CONTRACT MANNED GUARDING – IS IT FIT FOR PURPOSE?
Transcription
CONTRACT MANNED GUARDING – IS IT FIT FOR PURPOSE?
SEPTEMBER 2013 CONTRACT MANNED GUARDING – IS IT FIT FOR PURPOSE? More than 30 years ago, one of the major contract manned guarding companies at the time, decided that a way to gain market advantage was to display in detail the breakdown of their hourly charge-out rate when tendering for new business. One of the main reasons for this was that there was a growing belief, amongst end-users, that the lion’s share of the charge-out rate went into the pocket of the shareholders and not to the security officers who were actually working the shifts. Notwithstanding that the net result was that every company in the industry had to follow suit, so that today we must be the only industry which, dare I say idiotically, displays information in such minutiae and which ultimately will inevitably come back to haunt the contractor should the contract break down for whatever reason. Since that time the problem has been exacerbated by TUPE which, I believe, has done the industry irreparable damage over the years. I fully understand that there is a need to protect the rights of staff when a contract changes from one contractor to another. Unfortunately the client base – or should I say, the ever growing influence of the procurement departments – have used TUPE as a base to attack the on-cost, so that the margins have progressively deteriorated until now they have reached, in a significant number of cases, almost impossible levels. I cannot see the logic of replacing one contractor with another one and, at the same time, again cutting the margin. It didn’t work with Company A, so let’s change them to Company B and, at the same time, save our organisation some money. The procurement departments that do this – often in the face of contrary advice from the client security manager – should be held financially accountable for their folly! INSIDE THIS ISSUE P2-3 News Board P4-5 B UILDING A WORKABLE MANNED GUARDING CONTRACT P6 T HE ROUTE TO THE PACESETTERS BECOMING EVER MORE CHALLENGING P6-8 THE HALL OF FAME How often do we hear the cry of “The security officers were fine, but it was the management that was hopeless”. That is surely nonsense and the only reason the support management are subject to such criticism is that, invariably, the margin has been cut by the client to such a level that it is almost non-existent. In other words, a service which is so reliant on the support management function has been virtually denuded of it, because individuals, who do not fully understand the industry, think they are doing their company a service by making an utterly false economy. P9-10 P ORTRAIT OF A PACESETTER Guarding UK Let’s go back to 2005, when the SIA was not fully in place and neither was the licensing of individuals working in the manned security sector. Everyone thought that the following year would be the dawning of a bright new era for the manned security industry and a much better calibre of individual would embrace the industry; individuals leaving school with good qualifications would want to make a career in manned security. The reality is that it never happened and, I for one, believe that we have almost certainly gone backwards in that time. P11 So what can we do to stop the backward slide? I know that it is an old chestnut, but the Trade Associations really must start to beat the drum about the folly of reducing margins and the consequent havoc that will reap if that happens. They have a concerted voice which, if it is already not too late, might just be listened to by the client base. It goes without saying that the voice must be both continuous and spoken with genuine conviction or it will not be too long before the industry might need to answer the accusation of whether or not it is actually fit for purpose! ARK HOUSE SECURITY P TEAM WIN SILVER FOX AWARD P12 SUTTON SPECIALIST RISKS LTD FM CONTRACT WATCH LLP Lynda Moore: 01844 260350 lynda.moore@fmcontractwatch.co.uk Terry O’Neil: 07831 563174 terry.oneil@fmcontractwatch.co.uk PO Box 199, Thame Oxfordshire. OX9 0BY NEWS BOARD CIS Security Awarded City of London Police Shield Lodge Service Buys Endeavour Security in Remote Security Expansion Lodge Service Ltd, the £22 million security consultancy, has acquired Endeavour Security Ltd and its £1.2 million monitoring centre and services business, in a further strategic move into remote security services, according to CEO Stuart Lodge. Project Griffin was originally introduced by the City of London Police and Metropolitan Police in April 2004 to help “London’s financial sector better protect itself against terrorist threats”. It has since spread to businesses and security services as a way to get educated about counter-terrorism and crime prevention, be the ‘eyes and ears’ for the police and be prepared for major emergency. The goal of the program is to bring together the police, fire brigade, ambulance services, private security industry and other government agencies in deterring, disrupting and support operations targeting terrorist and extremist activity. The acquisition includes Endeavour’s CCTV monitoring facility at Redditch, Worcestershire, which will support Lodge Service’s Cat 2 national data centre in Accrington, Lancashire, launched in 2012. Endeavour’s 37 security guards will increase Lodge Service’s total staff to over 800. “Endeavour’s experience in protecting warehousing, logistics and other industrial property and assets complements Lodge Service’s expertise in retail security and the corporate sector. The acquisition extends our provision of both monitoring and services through Endeavour’s network of manned guarding, key holding and response support,” says Stuart Lodge. On 22nd March CIS received confirmation from City of London Police that they were going to be presented with a City of London Police shield, commissioned to celebrate the 100th Griffin Event. CIS were commended on their commitment to the City of London and Project Griffin. Lodge Service’s communications network links retail, corporate and other service users’ premises to provide alarm response, analysis and management information. The range of services and signals monitored through the hub includes: CCTV, staff time and attendance, vehicle tracking, access control, fire and intruder alarms, lone worker protection, building management systems, environmental and waste management, data mining, networked distribution centres, trolley track and EAS tagging. Founded in 1919, Lodge Service has nearly 800 staff and local offices or franchise operations in nine countries. Kim Malyon of CIS accepting award from Trevor Dyson (Chief Inspector, Counter Terrorism and Crime Investigations) Cancer Research UK FM Contract Watch supports several chosen charities and in May this year Lynda Moore took part in the Aylesbury Race for Life 5k run for Cancer Research UK. Lynda raised £380 in sponsorship for this worthwhile cause. Stuart Lodge, CEO of Lodge Service, and Phil Richford, managing director of Endeavour Security Group 2 NEWS BOARD WANTED – SECURITY GUARDING COMPANIES We have clients registered who wish to purchase quality security guarding companies throughout the UK. Their requirements range from an annual turnover of £1m to £20m. If you are considering selling your business now or in the near future please contact us in total confidence. E-mail lynda.moore@fmcontractwatch.co.uk Tel: 01844 260350 www.securitycompaniesforsale.co.uk Ward Security shortlisted for BIFM – Service Provider of the Year 2013 OCTAVIAN SHORTLISTED FOR TOP SECURITY AWARD Ward Security is pleased to announce that they have been selected by the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) as a finalist in its ‘Service Provider of the Year 2013’ awards category. These prestigious awards recognise excellence in facilities management and are rigorously judged. Octavian Security, one of the UK’s most revered security providers, has been shortlisted as a finalist at the Security Excellence Awards 2013 for the Customer Care Initiative of the year. The company are delighted to be selected as a finalist and it is a fantastic achievement for the whole Ward Security team. The company has been chosen because of its continuous commitment to improvement and its development of innovative techniques, to ensure that client satisfaction is at the forefront of the business. The winner will be announced at the BIFM Annual Dinner on 14th October. Octavian, which this year celebrates a decade of service after being founded by Sukhi Ghuman in Nottingham in 2003, is known for leading the field when it comes to customer care and professionalism within the sector. Oakpark Security finalist in Essex Business Excellence Awards “This could very well be our third major award for our customer service standards this year,” commented Octavian’s commercial director Tony Mellor. “It is proof of all of the incredible work that everybody has put in over the past years, to ensure this company delivers what are amongst the very highest service standards in the UK today.” Oakpark Security Systems Limited is delighted to have been selected as a finalist in the Essex Business Excellence Awards (Customer Care Category). This nomination followed a detailed submission of their customer care procedures and evidence to support the submission plus a site visit by the panel of judges. In March this year, Sukhi Ghuman won the Excellence in Customer Service Award at the Asian Achievers Awards 2013. One month later the company won the Services Award at the Nottingham Post Business Awards 2013. More recently, the Company has achieved a benchmark score of 139 in their latest ACS Audit, yet more testament to their commitment to delivering a quality Service and the promotion of the Security Industry in general. Octavian will find out whether it has won the award on 23 October at a ceremony at the London Hilton Hotel on Park Lane. FM Contract Watch News Board If you are a member of the ACS Pacesetters, advertise on our website or a Silver Fox client and would like your news item included in a future edition of our Newsletter please submit the article to lynda.moore@fmcontractwatch.co.uk 3 BUILDING A WORKABLE MANNED GUARDING CONTRACT FM Contract Watch was set up almost two years ago to try to help bring some sort of sanity to a growing number of manned guarding contracts. Both Lynda Moore and I have had experience at every level of the industry, so we have known both the good and the bad times over the last 35 years, and have seen so many opportunities slip through the industry’s fingers. Perhaps the biggest opportunity occurred in 2006 with the advent of the Security Industry Authority (SIA), the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) and of course the licensing of individuals working in the contract manned guarding industry. At that time the industry looked set for a huge enhancement in its reputation, particularly with the belief that the processing of individual licences through the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) would rid the industry of what was believed to be a significant criminal element. So what went badly wrong? trained reliefs at very short notice, even for short term events is not forgotten by the client, but it is by the contractor. You wonder sometimes whether or not the sales team who won the contract have passed on all the detail to their operational counterparts! Let’s not deceive ourselves. If a client abides by TUPE and reduces the charge-out rate which will be paid to the incoming contractor, then the gross margin must be cut at the same time. In effect there could be a reduction of management support, on-site training and trained relief cover to name but three essential ingredients of a successful manned guarding contract. In other words the client realising his/ her current contractor has failed, then decides to go out to tender and award the contract on terms which are not so good as at present – it really defies all logic. In the midst of this ‘carnage’ sits the security team which has, under TUPE, been passed over the years from one contractor to another. Little wonder therefore that they have no confidence in an industry which promised so much and, at least in their eyes, has delivered so little. I have to say that this is an area which has been sadly neglected by the Trade Associations. What have the BSIA and IPSA done to help improve the lot of the ordinary security officer over the years? The problem which the client will often have with the contractor is that the latter will promise anything in order to win the business and worry about the consequences later. A promise to carry out lunch reliefs in far away sites; to always provide a significant number of 4 BUILDING A WORKABLE MANNED GUARDING CONTRACT So what can we do at FM Contract Watch to help you, as a client or contractor, avoid the need to continually go out to tender and all the inevitable turbulence that means? Let me list seven distinct stages of the contract where we can help you to avoid the obvious pitfalls. 1. MANAGE THE TENDER PROCESS 5. SECURITY REVIEWS The tender process is a time absorbing exercise such that we can take from you the whole process up and until the tender presentation stage. It is vital for you to know that the competing companies, which you have selected, have a proven track record in your local area. Amongst other things we visit local clients to see that this is the case and not just what the contractor tells you. It is often the case that the contract – particularly a multi-sited one – is going seriously wrong and, whilst you think you know the reason you just cannot put your finger on it. It may be that there is an officer who is disturbing the whole balance and morale of the team; it may be that the management support which appears to be effective from the number of red letter entries which you see in the Daily Occurrence Book (DOB) is in fact just calling in on the site and never addressing the outstanding issues of the officers. Our reviews will tell you what is wrong, even though you may not like some of the findings! 2. ATTENDANCE AT THE TENDER PRESENTATION STAGE As an independent Industry expert we attend the Tender Presentation stage and challenge, on your behalf, any claims which the contractor makes and which our experience know will be impossible to satisfy. It would be totally wrong for us to be involved in the decision making process, so we are there purely as a technical adviser to ensure that you are able to do just that. 6. REVIEW OF THE CHARGE-OUT RATE At FM Contract Watch we specialise in examining the minutiae of the agreed charge-out rate and thus ensuring that you are getting value for money as what was agreed at the time the contract was signed by both parties. As an independent we can dissect each part and report back on what you are actually receiving for that part of the contract. For example there may be a cost of 10 pence per hour for on-site training in the charge-out rate. We will report back at regular intervals on our assessment of what you, as a client, are receiving for that expense. 3. CONTRACT MONITORING It is vital that the promises made by the successful contractor in winning the contract are kept and they are subsequently not in breach. Our attendance at the Presentation Stage will give us a unique advantage in being able to monitor the situation on your behalf and reporting any discrepancies to you. It would seem sensible that a small addition of a few pennies in the hourly charge-out rate would leave the contractor in no doubt that you will expect all the terms of the contract to be met and , to this end, you are having it independently assessed at regular intervals. 7. KEEPING YOU AWARE OF THE LOCAL MARKET In order to keep your current contractor on their toes, we will provide you with a quarterly update on major contractors in your area and how they are deemed to be performing on their particular contracts by their respective clients. This can be invaluable information if ultimately you should decide to go out to tender, for whatever reason, and need to know who to invite to take part in the process. 4. INDEPENDENT ON-SITE AUDIT As a client, you need to know what the standard of performance of your contractor is like at any time of the day or night and without any prior warning. We have never believed that the contractor will be able to provide the sort of comfort with in-house audits that can be achieved by an independent. Nobody seriously believes that the contractor will inform the client if their mobile supervisor should find the duty security officer asleep at their post! The very fact that an independent organisation is checking up on duty staff should be enough to ensure that both the on-site staff and their support management give the contract their very best shot. The next edition of our magazine will expand on each of the seven strands mentioned above. In the meantime if you would like any further information on any of the services offered by FM Contract Watch, please contact Terry O’Neil or Lynda Moore by e-mail at terry.oneil@fmcontractwatch lynda.moore@fmcontractwatch.co.uk or by telephone on 01844 260350. 5 THE ROUTE TO THE PACESETTERS BECOMING EVER MORE CHALLENGING The annual review by the Security Industry Authority of the Approved Contractor Scheme scoring has meant that entry to the highly prestigious ‘ACS Pacesetters’ and, hence, regular publication in The Pacesetters ‘Hall of Fame’ has become ever more challenging. For the year 2013/14 the score to be eligible for annual Pacesetter membership has risen from a total of 94 to 108 points, out of a possible 174. The Approved Contractor Scheme requires continual improvement which aims to increase standards year on year. This year the changes include: At the beginning of July there were a total of 752 companies in the Approved Contractor Scheme meaning that 113 companies could qualify to join our growing membership. • A requirement to train all employees in the protection of the public The accredited companies are made up as follows: • A requirement to prepare for pensions auto-enrolment Micro 1-10 employees 215 Small 11-25 employees 222 Medium 26-250 employees 255 Large 250+ employees • A requirement to test the competence of all new staff employed Readers should be in no doubt that, as the Approved Contractor Scheme enters its eighth year, the top 15% in the annual inspection of members have achieved something very special. The Pacesetters is an elite club and we strongly recommend that clients of manned guarding should in future look no further than the ‘Hall of Fame’ when drawing up their tender list of contractors to compete for their contract. 60 For further information on joining the ACS Pacesetters contact Lynda Moore lynda.moore@fmcontractwatch.co.uk or telephone 01844 260350. THE HALL OF FAME ADVANCE SECURITY UK LTD Chevron House, 346 Long Lane, Hillingdon, Middlesex UB10 9PF Telephone: 01895 201800 Web: www.advancesecurity.co.uk CARLISLE SECURITY SERVICES LTD Wallace House, 4 Falcon Way, Shire Park, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 1TW Tel: 01707 294785 Web: www.carlislesupportservices.com APCOA SERVICES GROUP Wellington House, 4-10 Cowley Road, Uxbridge UB8 2XW Tel: 01895 272500 Web: www.apcoa.co.uk CHURCHILL SECURITY LIMITED Dawson House, 4 Eaton Avenue, Matrix Business Park, Leyland, Chorley PR7 7NA Tel: 0800 298 9667 Web: www.churchill-security.co.uk AXIS SECURITY SERVICES LTD Lighterman House, 26-36 Wharfdale Road, Kings Cross, London N1 9RY Tel: 020 3077 2145 Web: www.axis-security.co.uk CIS SECURITY LIMITED 418-426 Lewisham High Street, London SE13 6LJ Tel: 020 8690 1903 Web: www.cis-security.co.uk BERNIC UK LTD Salus House, Livingstone Street, Birkenhead, Wirral CH41 4HF Tel: 0151 666 2890 Web: www.bernic.co.uk CLASSIC SECURITY (UK) LTD Classic House, Alfold Business Centre, Loxwood Road, Alfold, Surrey GU6 8HP Tel: 08445 610578 Web: www.classicsecurity.co.uk BROADLAND GUARDING SERVICES LTD Delta House, Vulcan Road North, Norwich, Norfolk NR6 6AQ Tel: 01603 484884 Web: www.broadlandguards.com CONSTANT SECURITY Constant House, Cliff Street, Mexborough, South Yorkshire, S64 9HU Tel: 0845 330 4400 Web: www.constant-services.com www.acspacesetters.co.uk 6 THE HALL OF FAME CORPS SECURITY Market House, 85 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6PF Tel: 020 7566 0500 Web: www.the-corps.co.uk INCENTIVE LYNX SECURITY 44 Loman Street, London SE1 0EH Tel: 0845 1477 121 Web: www.incentive-lynx.com DANHOUSE SECURITY LTD Elsinore House, 77 Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8JA Tel: 020 8748 9269 Web: www.danhouse.co.uk INTERR SECURITY Linton House, 39-51 Highgate Road, London, NW5 1RS Tel: 0207 837 2012 Web: www.interrsecurity.com ELLIOTT THOMAS The Watermill, Spring Lane, Oxted, Surrey RH8 9PB Tel: 0870 6000 026 Web: www.elliott-thomas.co.uk KINGDOM SECURITY LTD Kingdom House, Mill Brow, Eccleston, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 4QG Tel: 0845 051 7700 Web: www.kingdomsecurity.co.uk ENIGMA SECURITY SOLUTIONS LTD Vista Centre, 50 Salisbury Road, Hounslow, Middlesex TW4 6JQ Tel: 0208 572 9171 Web: www.enigmasecuritysolutions.com LODGE SERVICE Brook Point, 1412 High Road, Whetstone, London N20 9BH Tel: 0208 446 6601 Web: www.lodgeservice.com GLEVUM SECURITY LIMITED 16 Wheatstone Court, Davey Way, Waterwells Business Park, Gloucester GL2 2AQ Tel: 01452 729713 Web: www.glevum-security.co.uk MJF CORPORATE GUARDING LIMITED 4 & 5 Faraday Court, Rankine Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG24 8PF Tel: 01256 469427 Web: www.mjf.co.uk GSL DARDAN LIMITED Brooke House, John Hyrne Way, Longwater Business Park, Norwich, Norfolk NR5 OAF Tel: 01603 447000 Web: www.gsldardan.co.uk OAKPARK SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD Asset House, 4 East Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 2TX Tel: 01206 793673 Web: www.oaksec.co.uk GUARDING UK LIMITED Wenta Business Centre, Innova Business Park, Molison Avenue, Enfield, Middlesex EN3 7XU Tel: 0870 2240277 Web: www.guardinguk.co.uk OCS GROUP UK LTD Tilgate Forest Business Park, Brighton Road, Crawley RH11 9BP Tel: 01293 553121 Web: www.ocs.co.uk GUARDSMARK UK Unit 4210, The Waterside Centre, Birmingham Business Park, Solihull, Birmingham B37 7YN Tel: 0121 779 6550 Web: www.guardsmark.com OCTAGA SECURITY SERVICES LTD Octaga House, 17 St Owen Street, Hereford HR1 2JB Tel: 01432 346 990 Web: www.octaga.co.uk HARD HAT LOGISTICS Oaklands Business Centre, Hooton Road, Hooton CH66 7NZ Tel: 0845 607 1966 Web: www.hhls.co.uk OCTAVIAN SECURITY Octavian House, Alder Court, Rennie Hogg Road, Riverside Business Park, Nottingham NG2 1RX Tel: 08700 123 999 Web: www.octaviangr.com www.acspacesetters.co.uk 7 THE HALL OF FAME OLTEC GROUP Oltec House, 18 Beecham Court, Smithy Brook Road, Wigan WN3 6PR Tel: 01942 829101 Web: www.oltecgroup.com SPECIALIST SECURITY CO LTD Unit B1 Lake View Business Park, Lamby Way, Rumney, Cardiff. CF3 2EQ Tel: 02920 364 350 Web: www.specialistsecurityco.com PROFILE SECURITY SERVICES LIMITED Stable Yard, Walk House Farm, Barrow upon Humber, North Lincolnshire DN19 7DZ Tel: 01469 533339 Web: wwwprofilesecurity.co.uk SPS SECURITY LTD Neptune House, Neptune Street, Hull HU3 2BP Tel: 01482 226570 Web: www.sps-security.com REGENCY SECURITY SERVICES (UK) LIMITED Regency House, Freeport Office Village, Century Drive, Braintree, Essex CM77 8YG Tel: 01376 528888 Web: www.regencysecurity.co.uk SUPPORT SERVICES GROUP LIMITED Unit 19, Ergo Business Park, Kelvin Road, Greenbridge, Swindon SN3 3JW Tel: 0870 241 5067 Web: www.ssg-net.com RESOURCE (NI) LIMITED Edgewater Business Park, Edgewater Road, Belfast BT3 9JQ Tel: 028 9077 4799 Web: www.resource-group.com THE KEYHOLDING COMPANY Units 4 & 6, Quay Side Lodge, William Morris Way, London SW6 2UZ Tel: 0870 770 6880 Web: www.keyholding.com RESOURCE (UK) LIMITED Innovations House, Temple Point Business Park, Bullerthorpe Lane, Colton, Leeds LS15 9JL Tel: 0113 260 7328 Web: www.resource-group.com THE SHIELD GUARDING COMPANY 23 Austin Friars, London EC2N 2QP Tel: 0800 093 0248 Web: www.shieldguarding.co.uk RISK MANAGEMENT SECURITY SERVICES The Old Courthouse, Hughenden Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP13 5DT Tel: 01494-441805 Web: www.riskmanagementsecurity.co.uk TSS SECURITY UK 6 Portal Way, Acton, London W3 6RU Tel: 0208 992 4499 Web: www.tsssecurity.com SECURIGROUP 349 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4AA Tel: 0844 8080 999 Web: www.securigroup.co.uk TURNER FACILITIES MANAGEMENT LTD 65 Craigton Road, Glasgow, G51 3EQ Tel: 0141 309 5523 Web: www.turnerfm.co.uk SELECT SECURITY LIMITED Unit 13, Howard Court, Manor Park, Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 1SJ Tel: 0800 731 5305 Web: www.selectsecurity.info WARD SECURITY A9 & A10 Spectrum Business Centre, Anthony’s Way, Medway City Estate, Rochester, Kent ME2 4NP Tel: 0845 847 6180 Web: www.ward-security.co.uk. SHIELD SECURITY SERVICES LIMITED Shield House, 294 High Street, Aldershot, GU12 4LT Tel: 01252 319899 Web: www.shieldsecurity.co.uk WILSON JAMES LIMITED Darwin House, Bourne Park, Cores End Road, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire. SL8 5AS Tel: 01628 535600 Web: www.wilsonjames.co.uk SODEXO LIMITED One Southampton Row, London WC1B 5HA Tel: 0207 404 0110 Web: www.sodexo.com www.acspacesetters.co.uk 8 PORTRAIT OF A PACESETTER Guarding UK ‘Our word is our brand’ GUK is a leading independent provider of manned security services throughout the UK, with a reputation for quality and good service. Now entering our 10th year of trading, GUK has grown to provide a wide range of services from manned guarding, mobile patrols, key holding and front of house. We work on behalf of clients in providing an effective customised asset protection service, working collaboratively with owners, agents, tenants and asset managers 2013 has been an exciting year for GUK as not only are we celebrating operating for 10 years but we have launched our new division, Reception UK (RUK). RUK offers highly trained reception staff, providing concierge style service, flexibility and an immaculate image, capable of supporting the day to day running of your business. Our senior management team is client attentive and customer driven. The team brings a well-balanced skill set in achieving the goal of high quality service delivery, with a focus on professionalism and an uncompromising commitment to exceeding client expectations. In everything we do, our mantra, whether in sales, operations or service delivery, is ‘Always seek first to understand, before we are understood’. This has shaped our development and the way we interact with our clients, encouraging us to undertake a more consultative and collaborative approach, one which our clients, including some of the largest and most prestigious commercial property owners and asset managers in the UK, readily welcome in today’s economic climate. What GUK can offer your business: • Cutting edge technology which has been custom built for GUK, giving you real time information. • A personal service offered by your dedicated Contracts Manager. You are our client and not just a number. • 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year help desk. • A revolutionary virtual training academy, which allows GUK personnel to progress through a range of self pacing training units linked to aspects of their roles. • A member of SIA ACS (Approved Contractor Scheme) and currently hold one of the highest scores in the country (146/149). We are very proud to say that we are part of the Approved Contractor Scheme Pacesetters membership – which is made up of the top 15% of Contract Security Guarding Companies who scored more than +108 in their annual inspection appointed by UKAS inspection bodies. You can be safe in the knowledge that GUK will provide its clients with a uniquely tailored service which will exceed expectations and show we are up to the task. For further information on how GUK can support your security needs, please contact our sales team 01992 655 650. Guarding UK Limited Wenta Business Centre, Innova Business Park, Mollison Park, Enfield EN3 7XU www.guardinguk.co.uk 9 Does your Security Team expect the unexpected? It is dangerous in any building not to regularly test fire and evacuation procedures. When a real emergency occurs and procedures are found wanting, then quite simply heads will roll and insurers will think long and hard before necessarily agreeing to cover losses. So why should security be any different? If we don’t regularly test it then it will almost certainly be found wanting when asked to stand up and be counted. The Silver Fox Audit is an established and recognised service, which is totally independent and designed to test the effectiveness of Manned Guarding operations throughout the UK. So how does the audit team operate? First and foremost it does not act in a ‘gung-ho’ manner by, for example, either scaling walls or driving through barriers! Quite simply it tests the security team against the terms of the approved Assignment Instructions by trying to gain access to the premises by normal means. The team operates 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. The auditor uses many disguises. One moment he or she will be dressed as a top executive carrying a briefcase; the next moment they may be dressed as a builder in hard hat and high visibility jacket; as a labourer carrying a ladder or gardening tools; or as a rogue Security Officer wearing a jacket with ‘SECURITY’ emblazoned on the back. The one thing that members of the audit team do have in common is that they will be carrying fake identification papers and will attempt to ‘bluff’ their way through any Control Point. They will also attempt to ‘tailgate’ individuals or vehicles into premises. They have been specifically selected for this type of work because they have the confidence to carry it off. You may argue that it is a brave Security Officer who will stop a man who looks like a Chief Executive, is engaged on a mobile telephone and indicates that he is in a hurry – but that is exactly why you are employing security so that they can expect the unexpected. As soon as the exercise is completed the auditor carries out a de-brief with the officer on duty at the time and, if available, the Site Supervisor. Subsequently, and certainly within 36 hours of the exercise having taken place, a written report is produced. So, in conclusion, we repeat the question about employing manned security and never testing it independently to ensure that it is providing a level of service which you expect and for which you are paying. For further information go to our website www.silverfox.org.uk or telephone Lynda Moore on 01844 260350. 10 PARK HOUSE SECURITY TEAM WIN SILVER FOX AWARD FOR RISK MANAGEMENT SECURITY SERVICES In 2012, Risk Management Security Services were awarded the security manned guarding contract for Park House, the prestigious new commercial, retail and residential development in Oxford Street, London. On the 6th September 2013, at a ceremony in London, The Risk Management team, led by Site Security Manager, Jonathan Brady, were themselves awarded the eagerly sought after framed Silver Fox Certificate in recognition of the exceptional service which they have provided since the appointment. Many manned security organisations can claim to provide vigilant and exemplary service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but few are prepared to test that boast by taking up the challenge of independent on-site audits carried out by the highly regarded Silver Fox Audit team. It is a measure of their success that, in presenting the award to Risk Management Security Services, Terry O’Neil, Partner of FM Contract Watch, commented that “The Park House team have given us one of our most severe tests and the Silver Fox Audit team rate them very highly. In our opinion this is exactly the sort of team that should be figuring successfully in the annual Security Excellence Awards”. It was fitting that the award was accepted, on behalf of the team, by Security Officer Aaron Avery, who particularly distinguished himself at the end of a long 12 hour night shift in July by thwarting one of the most experienced Silver Fox Auditors and sending him on his way. Well done indeed. For further information on Risk Management Security Services go to www.riskmanagementsecurity.co.uk Peter Kyte, Aaron Avery, Terry O’Neil Graham Tilly, Jonathan Brady, Aaron Avery, Peter Smith 11 Specialist wholesale insurance brokers to the security industry Sutton Specialist Risks Ltd have been established for over 20 years arranging insurance for the specialist needs of the security industry. Our policy is underwritten by QBE & has been since our start. Insurance for the security industry is notoriously difficult to arrange with many UK Insurers reluctant to offer cover. For that reason we feel it is in a client’s interest to be insured with a carrier committed to serving the long term needs of security companies. Note: If you are insured via other security industry brokers they will only be able to give you terms from their own scheme & cannot access other schemes like ours – if that’s the case please contact us & we can recommend a local broker who can assist you. Our specialist Policy offers… • • • • • • • • • • • Employers Liability Public & Products Liability Failure to perform contracted duties (inefficacy) Legal liability for criminal & deliberate acts by employees Fidelity Bonding Loss & Consequential loss of keys Wrongful arrest Professional Indemnity Directors & Officers Optional sections for property, legal expenses & fidelity guarantee Limits of indemnity up to £10m can readily be arranged with higher on request. Unlike many other policies we do not have inner limits for inefficacy or wrongful arrest with cover up to your full limit normally given. Special Discounts for SIA Approved Contractors • Discounted Premiums. • 10% year end rebate (irrespective of claims history) provided policy is renewed. • Waiver of policy vetting condition. View www.ssr.co.uk/security for more information. insurance specialists to the security industry Sutton Specialist Risks Ltd 31 Great George Street Bristol BS1 5QD Products underwritten by email: info@ssr.co.uk Tel: 0117 930 0100 Fax: 0117 927 9200 www.ssr.co.uk/security OVER 20 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP