Level Up at Bridgegate: Tristan Evans on Security Career Progression
At Bridgegate, security career progression at Bridgegate comes from experience, accountability, and raising standards. Through our Level Up series, we highlight the people who drive the business forward every day. Importantly, these stories show how real careers develop across security roles. In this feature, Tristan Evans, Director of Operations, explains leadership, compliance, and what it truly takes to level up in the security industry.
Security Career Progression at Bridgegate – Tristan Evans’ Journey
Profile
Name: Tristan Evans
Role: Director of Operations
Time with Bridgegate: 30 years in the security industry
Current Level: Level 4 – Changing the Game
Driving industry standards, compliance, and operational excellence.
How has your career levelled up since you joined Bridgegate?
Joining Bridgegate was the point where everything stepped up a gear.
Before that, I’d already moved fast – from retail management, then into security as a door supervisor at 19, becoming Head Door Supervisor a year later, and stepping into what was officially a BDM role at 23, but in reality was full-on operational delivery. In this industry, you don’t just talk relationships – you have to make things work on the ground.
When I joined Bridgegate in 2006 and stepped into the Operations Director role, that’s when my career really levelled up. I wasn’t just managing sites or contracts anymore, I was shaping how the business operated, how teams worked together, and how we delivered for clients consistently.
A big part of that progression came down to relationships and timing – being in the right place at the right time – but also being ready when the opportunity came. Bridgegate gave me the platform to take everything I’d learned on the ground and turn it into long-term strategy, strong teams, and a clear operational vision.
More recently, when we were acquired by Professional Security in 2023, this took things to another level again. We now benefit from the scale and support of a larger group (compliance, vetting, recruitment, payroll and marketing), while still running Bridgegate independently and protecting the DNA that makes it what it is. That balance has allowed us to grow without losing who we are.
What does a “typical” day look like?
Honestly? There isn’t one.
A lot of driving. A lot of calls. Teams messages flying back and forth with staff, clients, licensing bodies and plenty of site visits. Just last weekend I was down in Exeter visiting a client… and ended up working the door. I couldn’t help myself.
Every day is the same, but you do it differently. Same delivery, different context. If you know, you know.
What’s your biggest career win so far?
What really counts as a win?
For me, it’s not about commercial wins or shiny announcements. The real buzz comes from seeing people you’ve shared the journey with succeed. I worked with a venue manager about ten years ago – today they’re an Operations Director, making decisions, building teams, and smashing it.
Watching people grow, progress, and build real careers in this industry is what keeps me going. Those relationships matter, and they’re often what lead to continued work down the line.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in security?
Be yourself, back your ability, and don’t underestimate where this industry can take you.
Security is fast-paced, varied, and people-focused. If you care about doing a good job and building relationships, there are genuine progression opportunities — from door supervision through to management and leadership roles.
🎮 If your career was a game, what would it be?
True to the Level Up theme, Tristan jokes that his career sits somewhere around “level 20 out of 4”. A long-time fan of Crash Bandicoot – a game he proudly completed – his approach to security has followed a similar pattern: learn fast, adapt quicker, and keep moving forward.