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Security Provider, Security Services, A&R Security, A&R Security Services, Manned Guarding, Mobile Patrols, Concierge Security

What are the 8 main things you should consider when looking for a security provider?

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When you type security provider into a search engine, hundreds of thousands of security companies pop up and can make you feel overwhelmed – especially if you are unsure of which provider is best suited to you and your business.

Here at A&R Security Services, we understand that when looking for a professional security provider, there is a lot to consider such as:

  • What services do they provide?
  • Do they have a good track record of keeping businesses safe?
  • Will they suit my business and fulfil my needs?

And choosing the right one is a big decision to make, as the one you choose will be protecting your business from physical threats when you’re not there. Knowing you can count on your security provider should be the top priority when choosing and to help you make the right decision, take a look at the top 10 things you should consider when hiring a security company.

Are they and their officers fully insured and licensed?

In order for a security provider to offer security services, they need to have the right licenses and insurances in place. SIA (Security Industry Association) is the governing body for the private security sector and if the security providers guards do not hold an SIA license, they will be breaking the law and face up to 6 months in prison or receive a hefty fine. So before choosing a provider, ask for evidence that all of their guards are fully licensed to operate. Also, you should see their insurance policies and check that they have the right insurances in place to cover your property should there be any incidents.

Are they able to provide you with the services you need?

When you look at a business, no two are the same and require different services to suit their needs. When looking for a professional security provider, it is always good to have an idea of what you are after. This helps reduce your search but also give you the ability to ask specific questions about the services that they provide and whether or not they are the best fit for you.

However, when you are looking for security services you may have several security services working with each other. For example, if you’re a construction site or large corporate office block, you may need manned guards, concierge services, mobile patrols and key holding and alarm response services. So it is important to see if they offer a range of services.

Do they put customer service first?

Although you are looking for a security provider to provide you with professional security services for your business you should also look at how they provide those services. We all like to be treated like we are special, so you would want a security provider that is willing to go above and beyond to ensure that you are happy with the service that they are providing. Choosing a security provider that puts their customer service at the heart of everything they do will help avoid any hassle further down the line.

What are their customers saying about them?

Most often the best way to find out how well a security provider performs is by speaking to their customers directly. Customers have an impartial voice when it comes to the services they are paying for and can help you reach a decision on whether or not the security provider you are looking at is the right choice for you.

You could also look at your network and ask for recommendations or look at online testimonials and reviews about their customers experience with them.

And let’s be honest, you wouldn’t make a big purchase without reading the reviews, so why should a security provider be any different?

Are their guards multiskilled?

As mentioned before, security guards need to hold a valid SIA license that allows them to operate within the security industry. But it is always good to ask what else their guards can offer? Investing in multi-skilled guards can prove cost-effective.

Costs

Employing your own security team may seem like the easier option but in actual fact, it isn’t. When employing your own security team, there are hidden costs such as uniform, training, insurances and SIA licensing – So employing the services of a professional security provider is a much better option.

However, when looking for a professional security provider, the costs will be the biggest things to consider. And as they say “cheaper isn’t always best” and will result in you paying out extra to fix your providers mistakes. So, when looking for a provider be willing to invest a bit more in a higher quality service.

Industry experience

There are many security providers that are at different stages of their experience. Although going with a newer security provider may provide them with experience, it could lead to teething problems and potentially costly mistakes.

So, when investing in a security provider it is always good to go with one that has the experience and knowledge needed to ensure that your business is kept safe.

Are they flexible?

When looking for a professional security provider and looking at their services, it is always good to ask if they have flexibility with their services. For example, you may only need security services for a couple of months, only require patrols in the evening or require security staff to work certain shift patterns. However, if you require a more regular service then a fixed long-term contract is best suited to you to ensure that you get a continuous security service.

For more information about our security services call our head office team on 01656 713950 or visit our website

Security, Security Services, Inhouse, In-house, Outsourced, In-house v Outsourced, In-house Security, Outsourced Security, Newport

In-house vs Outsourced Security Services: What’s the difference?

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Nearly every business in Newport needs some form of security.

However, it can be a bit of a minefield to know what the best security solution for your business is – whether that is having an in-house or an outsourced security team.

Here we look at the benefits of having a professional outsourced security team over an in-house security team.

Reliability and expertise

When looking for security for your business, you want a reliable security team that can protect your business from criminals. Employing your own security team allows you to gauge if that person is best suited to your business, reliable and have the expertise that you are looking for. However, finding the right person for your business can take a lot of time and effort which could be used to run your business.

Employing an experienced and accredited security provider provides your business with more than just a security solution.  Professional Security providers such as A&R Security Services will have years of experience and knowledge and can provide advice and support for your business, ensuring that it is properly protected.

Professional Security providers will be aware of the threats that your business will face, and this allows them to input tailored security measures to your business’s requirements. This not only keeps the cost down; it guarantees your business will remain secure.

 

Time-Saving and Cost-effective

When creating and maintaining an internal security team, it can be an expensive and time-consuming process. For guards to work in the security industry, they must hold a valid SIA license – which can cost over £200. Add to this uniform, equipment, insurance and other additional costs, creating an in-house security team can quickly mount up.

Whilst having an in-house security team in your business is fine, they would need someone to manage them so hiring experienced, dependable and hardworking staff can sometimes be difficult and costly. Also finding additional staff to cover sickness absence or leave can be quite difficult.

Refresher training – especially around health and safety, first aid, fire safety – can prove to be expensive as well. However, if your staff are not properly trained in these areas, you risk exposing your business to threats.

When you choose a professional security provider, all training, management, equipment, uniform, insurance and recruitment costs are eliminated. Plus, if their staff are off sick or on annual leave, they will have the staff to cover on short notice.

 

Guaranteed quality service

The UK Security industry is tightly regulated to ensure that companies do not put their customers at risk with low-grade security solutions. However, when creating your own in-house security team, you won’t be subject to these regulations.

Unless you have previous experience or knowledge about how to implement effective security, your internal security team is unlikely to meet the standards that private security providers are expected to achieve. This can be dangerous as any security incident that occurs will be entirely your responsibility – whether that’s legal repercussions, maintenance costs or other consequences of failing to protect your business or staff.

If you chose to hire a professional security provider, you can be rest assured that the service you receive will meet all legal requirements, that all staff will be properly trained and vetted and not only would security incidents be far less likely to occur, you won’t be left to pick up the pieces on our own.

 

Flexibility and growth

Any business will eventually begin to grow and expand. As your business grows, the security measures that you have in place will change to coincide. If you have outgrown your old office and are moving to a new office space in Newport, it can throw up a whole set of new security issues.

If your business grows and you have an internal security team, it can take a long time to find extra staff and this can leave gaps within your security. Also, as your in-house security team grows, so do the costs which could result in channelled resources being moved away from core projects which could have a knock-on effect of the growth of your business.

Choosing a professional security provider allows you more room to either scale up or down your security needs. Having this ability ensures that your business is protected throughout your transition and that your resources are allocated effectively.

Also, a professional security provider will be able to cover any temporary security requirements that you may have during your growth.

 

Additional Solutions

The word ‘Security’ Covers a large range of activities. From CCTV monitoring and secure key holding to manned guarding and mobile patrols. And the list goes on.

As your business grows and changes so will your business security requirements over time. For example, if you open second office space in Newport City centre, you may require CCTV monitoring, secure key holding and alarm response. However, implementing these security measures can be difficult. Having additional security for a second location requires purchasing equipment such as alarm and CCTV systems and hiring additional guards to provide key holding services.

This often makes it difficult for businesses to implement the security solutions that they need and unfortunately results in businesses letting their security lapse as they struggle to find the right security providers, purchase new equipment, research and hire and/or train new staff.

A professional security provider will have expertise in each of these areas. This means that they can provide any additional services quickly saving you time and money, as well as ensuring that you are still receiving a high-quality service.

 

If this has changed your mind from employing an in-house security team but not sure what to look out for when hiring a professional security provider then take a look at our guide here.

A&R Security Services provide comprehensive security solutions to businesses in Newport, Cardiff, Swansea and South Wales. If you would like further information about our services, visit our website or give us a call on 01656 713950 to arrange a free quotation.

A&R Security Services, Keyholding services, secure keyholding services, Security Services, Keyholding services, keyholding

5 reasons for outsourcing your keyholding responsibilities.

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It’s all well and good giving an extra set of keys to your business either to a close friend or work colleague. But if an alarm goes off in the middle of the night you don’t really want to put them in a potentially dangerous risk (especially if there is a threat still at your business).

Here are five reasons to outsource your keyholding responsibilities:

Staff safety

It is estimated that 5% of out-of-hours alarm calls are a result of a genuine break-in situation. If your keyholder is a work colleague or another member of staff, you are potentially putting them at risk should an intruder still be there.

A recent British crime study (2018) confirms the possible risk. It says that property crime accounts for 70% of crimes committed, of those 22% were deemed violent.

By delegating secure keyholding responsibilities to a third party such as A&R Security Services, you are safeguarding your staff. You are also ensuring that any alarm alerts are responded to by a trained security professional.

Corporate Safety

If your keyholder is a key member of your team they tend to be experienced, trusted and valued employees.  However, if such a person is attacked whilst responding to an alarm call, this can have a massive impact on your business. Having a key member of staff off sick can lead to your business operating ineffectively and that’s before you consider sick pay for their recovery period.

Injury in fulfilling work-related duties (even outside of work hours) could leave your company liable for damages. By outsourcing this responsibility, that risk is reduced.

Doubling up

Normally keyholders are paired up to respond to alarm calls, for reasons of personal safety. In real terms, one keyholder is always going to get there first and respond to the alarm, which can put them at risk. Even with two members of staff, their safety isn’t always guaranteed. After all, there is no way to know how many are involved in the break-in.

With third party keyholding services, key holders are already familiar with the possible risks. They can attend the property as a pair if need be and are fully trained security personnel.

Training

Some keyholders aren’t adequately trained to respond to alarm calls and this doesn’t mean dealing with possible intruders at your business (although that is important). Even switching off and resetting the alarm requires a thorough knowledge of the system.

Team morale

By hiring security professionals to act as your company keyholders you send a clear message to your staff. That message is that you value them and their safety. This can greatly boost employee morale as a whole. For keyholders, even if they don’t encounter a threat, it is a difficult role. False alarms in the middle of the night can be infuriating and disruptive. By outsourcing your keyholding responsibilities you’re showing that you care about your employee’s work/life balance.

 

If you’re a business in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Bridgend and in need of keyholder services, then get in touch with us. At A&R Security Services, we provide the best Secure Keyholding Services and Alarm Response. For a free quote call us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for more details.

Cardealership, A&R Security Services, Professional Security Services, Dealership security

Designing a lock-tight dealership security plan.

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It goes without saying that dealerships have tens of thousands of pounds worth of cars on their premises, so they must take their security seriously. In addition to keeping high priced vehicles protected, dealerships must also focus on keeping their customers and employees safe.

Thieves are drawn to high-value items that end-up returning a high profit so it’s important that dealerships don’t make it easier for criminals to breach their security.

Identifying weak points and securing them.

With any dealership, it’s important to assess potential weak points. This can be done by employing a security firm to assess access points and other potential weak points that would allow criminals to get in.

Here are some of the main places to pay attention too:

1.       Perimeter

2.       Carparks

3.       Main building and showroom

4.       Lighting

5.       Staff and customers

Perimeter:

The perimeter of your dealership is your first line of defence against criminals, and it’s in your best interest to keep it as secure as possible.

Make sure that access points are clearly protected, and that fences, walls and gates are used to protect the surrounding area. To boost your physical security barriers, you can employ security staff to man certain areas or mobile security to patrol the entirety of your dealership. You can also employ CCTV camera’s to visually monitor any suspicious activity.

Carparking:

The last thing dealerships want to do is attract criminals, so high valued vehicles should be stored inside showrooms and garages, rather than being left outside. Vehicles outside of the showroom can become easy potential targets to criminals – so having each of the car’s handbrakes engaged and employing parking blocks around the cars and major entrances and exits can deter criminals.

Main Building and Showroom:

The main building and the showroom are major potential targets and it’s imperative that they are secure. When no one is present at the dealership, it is important that windows, doors and other access points are securely locked before leaving. As previously mentioned, having manned guarding can ensure that the inside of the building won’t be broken into and employing CCTV camera’s inside can help monitor any activity. Installing security alarms is one security option that can easily alert to anyone trying to enter your dealership and there is a range of systems that will suit your needs.

Lighting:

Visibility is a major key in dealership security and safety. Therefore, the exterior and interior lighting are extremely important. Dealerships should make sure that they have adequate lighting for the entire exterior of your dealership premises. If you have areas that aren’t well lit, it’s good to employ motion-activated lighting. Motion-activated lights are triggered by movement and can make criminals feel caught and exposed. 

Staff and customers:

It’s not always criminals that pose threats to your dealership. Threats can be actions that are taken by customers or the staff themselves. It’s important to make staff aware that they can play an important role in keeping your dealership safe and secure. Create an environment of honesty so that all staff don’t hesitate to take action when they witness something out of the ordinary, whether done by a customer or employee.

We at A&R Security services work with a number of car dealerships and can provide tailored security solutions to suit your needs. If you would like to have a free quote call us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for more details.

Event Security Services, Security Services, Security

Having Effective Event Security

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With the British summer being set to be filled with an array of music events, festivals, sporting and community events, there has never been a more important time to stress the importance of event security.

Over the past few years, both small and large events have been targets for attacks, so security at events needs to hit the mark in protecting both the public and staff.
But what can be done to keep guests safe and an event trouble-free?

1. Choose the right venue – when planning an event and choosing a venue, keeping security in mind is important. Internal venues such as Concert halls, theatres, hotels, museums, etc are naturally secure sights, with physical barriers. Most venues will have emergency evacuation strategies in place with staff already briefed in preventing public panic and mass exiting. Major venues will have increased their security planning and provision significantly in answer to threats that events and venues face. Outside events such as festivals need a little bit more effort with security and patrols, planning how perimeters will be secured and properly patrolled.

2. Conducting security assessments- assessing potential threats to and at an event is important when protecting guests. High profile events such as music festivals, charity events or awards with celebrities and other prominent figures present more of a security challenge. Even with the level of security threat is known – a security assessment will highlight weak points in a security plan. When planning an event and putting a plan in place – it’s always good practice to have a contingency plan to ensure the smooth running of your event if anything were to go wrong. If you’re planning an event think ‘How will an uninvited guest be handled? What will happen in the event of a security breech? How will emergency procedures be implemented?’

3. Brief your team – when planning or running an event – communication is key! A breakdown in communication can make a plan fall apart and an event fail. Effectively communicating to your security team what their roles are and the protocols of what to do in an emergency. For example, if there is a need for mass evacuation, which exit are they to staff? Who will liaise with emergency services? How will your security keep guests staff safe?

4. Screening guests and staff – With recent attacks on events, security have had to screen guests and staff at venues. From checking bags to scrutinising tickets, security staff need to be clear and confident in screening both staff and guests when entering a venue.

5. Hire a professional security company – To ensure your event is really safe and secure, hiring a professional security firm can be critical. Professional security firms can perform detailed security assessments on your venue and plans, as well as providing SIA licensed security staff. Professional security firms are fully insured and can create bespoke packages from patrolling to front-of-house staff.

A&R Security Services has over 40 years of experience in the security industry and have worked with a number of customers across South Wales and the South West. We can offer bespoke event security packages that suit your needs. If you would like to know more or would like a quote, contact us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for more details.