COVID-19 continues to challenge life for all of us, but I am on the whole proud of the way people are reacting, supporting each other and coming together as communities. One such community is the private security sector. It was an incredibly important moment when the BSIA and SIA came together to lobby and ensure that security guards are recognised as key workers. They have stood up for us as an industry at a time when it truly matters Though […]
It’s frustrating when my potential clients don’t understand that when they hire self-employed guards, they put their business, their staff and the security guard themselves at great risk. Remember that all it takes to be a security guard is to pass training and receive a certificate. After that, any agency can scoop them up, advertise they have security officers available and then sell their services to you. You might think you’re getting a great deal as self-employed guards are usually […]
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) says that it wants to use trained volunteers for providing security across the venues for the 2012 Olympic Games. According to LOCOG, by the time of 2012 Opening Ceremony, 100,000 people will be working on the Games including 3,000 staff, up to 70,000 volunteers and a large number of contractors. While it could be a good idea to use volunteers for the Games in general, questions can be raised […]
In two years time London will host the world’s largest sporting event, the Olympics. One of the challenges for its organisers will be to provide foolproof security for the games. The International Olympic Committee regards security as the “number one priority” for every organising committee, and we must ensure that we have the highest standard of safety procedures for the participants and the visitors alike. The organisers of the London Olympic Games have called on the citizens to volunteer for […]
Despite the rise of “one-stop-shop” facilities management and security providers during the last decade, Magenta’s recent survey highlights an overwhelming preference for specialists rather than multi-service providers. Magenta Security Services, Abbey Petkar: “The respondents to our survey, which included retailers, facilities managers, leisure facility managers and commercial property managers, clearly indicated their preference for single service providers and experts in security.” When asked whether they prefer to work with security professionals and additional single service suppliers such as caterers, cleaners etc or […]
When it comes to security, would you prefer a jack of all trades or a master of one? Despite the perceptions of many, security is a professional business, complete with associations, accreditations and qualifications. Why therefore so many facilities managers insist on the cheap “one stop shop option”? For many, the manned security guard is the closest contact they ever have with the security industry, they see people working part time, semi-retired or on a second job and mentally consider […]
