FEATURE
Security giant taking big steps in technology Global knowledge combined with a local service has provided leading security giant Securitas with the ability to respond swiftly to any risk a company may face. Adrienne McGill talks to Reece Edwards, Securitas’ Protective Services Branch Manager in Northern Ireland.
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he security industry has moved on a long way from the times of a night guard in uniform and peaked cap roaming around business premises and shining a torch into corners to make sure no prowlers are hiding and all is in order. It’s a lot more high tech and sophisticated now. Securitas, the global security company, is one of the leaders in the sector. With over 300,000 employees in 58 markets, it has grown to become a security giant providing services to tens of thousands of clients across the world ranging from SMEs to global multibillion industries. The company provides tailored solutions based on client-specific needs. The Swedish owned company which has operated in Northern Ireland since 2002 and currently employs 330 people, opened new headquarters in Belfast in 2014 underlining its long term commitment to the region. The Northern Ireland operation is headed by Reece Edwards who was appointed as Protective Services Branch Manager in April this year. Reece is responsible for the delivery of Securitas’ security services to clients, this includes onsite, mobile, electronic and remote security, fire and safety, and corporate risk management. Among its many clients in Northern Ireland are Caterpillar, Coca-Cola, NI Chamber and Stena Line. “The fact that Securitas is such a global company and has experience in so many different sectors, means we have operations knowledge and expertise across the board,” says Reece. “Within Northern Ireland I have a very skilled team, including service delivery and operations managers, who report to me and who are responsible for our clients which gives the
company a very local feel while being able to tap into global and national knowledge.” The Securitas Operations Centre (SOC), in the UK in Milton Keynes, connects employees, technology and processes, enabling the company to use key information from real time monitoring to deliver a comprehensive security solution and to take the correct action for clients, 24/7. Through the SOC, Securitas
“Security is higher on the agenda now as companies want to look after their people, property and assets. ” 46
is able to coordinate its security solutions efficiently and with great accuracy. All remote video surveillance is monitored from the centre and when an alarm is triggered anywhere in the UK, operatives will verify if the alarm is genuine and take appropriate action which may include deploying Securitas’ local mobile team to site. Specialist operatives, who manage the different components of the protective security solution, are experts in quickly addressing any problems and solving them according to each client’s requests. A knowledge of a client’s security needs is combined with data and intelligence to optimise the mix of on-site, mobile and remote security. “We can transform how a business manages its security – an officer no longer needs to be on a client site 24/7 if electronic and remote technology is in place. This allows us to upskill officers in other areas, so they add even more value when on site,” says Reece. “For us, it’s all about blending people, technology and knowledge. The technology is not replacing people, it is redefining their role and giving us the opportunity to upskill them and make the best use of their time which makes their job more interesting because they gain a wider skillset. “At the end of the day – while technology is vital – so is a person’s judgement. A person will know what to do in a particular situation while the technology will support and enhance that.” Securitas was founded in Sweden in 1934 when entrepreneur Erik Philip-Sörensen bought a small security company and over the years grew with huge expansion internationally through acquisitions. The name Securitas comes from the Roman goddess of security and stability and its logo consists of the name and three red dots