FMJ.CO.UK MANNED SECURITY FOCUS
The security offi cer role is more than Must instructing people to use hand gel and wear
face coverings. Clients will be working in diƚ erent ways due to capacity, building design,
and the nature of their work and workplace. work to the needs of the client.”
MAY 2021 37
The technologies security teams use
have never been as sophisticated or as
integral to the workplace experience. The
growing scope and challenges the security
industry addresses are creating exciting
opportunities for people in our field.”
At 14Forty, additional requests may di„ er
from client to client and being able to o„ er
multi-skilled security guards during the
pandemic gave clients extra peace of mind
when it was needed most.
Isaac explains: “Other areas we cover,
for example, include logistics, such as the
movement of food and medical supplies,
and vacant building maintenance which
can include ‘flushing taps’ to avoid
legionella build up, or checking machinery
and equipment for things such as leaks or
unusual noises. Identifying and reporting
these issues early can save our clients a
great deal of time and money, especially at
times when they are not able to be on-site
to oversee these things for themselves.”
RISE OF TECHNOLOGY
Adopting the use of technology to support
manned security teams has also been
crucial in order to provide the most
e„ icient service. According to Isaac, CCTV
access control for instance has proved
extremely useful for monitoring sites
remotely and allowing, or not as the case
may be, visitors into client premises.
When it comes to the use of technology,
according to the UK Manned Security
Industry Report 2020 the growing digital
revolution in the sector could result in the
establishment of remote security solutions
that reduce the need for personnel. While
this is predicted to result in the sector being
less labour-reliant, it should also result in a
rise in levels of operational e„ iciency.
Brown believes that the pandemic has
only served to speed up the relationship
between front line operations and
technology. He says: “Having our own
technology division has enabled us to
adapt more quickly to support increased
loan worker activities and to introduce new
processes to support recruitment, training
and deployment of personnel whilst
increasing resilience and improving service
quality.
“Online training which is interactive, as
well as improved app based interfaces for
customer support and communication
has helped to create safer environments
Sentinel Group Security established a
COVID-19 steering group at the outset of
the pandemic, says SGS MD Graeme Brown
MBE: “With changing our initial position,
which was reactive to events, to a proactive
approach that would enable positive
outcomes for customers and personnel,
the team, which had been drawn from
across the business was amazing and
quickly introduced a range of measures and
support functions to manage the situation.
“The group’s key focus areas included
e„ ective communication plans using a
range of media to support our personnel
and national portfolio of customers. Online
training and recruitment combined with
virtual employee forums and a zoom café
for personnel to drop in and unwind at the
end of a day helped to maintain a sense
of community and create a forum for
innovation in a fun environment.”
According to Paul Lotter, Managing
Director of Corps Security the firm
introduced a mandatory online COVID-19
training module for all, with the brief being
that the training needed to go beyond what
COVID is and what precautions are in place.
This included, explaining just why certain
precautions are in place so that everyone
fully understands and feels confident
implementing them.
NEW EXPECTATIONS
With all these additional training and
precautions in place, what are the COVIDsecure
areas clients should now expect
their manned security guard to cover?
Says Lotter: “The security o„ icer role is
more than just instructing people to use
hand gel and wear face coverings. Clients
will be working in di„ erent ways due to
capacity, building design, and the nature
of their work and workplace. Some are
working in very low occupancy buildings,
while others have clients or members of the
public using their premises. Understanding
the various precautions in place at each
client’s premises allows o„ icers to tailor
their work to the needs of the client.”
John Sephton Account Director at Axis
Security Services agrees that the role of
security professionals and security teams
has evolved considerably in the past year,
with teams doing so much more than
protecting people, property and assets.
“Our teams have become key to the
customer and workplace experience. In
the context of the pandemic, a visible
security presence makes people feel safe
and comfortable because our teams are
recognised as playing an important part
in infection control. Security teams have
never been as well trained in managing
and mitigating mental health issues.