin Albanghazi, initially providing security and stewarding at weddings and small local events. It now supplies crowd management, security, canine, and cleaning services to venues, construction sites and industrial premises across the country, including multi-day festivals and racecourses.
Reaching the final in three separate categories is a significant milestone result for a company founded just three years ago.
Turnover has grown almost 300% in those three years, with the company projecting between £2.5m and £3m this year. It employs 33 people full time and more than 10 part time.
The business is a Real Living Wage employer and employs its officers directly, rather than using self-employed labour, an approach Nouredin credits with keeping staff turnover low in an industry where it is typically high. It holds accreditations including ISO 9001, Constructionline Gold and SafeContractor and is a member of the Good Business Charter.
The national shortlisting caps a strong year for Combined Support Services and its founder. In June, the company won both Employer of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year at the Peterborough Community Business Awards, with other recent recognitions including Peterborough Business of the Year at the SME Cambridgeshire Business Awards 2026. It has also been shortlisted for several awards, including in four categories at the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce awards, with winners to be announced on 24 September.
Nouredin, who completed an MSc at ARU Peterborough in 2024 and is partway through a PhD at the University of Lincoln, also returned to ARU Peterborough to complete the government-funded Help to Grow: Management Course, as he focused on next stages of the company’s growth.
Nouredin Albanghazi, founder and director of Combined Support Services, said:
Being recognised alongside businesses from every part of the UK means a great deal, particularly for a company that started three years ago doing local events. The credit belongs to the team. In this industry your reputation is built by the people delivering the work every day, and we've grown quickly because they've done that so well.
As a growing security and facilities management business, the Help to Grow: Management Course has helped me look beyond immediate operational pressures and focus on building a stronger, more scalable and more resilient business. It has helped turn ambition into a clearer plan, supporting me to lead with greater confidence, improve our strategic thinking and create further opportunities for the business and our team. We’re now looking forward to the next phase of our journey and continuing to grow while providing first-class experiences for our customers.
Winners of the National Small Business Awards 2026 will be announced on 13 November.
