Volume 2 | Winter
CHRONICLE FGH Security’s quarterly magazine // Issue Number 5 fghsecurity.com
a Touch of Class FGH Management get dressed up for the Security Excellence Awards R.E.S.P.E.C.T Find out what it means to Robin Barratt
The Ax Man Cometh Staff interview with Antony Lawson on Security, Tree Surgery & his love of the open road.
OVERVIEW
Picture this... Clockwise from left: Door Supervision Area Managers Adam Tomlinson and Danny Geere with the Security Excellence awards on the night; My partner Joanna and I before the awards bash; The new British Parking Association Approved Operator Scheme logo that’ll you’ll soon start seeing on all of our NPS material.
In addition to the above we are also very pleased to announce that Northwest Parking Solutions, our traffic management subsidiary company, has achieved
Best wishes for the next quarter, Peter Harrison Managing Director
* Competition not open to direct family members of the FGH Management team, 1 entry per person, closing date for entries received 1st February 2009, Prize draw to take place 2nd February in the FGH Lancaster office.
‘Alan would love this!’....
We are now looking forward to the New Year, when we generally see the greatest number of new clients due to the failure of other security providers to live up to their clients’ expectations over the festive period.
Last but not least, over the past year we have seen the Chronicle expanding its page numbers at an exponential rate and we’d love to know more about what you, our readers, feel about it. To summarise our current distribution channels, of the 1000 editions currently in print we send approximately 200 to existing staff, 100 to potential staff at their interview stage, 200 to our existing client base, 200 to potential clients and 100 to other stakeholders (including the police, the SIA, local councils, and others). The remaining 200 are left in reception areas for the general public to gain an understanding of the FGH Security ethos and the work we carry out. Here at the FGH head office we feel the magazine is an excellent way to communicate our range of services to the outside world and highlight areas of good practice and our working culture to staff. So far, however, we have no empirical evidence to back up these claims. What we really want to know is exactly who reads the magazine, how useful different parts of it are and how we can shape it to be more reader friendly in the future. So, with this in mind, please take 5 minutes to fill out the questionnaire enclosed with this magazine and return it to us accordingly. All of the responses we receive back will be placed in a hat and one lucky winner* will be drawn out to receive a brand new Apple IPod with 2GB of memory in black.
Getting in touch with us…
Cover graphics by Dave Hassall and all done painstakingly by hand.
Meanwhile, despite the award and subsequent celebrations, the hard work did not stop. In the past 12 weeks we have picked up 18 new contracts. A special mention should go out to Dan Willis, our primary Security Guarding Contract Manager, who was responsible for implementing three quarters of these new contracts into our current operations. One contract in particular, the Lancashire Business Park, involved our company undertaking work to become CHAS (Certificate of Health and Safety) accredited and also warranted an increase to our public liability insurance limit to £10 million. Many other security companies, particularly in the door supervision sector, only hold £1 million cover. This can often prove inadequate for larger claims, especially where injury involving paralysis is concerned and puts not only the security company, but also the client at risk of not being able to withstand a claim. All concerned at FGH Security should know that we now hold insurance that goes above and beyond the most unthinkable of accidents.
My previous introductions have been based around the recession and how this affects the security industry. It appears we are still in it, with record unemployment levels and spiralling numbers of people unable to keep up their mortgage repayments. However, the UK GDP is contracting at a much slower rate than previously so we shall cross our fingers and hope for good news and an increase in public spending in the New Year. If we do not come out of the recession in 2010 then at least Britain will have its own space academy!
Know someone who has a security provider not living up to expectations or would benefit from knowing about us? You can either givethem this issue or email their name and address to dave.hassall@fghsecurity.co.uk
It’s been a very exciting quarter for us, particularly due to the UK Security Excellence Awards. As mentioned in the last Chronicle, we were delighted to be selected as finalists in 5 categories and the tension around our table at the prestigious Park Lane Hilton was immense. So, when Ronnie Corbet announced us as winners of Best Practice in Door Supervision we leapt for joy. All the hard work over the years has really paid off. I’d like to extend my thanks to all our hardworking professional front line staff.
accreditation with the British Parking Association Approved Operating Scheme. This further underpins our commitment to welcome regulation within our organisation and prove that we are determined to shine above our less-professional competitors in all the sectors in which we operate.
If you’d like to talk to us about the Chronicle, the services we can offer, would just like to find out a little more about us or see how we could be of use to you then please feel free to get in touch with us at our Head Office. Call us on: 01524 847 554 // Email us at: CHRONICLE@fghsecurity.co.uk // Find us us online: www.fghsecurity.co.uk // Type FGH Security into any search engine // Or write to us at: FGH Security, Alston House, White Cross, South Road, Lancaster, LA1 4 XQ
W
elcome to the 5th edition of our company magazine, the FGH Chronicle. The front cover of this edition is a mosaic of Wesley collecting our Security Excellence Award designed by Dave Hassall, our Advertising Manager. For those who are interested we have over 5000 tiles on the cover - made up of over 1215 different pictures of our staff and clients’ premises and sites to represent the contribution that everyone in the company has made to our finalist positions and award win this year. So if you kindly ask to borrow your granddad’s magnifying glass you may be able to pick yourself out!
Staff Section | 2
This quarter’s contributors
Employees of the quarter
Dave Taylor Feature Writer
Dave has worked for FGH Security since 2006. He has fulfilled a number of roles within the company including Door Supervisor, Security Guard, Mobile Patrol Operative, Dan Willis’ chief brew maker and is currently the company’s Vetting Officer. Prior to joining FGH Dave worked as an English Teacher in Preston. He does not recommend this profession to anyone, but is thankful for the skills he developed as he now has a black belt in conflict management. Dave’s favourite memories of security work include getting lost trying to find the front door of Passions and Idols while carrying a struggling miscreant and the night where he was forced to eject seventeen people, despite only thirty three coming into the venue all night. Dave is a keen practitioner of Aikido, the Japanese art of people folding, and also holds a personal best of losing a competition Judo fight in a spectacular three seconds.
Robin Barratt Feature writer
Lewis Walton (Louie) After starting with us in July Loui quickly became a regular member of the Lounge team. He is now second in command behind Dave Taylor and is also a regular sight at Mood, the Brown Cow and 1725. He is well liked by all and is always ready to cover a shift last minute, even if he is at work at 5am the next morning.
Andrew Spencer
Osman Wasfi
One of the company’s most reliable members of staff who, over the years, has become an institution within the company and the Barrow in Furness night time leisure industry, with many clients asking for him directly. He has never let the company down and has good working relationships with everyone he works with, which has been highlighted on several occasions.
Osman is one of our friendliest Door Supervisors. He started with us in February and eventually became an integral part of the Walkabout team. When Walkabout closed down Osman became a regular member of the team at Studio/Loft as well as covering both guarding shifts and door shifts last minute. He will always answer his phone and is willing to drive almost anywhere to help out colleagues and FGH Security.
Robin is one of the most well known doormen in the country and started his career back in the ‘80s on the doors in his home town of Norwich. He then went onto run doors and clubs across the UK including Manchester, London and Wigan as well as in Paris. In the late 80s he attended a six-week SAS run Close Protection training course in Hereford and ended up travelling the world looking after the rich, but not so famous. He started writing in 2002 and published his first book; Doing the Doors, which is now a genre bestseller. He has a number of new projects planned including The Mammoth Book of Hard Bastards for publication early 2011. He still provides limited security and training services and is also setting up RBTV! RBTV! will meet, interview and explore the lives of bare-knuckle fighters, boxers, bouncers, wrestlers, bodyguards, bikers, bodybuilders, power-lifters, martial artists and mercenaries - not just in the UK but worldwide. www.RBTelevision.com
Other news 24 31
th December
Christmas Eve*e
st December
New Years Evee
18th December
friday
4th January
monday
15th January
Important dates
friday
29th January friday
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Upcoming pay dates * Time off request should be coming in soon please – priorities given to those with young families. Also, Security Guarding staff should be submitting any requests for Holiday cover for the Christmas period as soon as possible. Public Holiday Pay Allowances: Please feel free to contact and clarify with your Operations Manager what pay you will be receiving.
th
th
12 26 9
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April
friday
friday
February friday
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February
March friday
March friday
Congratulations to Adam Tomlinson, Lancashire Operations Manager, on his marriage to his lovely new bride, Stephanie (now Tomlinson). We wish them good luck for their future together and especially with a new baby on the way, too. Although the wedding was a quiet, family affair celebrations of his marriage were well attended by FGH staff, some of whom may even be able to remember what happened. Local media have recently run features on FGH’s answer to Carol Ann Duffy, with certain obvious differences. Kev Coughlan has been running a poetry evening at Bar 11 on last Monday of every month. It is a phenomenal success and features work from a number of local artists, including Kev himself. Further information is available in the vouchers section of this magazine. Will women be drinking too much over the festive period? This is the question being posed by Cosmopolitan magazine. They came to FGH’s Sian Moreland in an attempt to find out. In an interview given by a woman, about women and for women, Sian’s views from a door supervision perspective will form core background to inform the article. Clear the 24th January in your diary (and probably the day after) as this will be when we’re holding this year’s Annual Awards Evening and Christmas Party. The event is still in the planning stages and we’ll be keeping everyone updated once we have everything finalised. Finally, Peter Harrison was again helping to raise money for Cancer Care and would like to thank all his sponsors. Despite being warned it was not a race, and most of the competitors being under the age of 14 he managed to finish 5th from a field of over 300 competitors!
FGH Security Ltd
WRITERS: ANTONY LAWSON & DAVID TAYLOR GRAPHICS: DAVID HASSALL
Staff Interview | 4
Door Supervisor, tree surgeon, martial artist and motorcycle enthusiast; would the real Antony Lawson please stand up? Talking to Antony you get the impression that he is a man of many talents with a wide range of experiences. One occasional criticism that some people have had of modern Door Supervisors is that many are too young and lack life experience. It is clear that Antony is not one of them. Antony talks initially about his childhood, growing up on a rough council estate near Portsmouth. He talks about idolising his older brother and an experience of getting to know several ‘old school’ doormen, experiences which colour his views on society and security work to this day. He recognises that times have moved on, but still believes there are lessons to be learned from the past. Although Antony is keen to talk about his security work he talks with greatest enthusiasm about his main hobby, motorcycles. Antony describes his motorcycle like his best friend. Traditional pastimes are less important to him. He mentions television and phones with a snort. Others are welcome to them. All Antony needs is the wind, the road and the sound of his 1200cc V-Twin Buell. Antony is a keen participant in the Isle of Man TT races. He goes every year and believes that it is one of the main things that keep him sane. Antony rides the back roads all over the north of England. Far from the straight, featureless plains we associate with the United States these roads are frequently narrow, sinuous courses that provide a constantly changing environment for the motorcyclist. Antony sounds almost poetic talking about the breathtaking scenery on view and it is difficult not to see why. Just within a short radius of Lancaster there is rolling farmland, bare moor land, forestry and mountains. Antony works out that he covers over 12,000 miles a year through this terrain on top of
his 50 mile round trip to work in his other job as a tree surgeon. Tree surgery sounds like an interesting job. It is clear that Antony knows what he is talking about. He spends most of his time teaching the art to students at Myerscough College. When asked what he likes about it the answer is a little surprising. He says he enjoys the teaching aspect most and intends to continue until the day he retires. He likes to feel that he is passing on relevant skills. Personally I just thought ‘you get to use a chainsaw, what’s not to like?’ Antony is also a keen martial artist and, over the years, has trained in several arts including Judo, Kempo JuJitsu and Boxing. Regular training in this vein, combined with climbing trees for a living, riding his bike and swimming with his brother all add up to a pretty hectic, not to mention exhausting, schedule. It is hardly surprising that Antony doesn’t find too much time for sitting on the sofa watching TV and is in peak physical condition. One of the few things Antony can always make time for, however is spending time with his son, Antony Jr and his granddaughter, Chelsea Rose, the two of whom are the most important people in his life. Antony has worked for FGH for over four years and was one of the first doormen in the Lancaster area to be issued with the new SIA licence. He has spent the majority of this time working on the Brown Cow and regards himself as synonymous with this venue. When asked the secret of his success at such a venue Antony explains that it is down to getting to know the regulars and creating a bond with them. He stresses that working the door of a comparatively small pub is very different to working at an inner city super club where most of the customers will be strangers and every night is a new night. At the Brown Cow Antony has spent years developing his reputation and working with the regular customers to ensure a safe and enjoyable night for all concerned.
and is certainly not about being arrogant and high handed with people. It is about projecting the view that you are in control of a situation and that there is no possibility of another outcome. He says that nothing is more satisfying in his job than seeing a potentially violent troublemaker changing to being friendly and shaking hands with nothing more than a few carefully chosen words and an aura of confidence on Antony’s part. In conclusion he echoes a view prevalent among many door staff. It is about respect. If you respect your customers and ensure that they have respect for you then problems will be few and far between. He applies this view equally to his teaching and to his training. This, more than anything, is the secret of his success and, remember, if it ever gets to be too much for him there is always the open road, the stunning views and the roar of the motorcycle’s engine to take him away from it all.
Left: Antony doing some high rope tree surgery work. Below: Antony with some of his students from college after a climbing exercise.
Antony believes that the most important character attribute for a Door Supervisor is confidence. He says that if you believe in yourself then others will believe in you. Being a good Door Supervisor is not about fighting
FGH Security Ltd
IN THE KNOW 06
%
Concentrated “I didn’t know that” pub quiz winning knowledge that’s not just about the security industry… honest.
Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.
A ‘jiffy’ is an actual unit of time: 1/100th of a second.
Snails can
0.
sleep for
of 100,000 electronic security systems installed by companies approved by NSI in the last year received genuine complaints. Quality is the king- even when it comes to protecting your business or home. (risk UK – Showcase magazine)
years without
eating
7 out of 10 British dogs get Christmas gifts from their doting owners.
According to the 2008/ 2009 British Crime Survey, compiled by the Home Office, 46,252 households were victims of burglary in the UK. That’s 2.5% of all homes in the country. Previous analysis of the 2007/08 BCS (see Flatley et al., 2009) has shown that the type of households who were least likely to have ‘basic security’ were generally the type of household that had a higher risk of burglary.
Is the number of BT Redcare Approved, National Security Inspectorate Gold level Alarm Receiving Centres in the whole of the UK. http://www.redcarebt.com /partner/arc_directory.htm
of McDonald’s profits come from the sales of Happy Meals.
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sized erage u’ll v a e off th n box yo burn io So to as select stamps. tm ,150 8 Chris k c to li need
Many parts of pines, spruces, and firs can be eaten. The needles are a good source of vitamin C. Pine nuts, or pine cones, are also a good source of nutrition. So don’t worry if you can’t find a turkey on Christmas Eve in theory at least you can still feed the family. www.egodialogues.com/general/christmas-statistics.php
FGH Security Ltd
650 The number of SIA
Approved
Contractors
(as of 23rd November 2009) http://sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/home/acs/roac.htm
...FGH are still ranked
in the
top 25%
Regular Columns | 6
20 Questions Escorting and Disengagement Training by David Pattinson Recent developments within the SIA have highlighted the need for Escorting and Disengagement training to become part of the standard training required to gain a door supervision licence. Plans are now afoot to make such training compulsory by June 2010.
01 02 03 04
Physical Intervention training is currently delivered under a variety of names and does not necessarily contain standard practices. The idea of this new training is to ensure that all door supervisors receive a basic training in Physical Intervention and to standardise what is being taught. Numerous companies already offering Physical Intervention qualifications and the awarding bodies they represent are restructuring their courses to match the new SIA requirements.
05 06
Eventually it may become a requirement for existing Door Supervisors to take a ‘top up’ course in Escorting and Disengagement when applying for a new badge. There are no plans to introduce such measures yet, however. The earliest date by which this is likely to become compulsory is May 2011. The relevant SIA press statement says:
08
“There are currently no further training requirements for any existing licence holders who wish to renew their licence. However, because of the changes to the door supervision area, there may at a future date, be a need for a short ‘top-up’ training session for this sector” This updating of the requirements for Escorting and Disengagement is part of a wide ranging review the SIA is undertaking into all aspects of licensing. It is likely that we will see significant changes to the way training is undertaken by the SIA in all areas over the next few years. Current thinking suggests the likelihood of a modular training structure being developed with core modules for all sectors and add-on modules for specific knowledge replacing the current sector specific system and the licence integration rules. The intended purpose of compulsory Escorting and Disengagement training is to reduce the risk of assaults on door supervisors and to reduce the risk of harm coming to customers during, for example, lawful ejection. There is speculation that it will also be particularly useful for security officers in higher risk roles such as in retail and healthcare settings. FGH security already offers a MAYBO qualification in Physical Intervention. The majority of our staff members have undertaken this course. It is likely that the final requirements of the SIA training course will be similar to the existing MAYBO requirements. In addition to this MAYBO is one of several accrediting bodies who are currently working alongside the SIA to ensure the best possible level of correlation between the syllabuses. MAYBO and Skills for Security are also working with the BIIAB in the development of the more advanced MAYBO training program for physical intervention for Door Supervisors. Further updates on these requirements will be available through the FGH chronicle or the SIA website at www.the-sia.org.uk FGH employees interested in undertaking further Physical Intervention training should contact their line manager at our Head Office on 01524 847554. You can contact Dave Pattinson regarding a range of security and safety training courses via FGH Security t: 01524 847 554 e: info@fghsecurity.co.uk
07 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
with Mark Hansen
What was your first job? Working as a paper boy when I was 10. I was really eager to earn some money so I took on two rounds. My mother ended up doing most of it for me though! What do you like most about your current job? I have only been working at Studio for just over a month so I currently like the challenge of taking on a newly refurbished venue and trying to build on its current success. What do you like least about your current job? The later closing hours. My previous venues have all closed by 2am – that extra hour till 3am is a killer! Favourite saying that is relevant to your life or the way you run your business? ‘Fail to plan and you plan to fail’. I am a very organised person at work and have a list or file for absolutely everything. In what is a very stressful working environment you have to do everything you can to know that you are covered in any eventuality. Who are your heroes and why? I admire anyone with the strength of will to overcome adversity and be a stronger person at the end of it. There are too many of these people to name. Where do you see yourself in five years time from now? I never try to plan too far into the future. I’ve learnt from experience that things never usually work out the way you plan. I originally came to England for a six month holiday, but now I’m married, living and working here! What things in your life are you thankful for? Obviously I am thankful for my family, friends and lovely wife Helen, who all put up with the ridiculously unsociable hours that I have to work. I’d also like to thank Red Bull, a bar manager’s best friend! Do you have any regrets? In my youth I was a promising junior tennis player and had the option of travelling to Europe to pursue a career in tennis or stay in Australia and go to university. I chose university, but sometimes wonder what might have been. What’s your earliest memory? My 3rd birthday party when my grandparents bought me a blackboard and I spent the rest of the day tracing my hand print over and over. I thought I was Picasso! What’s your fondest memory? Sappy but true – my wedding day earlier this year What are your hobbies and interests? Tennis, rugby, golf, reading and running. Unfortunately, because of the funny hours that I work, I don’t get nearly enough time to do them all. I can always find time though to go for a run – this is my time to unwind and clear my mind of everything. What’s your favourite item of clothing that you own? My Queensland Reds rugby union jersey. They are my local rugby team back in Australia and wearing it reminds me of home. What are your pet hates? People that drive in the wrong lane on a motorway! Travelling on the M6 everyday I am exposed to a lot of them. Work related hates involve sticky bar tops and tables. What would be your dream holiday or car? I’ve already had my dream holiday – my honeymoon on a private resort island in The Maldives. My dream car would have to be an Aston Martin DB9. Who’s your football team and why? Working in a sports bar I should probably keep my loyalty hidden and remain neutral, but I have supported Liverpool ever since I was a boy. When Australian Craig Johnston scored in the 1986 FA Cup Final and I was sitting up watching it in the early hours of the morning back in Australia I was hooked! If you were stuck on a desert island and you had to pick two people to be on there with you who would they be? I would only need one – Superman. Then he could fly me off the island back to civilization! If you were Prime Minister for the day what would you change? You couldn’t pay me enough money to be PM - no matter what decision you make you will always be upsetting someone and told it is wrong! What was your favourite pet? The family cat from when I was a boy. My parents wouldn’t let my brother and I have a dog so they bought a cat instead. It wasn’t the same though – try as we might, it just wouldn’t play fetch! What’s the best thing about working with FGH? FGH provides the most professional team of Door Supervisors that I have ever had the pleasure to have working for me. Not a week goes by that I don’t receive compliments from customers about the level of service they have received from a member of the security team. Now that you’re famous is there anyone you want to say hello to? Everyone
Mark is the General Manager at Studio Loft in Kendal. Besides his other interests he also enjoys running on a regular basis but obviously he used to enjoy it a lot more when he was doing it in Australia where the rain doesn’t come in sideways like in the Lakes. Studio Loft is Kendal’s premiere sports bar and club and is available for private hire (01539 736 653).
FGH Security Ltd
5
final the
1 Security Guarding Company of the Year Finalist
2 Contract Security Manager of the Year Finalist
3 Event Security Team of the Year Finalist
4 Approved Contractor Champion of the Year Finalist
5
Best Practice in Door Supervision Winner
FGH Business Director Wesley Downham (Centre), Kristen Johnstone International Accounts Manager for IFSEC India (Left) and Ronnie Corbett (Right)
FGH Security Ltd
WRITER: DAVID TAYLOR
GRAPHICS: DAVID HASSALL
Staff & Company | 8
Last month FGH Security’s directors and management took their place on a national stage at the Security Excellence Awards 2009. These awards are the security industry’s version of the Oscars, but without the tearful acceptance speeches thanking everyone from kindergarten teachers to favourite pets, not forgetting Jesus, of course. Judged by a panel of leading experts in the field, including the Marketing Manager of the SIA and the Chief Executive of the NSI, FGH won the category Best Practice in Door Supervision making us officially the best door supervisors in the country this year. In the last issue we mentioned that we had been nominated in five categories, more than any other company. Full details of our nominations can be found there. FGH was mentioned repeatedly in the programme for the evening with extracts from our application detailed in each category. Our showing was impressive enough that a Director from G4S congratulated us on our success. The awards evening was hosted by the London Hilton, one of the most exclusive venues in the country. It was a prestigious event which drew the most fashionable people.
The evening was hosted by Alan ‘voice of the balls’ Dedicoat and Ronnie Corbett. Stephanie Moore MBE, Bobby Moore’s wife, was also in attendance collecting money for the Bobby Moore Fund which donates to Cancer research and was the official charity of the evening. Over 800 people attended the awards ceremony, mostly directors and senior manager’s from large security companies and major national clients. The guest list read like a who’s who of the Private Security Industry. Among this throng FGH management had a table less than 20 yards from the main stage right at the forefront of the action. Tension was high and the pressure to succeed immense. Beads of sweat dropped down brows as hundreds of security directors saw their lives flash before their eyes. The tension might have proven unbearable save for the fact that, as the majority of interested parties were men, there was only minimal chance of an embarrassing dress malfunction at a crucial moment. The main event of the evening, at least as far as FGH were concerned, was our victory in the category ‘Best Practice in Door Supervision.’ This award
was presented to a company that has ‘continually demonstrated professionalism, consistently high levels of service and responsibility to customers, members of staff and the leisure security sector in general.’ FGH is all of these things and more. Upon our triumph being announced Ronnie Corbett presented the trophy to our Business Director Wes Downham. I suspect he was somewhat disappointed that there was no opportunity to make a lengthy acceptance speech, but this is simply conjecture. There are, at least, several pictures of the event, one of which has appeared in several regional newspaper and has been painstakingly reproduced opposite. Despite the lack of a speech there is one piece of thanks that should not go unmentioned. That is the thanks to all the staff of FGH Security, who deliver the service to the customers and make such success possible. As such those of you who are reading this should all reach round and give yourselves a pat on the back, although not too enthusiastically as we don’t want any of you to suffer major shoulder injuries.
Clockwise from top:
Louise and Wesley making their way to the Champaign Reception; The award after it had just been collected by Wesley on the night; Peter, Joanna, Danny, Wesley and Dave heading to the dining hall; the fantastic event hall at the Hilton where the presentations took place.
FGH Security Ltd
Reader Offers: “How do I use these then?”
To redeem the vouchers on this page all you have to do is cut them out and take them along to the participating venue or business, in most cases you don’t even have to be an FGH Security employee. If you would like to place a voucher in the next issue then just get in touch with Dave Hassall (dave.hassall@fghsecurity.co.uk) and he’ll even do all the artwork for you.
Looking for financial protection... but need to be pointed in the right direction? • • • • •
Income Protection if you are unable to work Life Insurance and Protection against serious illness Buildings and Contents Insurance Commercial Business Protection and Finance Family Protection and Inheritance Planning
JR/04/12/09/89
Protection needn’t be a prickly subject...
e terry.green@citri.co.uk m 07711 766 932 f 08707 622 694 www.citri.co.uk/terrygreen
FGH Security Ltd
Tips for All | 10
chimney, or through your unlocked back door, or your open window. At this time of year, expensive presents are starting to be placed around trees and can prove tempting to passing thieves. Keep them out of sight until last thing on Christmas Eve and, if you ‘hide’ or store larger items such as bicycles in the shed or outbuildings, make sure they are very secure.
Tips for staying safe while out on the town... • Don’t leave bags over the back of your chair and keep wallets and purses close to your body to make it more difficult for the pickpocket.
Be careful this Christmas Keeping safe while enjoying the festive spirit We all like to enjoy ourselves over the festive period, but it is important to stay safe while doing so as Christmas can also be a busy period for opportunistic criminals. With office parties and general Christmas celebrations, pubs, restaurants and other venues are often crowded. Busy places make it easier for the sneak thief, so be alert at all times. At this time of year, people will be out enjoying themselves, but too much to drink can also make you an easy target. So make sure you have arrangements in place for getting home safely. Shoppers should also be careful to prevent themselves from becoming victims of crime this Christmas. Criminals will often take advantage of the bustling streets in Lancaster, Morecambe and Wyre and the fact that many shoppers are distracted by festive bargains – leading to opportunist thefts and pickpocketing. Finally, you should make sure Santa is the only one coming down your
• Make prior arrangements as to how you will get home – make arrangements for a lift or book a taxi . • Make sure someone knows where you are going and what time you will be back. • Stay on the main routes and thoroughfares through any town or city and don’t take shortcuts. • Take out as few personal items as possible – enough money for the evening, a mobile phone and a personal attack alarm. • Watch your drink being prepared and never leave your drink unattended. • Keep your jewellery covered up until you reach your destination.
Tips for safer shopping... • Never leave your bag open or unattended, such as on the back of a shopping trolley or pushchair. • Always make sure your bag is securely shut by using the fasteners provided. • If your bag has a strap, wear it across your body with any flaps facing inwards. • Never put your bag on the floor to look at something on shop shelves. • If you do not have a bag, hold your purse or wallet close to your body or carry it in an inside pocket if you have one.
lock away your bags safely in the boot.
Other tips for beating the burglars and keeping your home safe... • Take the frame numbers of new cycles and the serial numbers of new electrical equipment for future reference. Remember, empty boxes left outside advertise that you have new goods inside dispose of packing carefully. • If you go out for the evening make it look like someone is at home by turning on lights and the radio. Don’t leave curtains open so people can see your decorations as potential thieves can see in. • Be extra careful about locking doors and windows. • As a fire precaution, don’t leave Christmas lights on in the house whilst you are out. • If you go away for the holiday period - use an automatic timer for lights and ask a trusted neighbour to watch your home. • Don’t forget to cancel newspapers and milk if you have them delivered and either redirect your mail through the Post Office or have your neighbour take mail into the house unopened Christmas cards and mail are a sign that the house is empty.
Written by Al Yusuf Business Development Officer for the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC). LANPAC works with scores of local firms, large and small, to raise more than £1 million for additional crime reduction measures in the county, improving their own trading environment, making invaluable contacts and earning a reputation of trust that their customers value. LANPAC, besides working with FGH Security, also works closely alongside Lancashire Constabulary. For more information visit LANPAC.co.uk
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash . • Only keep items in your bag that are needed. • Keep your cash card separate from your chequebook. • If you return to your car with your purchases whilst you are continuing shopping,
FGH Security Ltd
11 | New Contracts
NEW CONTRACTS Security Guarding
NPS
Keyholding
CCTV
LUSU ICE RINK Security Guarding
ISLAND LEISURE PARK
As part of the Christmas celebrations this year LUSU put a temporary ice rink up in Alexandra square for the students and staff to enjoy. FGH was responsible for ensuring safety, with one guard to ensure that no damage was done to the rink and to keep people off the ice in the early hours of the morning.
Keyholding This is a disused site which contains a bowling alley, arcade, cinema, bar and restaurant. FGH are responsible for the key holding and alarm response for the site.
MONSOON
LANCASHIRE BUSINESS PARK
NORTHWEST PARKING SOLUTIONS
Security Guarding
Security Guarding
Car Park Management
This was a one off security job based at the Monsoon store in Kendal, which was subcontracted out to us by Major Security Services. The contract ran for two days to provide security during a store refit.
This is a huge 238 acre site and requires 24 hour coverage from guards working. This is a similar site to the White Cross Industrial Estate, where the guard has a multi functional role. The main responsibility, however, remains the safety and well being of users and visitors of the site whilst providing a visible deterrent for any potential criminals.
Over the last few months, NPS has been awarded the parking management contracts for Damside Street and Kings Yard pay & display car parks. These sites hold over 150 spaces between them. NPS has also taken its total contracts awarded to over 25 sites, the latest being Tower Court residential car park and Atlas Mills car park in Bolton. In early December, NPS became a registered member of the British Parking Association. This is very exciting news for the company and more information will be available in the spring edition of the Chronicle.
KENDAL MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL Security Guarding
BARGAIN BOOZE
This was a week long event which brings both manufacturers of outdoor and climbing gear and fans of mountain climbing together. Throughout the event movies and galleries are shown. FGH ensured that the equipment, the sales tent and also the beer tent remained secure throughout the event.
Security Guarding
FGH Security Ltd
FGH provides security for two Bargain Booze stores which are based in the Poulton and Freckleton areas. Due to a spate of recent robberies, FGH have been called in to assist over the Christmas period to ensure that criminal activity is avoided.
KENDAL KEY HOLDING
SYNDICATE
Keyholding
This was to provide cover for two weeks for the CCTV operator at the Syndicate. Our security officer was responsible for overseeing activity in the club and providing a clear communication link with the Door Supervisors and the management of the premises.
This was is a subcontract through SES Security based at two of the United Utilities Depots in Kendal. We are responsible for a lock up and unlock on a daily basis Monday to Friday and then also key holding and alarm response service.
CCTV
New Contracts | 12
Door Supervision
Event Security PUMA LAKELAND TRIALSILS
DT3
SUBWAY PRESTON
Event Security
Door Supervision Young Peoples Service in Lancaster put on a live music event for under 18’s at the Dukes Theatre which required Door Supervisors. We’re hoping, these events will become a regular occurrence in Lancaster at places such as the Dukes Theatre and Storey Creative Arts Centre.
Door Supervision
This was an after party for a company called VO2 Max events in the wake of the PUMA Lakeland trails. It required event staff to ensure that all of the guests were looked after and that only people who had taken part in the event were at the party.
ACCLAIM EVENTS
GREAT NORTH SWIM
Event Security
Event Security
This was an event held by a company called Acclaim who organise events for large scale companies such as BT and Orange. They were asked to hold an event in Lancaster, which was held at the town hall. FGH provided a security presence to prevent crime and disorder.
This was a huge event, with 6000 people swimming and thousands of spectators. It ran over a two day period with 18 staff working across the event. We were there to assist in protecting the set up and break down of the event as well. It’s the second year were FGH have provided the security for the event.
This is the Only 24 hour Subway in Preston. It currently has security staff from midnight until 5am every night of the week. Situated between Lava and Ignite, the biggest club in Preston, this venue is a prime location to cater for Preston’s late night sandwich eaters.
STOREY CREATIVE ARTS CENTRE
MUAY THAI KICKBOXING EVENTS
Door Supervision Situated opposite the main post office in Lancaster just down from the Castle the Storey is a not for profit organisation set in the heart of Lancaster’s conservation area. The building acts as a creative hub for talent from across the region and recently the venue uses our services for an art exhibition and a live music event.
Door Supervision We have recently provided security on two major Muay Thai kickboxing events. The larger of the two was at the Reebok stadium in Bolton and was a prestigious event. The headline fight was a rematch of two of the fighters from the popular television show The Contender. The other event was in Darlington and on a smaller scale. We have a good history of providing security for these event and we are continuing to build an excellent reputation with fight promoters and event organisers as the ‘go to’ company when it comes to their security.
UNIVERSITY OF CUMBRIA JCR
BRITISH WORKMAN’S CLUB
Door Supervision
Door Supervision
Initially we supplied security staff to help cope with the increased demand of Freshers Week, at the start of term. We now assist in catering for larger events at the official Student Bar of the University of Cumbria.
This is a working men’s club in the centre of Barrow in Furness. The venue specialises in functions and events alongside its regular opening hours. FGH provides security cover for these events when required. 18th birthday parties are particularly popular at his venue and obviously require security supervision.
FGH Security Ltd
13 | Feature
I
believe the world is changing into a much more violent and uncaring world where there is little or no respect for anyone, let alone authority.
Without exception every Door Supervisor with whom I have spoken over the past few years have all said exactly the same thing. There is little or no respect on the doors and, at many venues, Door Supervisors are treated badly, by both customers and venue management. So how can you change this? How can you develop your reputation as a good door supervisor and get back some of that respect? As a Door Supervisor is it important for you to be excellent? Do you want other door supervisors to look up to you and respect you? These are key questions you have to ask yourself, not only at the start of your career, but all the time; each and every night you put on your jacket, clip on your badge and go to work. If the answers are no; if you are content to just fumble through night after night being a jacket filler then you should not read any further because you shouldn’t be working the doors anyway. Let me be really honest with you; I was not very good when I started. I couldn’t fight my way out of a paper bag. I wore jumpers under my shirt to make me look bigger and all I wanted to do was to meet as many pretty, and not-so-pretty, women, as I could. When I started I was only going to stay a few months. A career as a ‘bouncer’ was definitely not for me; I had other grandiose plans for my life. The doors were just going to be a few months over the summer while I looked around for another job. Twenty or so years later I was still a doorman, although the dating has long since stopped. So how did I move from being a naïve newbie to a
FGH Security Ltd
Feature | 14
professional and respected doorman? Put simply, I was humbled by the team I was working with. Back in the early ‘80s the team that opened the new Ritzy nightclub was a tough team that pulled no punches and that didn’t suffer fools gladly. I was a fool, so either I learned quickly and proved myself, or I would have a real tough time. I decided to shut my mouth, learn and follow my mentors. This is what you must do if you want to gain respect. You do not have to be an experienced Door Supervisor. Nor, at first, do you even have to be a good Door Supervisor, but you must be willing to learn and to follow others who are more experienced and to be modest and humble as you grow and develop. Go to a mirror and take a good long hard look at yourself and ask yourself: “Am I really a Door Supervisor? Do I have what it takes? Am I loyal and trustworthy? Can I defend myself and others? Would I stand up for my friends and colleagues no matter what?” Alternatively did the ‘dole’ send you on a training course and you would feel much more comfortable stacking shelves in the local supermarket. It doesn’t matter who you are, what matters is that you are honest with yourself. I have worked the doors for almost 20 years and have made a real effort to respect everyone I have worked with. In return, I hope that I have commanded respect. In order to be respected you must first respect others. Someone once said to me that they will only give respect if they get respect first. I believe this is fundamentally wrong and seriously flawed. It is the start
of a downward spiral – if you don’t get respect you don’t give respect, and because you don’t give respect you don’t get respect and so on. You should ask yourself one very simple question each and every time you go to work as a Door Supervisor: If you do not respect others, how do you expect others to respect you? Being respectful and having respect is the absolute key to being a professional Door Supervisor. You should have respect for yourself, for your team members, for the management and last, but not least, for your customers. Without these fundamental areas of respect you are just a jacket filler who should never be working where other people’s safety is paramount. If you give respect to all of the above you will get respect from all of the above. What an awesome thing this would be. Without self-respect you will never gain the respect of others. You should pride your self in your appearance at work and in the work you do. You should care about your team and the others around you. You should be genuinely interested in keeping your customers safe. Can you honestly hold your head high and say to yourself ‘I am good at what I do?’ This is self-respect. Without it you are nothing, nobody. A real professional has real self-respect and doesn’t let anyone tell them otherwise. I believe a door team should also be friends, because as friends you will always go that extra mile to help out. Perhaps you might think twice about breaking up a fight between two strangers, but you wouldn’t think twice about helping out
if you recognize someone as a friend. I believe it should be like this on the doors. Many times, throughout my career as a doorman I have worked with other team members who, instead of backing me up in tough situations, have hidden or run off. This should never happen. Some managers and employers are great. Others are not so good. Some will back the door staff no matter what the situation, whereas others would sack a door supervisor at the blink of an eye. However, no matter who they are, at the end of the day they are management and whether we like it or not, we should respect their authority. If we respect them, they are more likely to respect us in return Last, but not least, you will only get a good reputation as a Door Supervisor if you know the job backwards and inside out. Like any job, the more you know the better you become, and the better you become the more professional you are. Door Supervisor training should only be the beginning of a career on the doors. A professional should develop their career by constantly learning, developing and gaining experience. This should be augmented by attending other add-on training courses such as self-defense, control and restraint, first-aid, advanced conflict management, cuffing, Heath and Safety and others. If you are serious about being a professional Door Supervisor then you should be serious about gaining knowledge about the industry. Remember that knowledge is power and your job is to keep people safe. Edited from the original by Robin Barratt.
FGH Security Ltd
15 | Company
concerns they have about the industry and provide the collective action needed to effect change. FGH joined the Aspire 100 shortly after it was established in May not just to add another nice new accreditation to the ones that we currently have but because FGH is now becoming recognised as one of the premier security providers in the northwest and therefore we felt that we could really contribute to the alliance’s national presence and service delivery rather then just join for the sake of it. This is combined with the fact that we have proved successful when tendering against the larger national companies on several occasions.
Peter and Wesley at the Aspire 100’s inaugural seminar.
“You aspire to great things? Begin with little ones.”
I
Saint Augustine
n May of this year the Security Watchdog launched The Aspire 100, a new initiative designed to offer representation to national, regional and local contract manned guarding companies, who are currently not ranked in the Infologue Top 20 Guarding Companies (annual turnovers range from £23M - £380M). The top 20 guarding companies in the UK control in excess of 88% of the total revenues generated in the UK Security Guarding Industry, leaving the remaining 590 ACS members (and those operating outside the scheme) with only 12% of the UK contract manned guarding market. The Aspire 100 alliance aims to offer companies who qualify for membership a UK wide industry voice by allowing select companies to work together
FGH Security Ltd
as one collective unit when negotiating or tendering for large national contracts. This in turn allows the alliance to offer a level of local presence and specialisation that is far better established by its component members compared to the regional office of a larger supplier. Eventually the alliance seeks to change buyer perceptions that only the bigger guarding companies can cope with national contracts and that there is another option with a even higher level of attention to detail. “The objective in establishing ‘The Aspire 100’ alliance is to provide a nurturing platform for high calibre organisations outside the Top 20 to collaborate with and support each other in offering the UK Client base an alternative quality service option. We also see a role for members to work in harmony with the Top 20 in supporting regional workforces, where required”, says Terry O’Neil, Chairman of The Security Watchdog Members will also benefit from an ongoing publicity campaign carried within the Industry Trade press, as well as participating in a number of shared user forums where they can voice any
Recently both Peter and Wesley attended the inaugural seminar held in London to contribute to the alliance’s planned development over the forthcoming year. Guest speakers at the event included both Christy Hopkins and Andrew Shepard from the SIA, James Doyal from Cobia and Anthony Bennett from Deloitte LLP. “What I enjoyed most about the day was the shared sense of objective. Whenever you enter into alliances like this there is always a worry at the back of your mind that you’re either going to put in far more then what you get out or no one else delivers to the same standard as you which creates a really inconsistent service as a whole. I’m glad to say that the rigorous entry criteria in place and the fact that they’ve hand picked all of the companies that they initially approached means that I can see a real future in the Aspire 100 and it becoming a viable option for purchasers from around the country,” said Peter Harrison For further information on The Aspire 100 please contact Ewan Tweedie on 01428 728735 or email him at; ewant@securitywatchdog.org.uk
Company | 16
services such as back office functions, data management and debt recovery. The AOS is supported by the BPA Code of Practice for Parking Enforcement on Private Land and Unregulated Car Parks. What are our plans for the future? We intend to grow! Taking the values and business practices set forth by its parent, FGH Security Ltd, NPS will be challenging for larger contracts on a regional scale.
O
Business Director, Wesley Downham says “NPS’s coverage has already stretched to Bury and Bolton, Preston and Kendal, as well as maintaining our hub of operations within the Lancaster and Morecambe area. These are exciting times, in a tough economic climate; it just shows how hard work can really pay off”.
ver the last few weeks, things have been moving pretty fast for the FGH Security family and none more so than Northwest Parking Solutions, who are now registered members of the British Parking Association’s Approved Operator Scheme (AOS).
- Block Property Management - TK Maxx Ltd/Rack ‘em SiSnooker Hall - Jacksons Builders - Tower Court residential estate - Richard P Taylor - Henley Mews residential estate - Natwest - Happy Mount House residential estate
Managing Director Peter Harrison described it as, “A fantastic achievement, something everyone connected with both NPS and FGH can be proud of.”
If you were wondering which sites NPS manage, then look out for our new signs shown above.
The BPA’s AOS is equivalent to the SIA’s Approved Contractor Scheme. Joining demonstrates compliance with the BPA’s strict codes of practice, which includes ensuring that rogue companies cannot operate within the industry. This is not just exciting news for staff at NPS, but for our customers too. Our major clients include: - HayCarr Estates Ltd - Taylor’s Amusements
The BPA’s Operations Director, Richard Hilton, describes the AOS as designed specifically for those BPA members that operate parking enforcement services on private land or in unregulated public car parks. Operators may conduct a wide range of services in this sector including, but not limited to: wheel lamping and vehicle removal, enforcement by ticketing, Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras;
The BPA’s AOS has been set up to try and eradicate rogue, unprofessional companies whose business practices are borderline illegal, let alone immoral. The BPA intends to remove all of these companies from the industry by the end of 2010, leaving more room for companies like NPS to expand. Put simply, this will mean more contracts leading to a better quality of service for all our clients. Every time we use our brand, on our stationery, to the signs we display will now carry the logos shown at the bottom of the page alongside it. If you are interested in using NPS as your car park management team, or know someone who might, call us on 01524 541985, or email us at info@nps-uk.com. You can also visit our website www.NPS-UK.com to find out more information about the services we offer.
FGH Security Ltd
Summary of the news from the SIA for this quarter SIA Launches Consultation on Training Requirements for Enforcement Agents Prior to the introduction of licensing for Enforcement Agents (bailiffs), the SIA is developing the core knowledge and skills required by those working in this sector.As with existing licensable sectors, enforcement agents will be required to undertake training leading to a qualification that they will need to pass before applying for an SIA licence. The SIA is calling for views on the nine proposed licensed-linked training session specifications need for licensing this sector. These are: Introduction to the Enforcement Profession; The Law and the Enforcement Agent’s Role; Taking Control of Goods; Removal and Sale of Controlled Goods; Customer Care; Avoiding Conflict and Reducing Risk; Defusing Conflict; Resolving Conflict; Post-incident Considerations and Learning from Conflict The training is designed to ensure that individuals will be able to perform their duties in order to prevent harm to the public. Anyone wishing to provide feedback should complete the questionnaire available on the SIA website by Friday 29 January 2010. It will apply to the following people operating in England and Wales: Certificated and Private Bailiffs Local Authority Bailiffs Any other individual undertaking the above licensable activities.
SIA Annual Report and Accounts 2008/09 Published The Security Industry Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2008/09 have now been published. Free electronic copies (in PDF format) can be downloaded from the publications section of the SIA website at: www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk
Ruth Henig Reappointed SIA Chairman For Further Term
Baroness Ruth Henig has been reappointed SIA chairman by the Home Office. The new term runs for a further three years from 15 January 2010. Ruth Henig said:“I am very pleased to have been reappointed. I look forward to working with the different sectors of the security industry, with other partners and with ministers during the next three years to ensure that regulation continues to deliver the benefits that we all want to see.” Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said:“I am pleased to re-appoint Baroness Henig as the Chair of the Security Industry Authority. With extensive experience within the police and security sector, Baroness Henig has played a key role in driving the SIA’s focus on greater public protection and better regulation. I look forward to continuing to work with her. Key priorities for the year ahead include the continued drive to build on improvements in performance in the authority’s core work of processing licences for the private security industry, while effectively managing resources to ensure value for money.”
Security Boss Ordered To Pay More Than £13,000 After Working Without SIA Licence A security boss has been fined after working as a security director without holding an SIA licence. Mark David Livingston, 47, was the director of Hallmarc Security Ltd based in Grantham and supplied door staff in the area. At Grantham Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday [27 October], he pleaded guilty to two offences of working as a director without an SIA licence and was fined £500 for each. He was also found guilty of one offence of failing to provide information to the SIA and fined £300 – failing to comply with the SIA’s power to require information was not merely a technical offence, the court heard. The offences are set out in the Private Security Industry Act 2001. As well as the fines, Livingston was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £12,000, total fines and costs of £13,300. Directors, managers and supervisors of security companies are required to hold at least a non-front line SIA licence. Livingston initially held a licence but failed to renew it on expiry.
Second Accrington Security Director Guilty of Flouting the Law
A Blackburn woman has been found guilty of working as a security director without holding a licence from the Security Industry Authority. Tracy Brownridge (26) from Blackburn, was a director of Universal Security Solutions Limited based in Accrington, Lancashire. She appeared at Accrington Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to five counts under Section 3 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001- working without an SIA licence and one count under Section 9 - failing to adhere to licence conditions. During the hearing, the Magistrates were advised that Mrs Brownridge realised the seriousness of the offences during her interview and that she took the conviction very seriously in view of her future employment prospects. SIA Head of Investigation, Sara Brennan, said:“A non-front line licence is required for those who manage, supervise and/or employ individuals who engage in licensable activity, as long as front line activity is not carried out - this includes directors. Tracy Brownridge was a working as a security director providing door supervisors to venues in the Accrington area but failed to obtain a non-front licence. With this criminal conviction, it hinders her chances of holding any SIA licence and therefore working as a director of a security company in the future. I would urge all directors and managers of security companies to ensure they comply with the law.”
FGH Security Ltd
All of the stories above were sourced from http://sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/
Company | 18
ServicesTHAT WE OFFER Security Guarding
Event Security
A Security Guard can offer more then just patrolling a site and acting as a deterrent. With previous clients our guards have performed a range of designated tasks, from search procedures and parking management through to mail room duties and concierge services. Security Guards are often the first point of contact when people visit your site or business so we make sure they act as the best possible representatives for you.
We have experience and expertise in planning and implementing all the elements of successful event security. Including providing specialist security functions such as ingress and egress management, emergency services liaison; effective pit team deployment and close protection services to high profile artists, patrons or clients.
Retail Guarding
Door Supervision
FGH Retail Security focuses on what we call ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ benefits. ‘Hard’ benefits usually revolve around the quantifiable aspects of security, focusing on the financial losses that are avoided through having the Retail Security officer present. ‘Soft’ benefits are equally important to us and focus around the more intangible benefits that the security operative provides such as ensuring the client’s staff members feel safe when going about their daily duties.
Quite literally we provide the best Door Supervisors in the country. That’s why we won this category at this year’s Security Excellence awards. Door Supervision was one of our core service offerings when FGH Security Ltd was founded in 2003. Over the years our Door Supervision division has grown exponentially and had a range of experience working through the North West of England at a host of different venues.
Close Protection Our internationally experienced operatives are specialists in ensuring the safety, security and wellbeing of a broad spectrum of client groups. For people with accelerated lifestyles, be it for professional, personal or often combined reasons we do all we can to ensure our clients receive the highest possible standards of hospitality, care, practical and moral support at every moment of the day and night.
Mobile Patrols
Car Park Management
A cost effective and responsive service. As standard we provide a fully accountable report service for every site visit that we complete, regardless of how frequently the security operative is on your site, to ensure that full and complete checks are being performed with every visit. In addition we offer a free key holding service as standard with our mobile patrol service and a ‘lights off’ service to help your business reduce energy bills and help protect the environment.
We offer all aspects of car park management. This can be anything you require, from warnings through to immobilisation. In the majority of cases we recommend the issue of Parking Charge Notices as we have found this to be as effective a deterrent as more stringent methods, with the added advantage of ensuring your land is freed from obstruction as quickly as possible.
Key Holding
Alarm Monitoring
Installation
Our safe and storage facilities conform to the highest industry standards, BS 7984:2001, the systems we have in place around key access and usage are stringently monitored and we are accredited by the National Security Inspectorate to NACOSS Gold Standard. Our staff are trained helpful professionals and we have a long list of ongoing clients who have never looked back once they started working with us. Our Key Holding facility can also help with the less serious issues, such as holding spare keys in case you loose your own set.
Currently we have an average response time of less than 13 minutes from alarm activation, based on all alarm activations in 2008 and 2009. From our own research, most other security companies average about 20 minutes. This is due to each of our coverage areas having dedicated vehicles as standard so when every second counts we can be there before anyone else. So for less then a cup of coffee per day you can have unparallel levels of monitoring and coverage from one of the regions premiere security providers.
Depending on the nature of the environment, detection equipment can be as overt or discreet as required, ensuring that it is suitable for any environment all the way up to secure hospitals, power stations and military bases with the most stringent security levels. All of our systems are installed by fully trained, accredited and experience professionals meaning no false alarms in the middle of the night, good quality workmanship and a job completed on time and budget.
FGH Security Ltd
Merit Badges
You’ve probably noticed that we have a lot of accreditations and logos on a lot of the material that we produce. Whilst they look pretty and make us look important they can actually tell you a lot about FGH, the working standards we have in place and act as a yard stick to compare us to other operators.
The Aspire 100
Membership is open to the top 100 security companies who turn over less than £20million per year and are ranked in the top 25% of SIA Approved Contractors or hold NSI Gold. Provides increased marketing power for larger national contracts. Shows that company is amongst the top 5% in the security guarding industry. Members benefit from an ongoing publicity campaign carried out by The Security Watchdog within the Industry Trade press, as well as participating in a number of shared user forums where they can voice any concerns they have about the industry and provide the collective action needed to effect change.
www.securitywatchdog.org.uk
Security Excellence Award Winner 2009
A panel of judges made up of industry experts decide upon several finalists selected from hundreds of entries from across the country prior to choosing a winner. An accolade proving that our operating standard and client management is at a benchmark setting level and probably the best in the UK.
www.securityexcellenceawards.co.uk
The Contractors Health and Safety Scheme Consists of an annual audit looking at all the company health and safety policies, the training we undertake, environmental initiatives in place and risk assessments that we complete for every single site. This primarily ensures that good practices are in place to minimise the chances of accidents and dangerous occurrences in the workplace. It also allows clients to have confidence in the company’s working health and safety practices and that they are fully up to date and comply with all legislation.
www.chas.gov.uk
Security Industry Authority Approved Contractor Scheme
Each annual audit lasts up to a week – looking at 89 set criteria looking at every area of the company. This gives us wthe ability to deploy staff on temporary SIA licenses and shows that we operate to, or in some cases above and beyond, the industry regulator’s expected standard.
www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/home/acs
Staff // Customers // Community t: 01524 847 554
e: info@fghsecurity.co.uk