When the Working Time Directive and industry regulation begin to bite deep, the cost of manpower provision will rise for end users. As Brian Sims argues, though, there'll always be a need for manned guarding – except that now it will have to be of a much higher quality and, for the best results, provided as an holistic one-stop shop package by systems-savvy security companies.
For many years now manned guarding and electronic security technology have run along parallel tracks which never seemed to cross. End users would go to separate suppliers for their CCTV cameras, electrified fences and security officers. It would never have occurred to them to do anything other than this when the time to specify came along.

Of late, however, the security industry has slowly begun to consolidate. The result? A good many guarding companies have started buying up technology outfits, operating them as a profitable sideline to their core business.

With an upwards pressure currently being exerted on labour costs, and the inevitable drop in price of increasingly sophisticated security technologies, end users are beginning to turn to access control and remote video monitoring systems – as well as bio-recognition and other equally high-tech solutions – to satisfy their security needs.

Rather than becoming part of what could otherwise turn into something of a 'Cinderella Sector' if they're not careful, those manned guarding companies with foresight are already repositioning themselves to provide the highly-skilled manpower that will be necessary if end users are to make the most of their security systems, at the same time helping their clients with specifying and installing the same.

Several leading security consultants have been quick off the mark in coining a new (and entirely apt) phrase to describe this up-and-coming market – 'ManTech' security.

The drivers for change
In June, the BSIA's chief executive David Dickinson announced the establishment of a Common Interest Working Group to explore the means of developing cost-effective, integrated security solutions ('BSIA: "The future is integrated"', News Update, SMT, June 2003, p7). Such developments are influenced as much by the 'pull factor' of technological invention as they are by the 'push factor' of rising manpower costs.

Ultimately, it's true to say that very few security companies can afford not to embrace this new way of working.

As the UK's seventh largest manned security provider by turnover (take a look at www.infologue.com), Securiplan had differed from many of its competitors by positioning itself as a manned guarding specialist alone, and concentrating on that core business. This was the case until December 2001, when the directors decided to establish a systems division and, therefore, turn the company into a total security service provider.

Securiplan's operations director Barry Dawson takes up the story. "Our clients were increasingly asking us to help them choose appropriate systems for their sites, so we started to develop partnerships with a variety of installation companies. These arrangements weren't always satisfactory, though. When, one by one, those companies were bought out by larger competitors, they stopped delivering the agreed level of service we demanded."

With many of the company's customer services managers, site managers and supervisors already being involved in helping to specify systems for end user sites on which they were working, there was a realisation of a natural synergy which would be appreciated by the client base. This inspired Securiplan's directors – among them Group managing director Phillip Ullmann – to take the plunge and set up a systems operation.

A team of expert specifiers and installers had to be assembled, while CCTV, remote video monitoring and access control systems specialist Peter Ambrose was recruited to oversee the launch of the new division.

Securiplan had quietly observed several of its competitors proceed down the acquisition route, taking over high-tech companies and attempting to run them alongside their manpower businesses. In addition to the usual difficulties of aligning once disparate organisations with very different cultures and priorities, they'd sometimes found that the poor performance of one company reflected badly on the other, resulting in lost contracts.

Adopting a progressive stance, Securiplan's directors decided from the outset not to set up a separate company in the traditional sense. Instead, its systems team would work proactively alongside the customer services managers of its guarding business and introduce systems solutions in tandem.

Paul Collis, who recently became managing director of both the Corporate Guarding and Security Systems Divisions of the Securiplan Group (see 'Appointments', p67), has helped pioneer this approach from the company's Hillingdon hq. "Our main objective is to help our clients mitigate any security risks, and to let them do so in a cost-effective way," explains Collis. "Whenever we see an opportunity for a client to improve site security by deploying technological solutions, we'll suggest exactly that – even if it means they'll not require as many officers on site as has been the norm."

The 'glue' that really binds Securiplan's 'manpower-plus-systems' approach together is the security review process ('Testing your defences', SMT, February 2003, pp68-69). By arrangement with each client, a team of Home Office-trained experts is sent on to site unannounced to carry out security penetration tests and find out where any weaknesses lie in the host's security set-up. Members of the team will also check exactly what type of training security officers have received, and then deliver an independent report on their findings to the security manager.

"Clients are often shocked to learn about the gaps that we identify in their security arrangements, and are keen to see our consultants' report advising them as to how they might refine their methods and procedures," suggests Collis. "It's at this point that we'd offer the in-house security manager the services of our Security Systems Division to implement the recommendations of the review and upgrade any systems already in use."

Using existing technologies
In practice, Securiplan Systems director Peter Ambrose adopts a conservative approach when going to site and recommending new kit.

"Wherever possible, we'll try to develop the existing technology rather than start from scratch by specifying completely new systems," stresses Ambrose. "I doubt very much whether many other installers are so restrained! Since we're independent of any particular manufacturer, we're able to recommend the best solution for that site. In this way, the client would always benefit from a bespoke solution within their budget."

While it might be tempting for them to try to claw back some of the lost guarding revenue through the maintenance contract, Securiplan aims to provide a more cost-effective systems maintenance service than many of its competitors. "We've witnessed some of our clients paying out a small fortune for exclusive maintenance agreements with individual suppliers. That's really why we avoid installing proprietary systems," continues Ambrose.

"We have also found that, with our trained personnel working on site and using the security equipment, we can often reduce the need for maintenance call-outs by instructing security officers to resolve the simpler problems so that engineers are only called to site when it's really necessary. The site managers also know that they'll receive the back-up and response times they require because we're all part of the same outfit". An excellent advert for planned integration.

Officers: an expensive luxury?
As clients and contractors alike grapple with the implications of this year's increase in National Insurance contributions, forthcoming regulation of the private security industry and changes to the working week, one might draw the conclusion that security officers are fast becoming an expensive luxury. Not so.

Paul Collis envisions a clear, on-going need for officers who are "broadly trained, multi-skilled, customer-focused" and – arguably most important of all – "licensed to operate" to standards laid down by the Security Industry Authority. "We're predicting a requirement for a smaller pool of professional security personnel who'll work less hours and have a much higher perceived value to the client," states Collis.

"Out-of-hours security on many sites will increasingly be run from national Control Centres using remote video monitoring, and deploying regional mobile units to deal with any emergencies," he adds.

"That said, in most business environments we feel that there's a continuing need for security personnel to be present during office hours. The customer care, Health and Safety and trouble-shooting aspects of their role will never be replicated by even the most sophisticated of systems. At the end of the day, an intruder or fire alarm system is only as effective as those who respond to it."

Integrated security on site: the Brixton plc experience

A major property investment company – Brixton plc – has just signed a contract with Securiplan for the contractor to specify, supply and install security systems at its major industrial and business parks across the UK. Since January last year, Securiplan has been one of Brixton’s two chosen partners for manned security services. Early on in their relationship there were discussions concerning the installation of security systems. The client arranged a four-way tendering process for one of its sites, for which Securiplan’s consultancy team – headed up by Securiplan Systems director Peter Ambrose – had to present detailed and fully-costed proposals. The advantages of being able to use one supplier for all of its security needs clearly appealed to Brixton plc and, accordingly, B-Serv (which manages space for Brixton) has agreed on a detailed roll-out plan that will see similar systems installed across its other properties. Steve Lee – managing director of B-Serv – explains his company’s security buying strategy. “We started off by streamlining our manned guarding supplier list, selecting the two most appropriate companies for our needs and then working with them to improve the standard of guarding on offer,” states Lee. “The next stage was to introduce integrated solutions such as remote monitoring that would actively reduce our reliance on manpower. As a result, we anticipate being able to realise dramatic reductions in our security costs without compromising the needs of our tenants.” A classic advert for integrated security. It can and does work, but as Securiplan’s Paul Collis rightly states: “End users must be sure that they’re not exploited. The security risk will increase markedly if costs are trimmed to unacceptable levels.”

Source

SMT