Are you a Personal Assistant or Events Organiser who hires only major security companies for your event, based on the supposition and expectation that they guarantee the best service and value for money?
Or perhaps as a result of choosing one of the large security companies, you felt that you were badly let down by their class of employee and attitude?
If you answered both or even just one of these with a yes, then you need to be querying the logic behind such a choice and ask the question; can a major security company that claims it employs thousands of SIA licence holding members, really supply a consistent level of quality operator that will satisfy the demands of your client?
If you were to listen to the SIA then the answer is yes, as they proffer the idea that holding an SIA licence is an assurance of having attained a high standard of industry competence but if you have the chance to speak to industry insiders or if you can gain access to security forums then you will find a very different answer.
The old maxim of quantity over quality seems almost appropriate when describing the workforce of these larger security companies.
For you to understand fully why using the services of large security companies are not always the best option for you, then you need to know why the SIA was created and just exactly who they are.
According to SIA information, the security industry had the perception for being associated with the criminal element. It was decided that it was in desperate need of cleaning up and regulation.
The Security Industry Authority or, SIA, is responsible for regulating the security industry. They are an independent group who are accountable to the Home Secretary, under the stipulations of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Their area of responsibility is to control the private security industry for the purpose of reducing criminality, raising values and to identify quality service providers.
Their two main duties are, the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities within the private security industry and the second is to process the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.
Thanks to the involvement of the SIA, we now have those wishing to hire a security company believing that all of those holding an SIA licence are of the same calibre and now neglect to do any proper research into whom they may be hiring.
Let us go back and examine the claimed main reason for the creation of the SIA, which was that of the security industry having the perceived criminal reputation and ask if that really was the case.
It is just possible this observation of criminality could have been applied to the lesser end of the security scale, the doorman and site security markets but it certainly did not relate to the people working in Close Protection.
Those working in Close Protection were self regulating and fastidious about their reputations; only working with those they knew previously and were of the same high standards.
If you ever tried to break into the London bodyguard scene, famously known as The Circuit, then you will have an understanding of what I mean, it was nigh impossible.
On the surface this may look unfair but it kept the undesirable element out and maintained the highest of security standards.
At this stage you may be asking yourself one or two questions, such as; why would I hire from a small security company who wish to supply more expensive Close Protection Officers for a job that I am sure only needs those with an SIA door supervisor licence and will therefore be cheaper, also can a larger company not provide the same type of security person?
Simply put, flexibility and overall quality. You will discover that a smaller security company has an improved relationship with their staff as it is more intimate, plus their workers will have a different way of thinking to those working for a major firm.
They will have an increased sense of pride in their work, they will be highly experienced and they will carry a level of professionalism that cannot be matched by mere numbers of staff.
Initially you may flinch at the difference in cost between the two types of security officer but when you realise what you are getting for your money then you will understand that it is the best value possible.
What you are getting for your money is a security officer who can deal with a multitude of additional security tasks over and above those of a Door Supervisor.
Should you still not be convinced that a smaller security company would suit your and the interests of your client far better, then the best of luck to you as you will need it. Some of the incidents we have witnessed, whilst subcontracted to these large security companies, would open your eyes to the types of character that slips through the net and onto their books. Such as; initiating fights for their own personal gratification, boasting about what they have just stolen from the very people they were hired to protect, disappearing every time a police sniffer dog was in the vicinity and SIA licence holders who could not speak English.
So just how do you know if you are hiring the right security company? The best way is to go back to the techniques used before absolute belief in the SIA badge and that is through word of mouth, others recommendations, testimonials and references from people who have had a great deal of satisfaction from using a particular company.
Do not forget that small security companies know that they are only as good as their last contract and will make absolutely sure that you get only the highest calibre of operator available because if they do not, then they will be out of business very quickly.
For further information about this article or if you have a general query then please contact us via the information contained on this page or visit our website.
Or perhaps as a result of choosing one of the large security companies, you felt that you were badly let down by their class of employee and attitude?
If you answered both or even just one of these with a yes, then you need to be querying the logic behind such a choice and ask the question; can a major security company that claims it employs thousands of SIA licence holding members, really supply a consistent level of quality operator that will satisfy the demands of your client?
If you were to listen to the SIA then the answer is yes, as they proffer the idea that holding an SIA licence is an assurance of having attained a high standard of industry competence but if you have the chance to speak to industry insiders or if you can gain access to security forums then you will find a very different answer.
The old maxim of quantity over quality seems almost appropriate when describing the workforce of these larger security companies.
For you to understand fully why using the services of large security companies are not always the best option for you, then you need to know why the SIA was created and just exactly who they are.
According to SIA information, the security industry had the perception for being associated with the criminal element. It was decided that it was in desperate need of cleaning up and regulation.
The Security Industry Authority or, SIA, is responsible for regulating the security industry. They are an independent group who are accountable to the Home Secretary, under the stipulations of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Their area of responsibility is to control the private security industry for the purpose of reducing criminality, raising values and to identify quality service providers.
Their two main duties are, the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities within the private security industry and the second is to process the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.
Thanks to the involvement of the SIA, we now have those wishing to hire a security company believing that all of those holding an SIA licence are of the same calibre and now neglect to do any proper research into whom they may be hiring.
Let us go back and examine the claimed main reason for the creation of the SIA, which was that of the security industry having the perceived criminal reputation and ask if that really was the case.
It is just possible this observation of criminality could have been applied to the lesser end of the security scale, the doorman and site security markets but it certainly did not relate to the people working in Close Protection.
Those working in Close Protection were self regulating and fastidious about their reputations; only working with those they knew previously and were of the same high standards.
If you ever tried to break into the London bodyguard scene, famously known as The Circuit, then you will have an understanding of what I mean, it was nigh impossible.
On the surface this may look unfair but it kept the undesirable element out and maintained the highest of security standards.
At this stage you may be asking yourself one or two questions, such as; why would I hire from a small security company who wish to supply more expensive Close Protection Officers for a job that I am sure only needs those with an SIA door supervisor licence and will therefore be cheaper, also can a larger company not provide the same type of security person?
Simply put, flexibility and overall quality. You will discover that a smaller security company has an improved relationship with their staff as it is more intimate, plus their workers will have a different way of thinking to those working for a major firm.
They will have an increased sense of pride in their work, they will be highly experienced and they will carry a level of professionalism that cannot be matched by mere numbers of staff.
Initially you may flinch at the difference in cost between the two types of security officer but when you realise what you are getting for your money then you will understand that it is the best value possible.
What you are getting for your money is a security officer who can deal with a multitude of additional security tasks over and above those of a Door Supervisor.
Should you still not be convinced that a smaller security company would suit your and the interests of your client far better, then the best of luck to you as you will need it. Some of the incidents we have witnessed, whilst subcontracted to these large security companies, would open your eyes to the types of character that slips through the net and onto their books. Such as; initiating fights for their own personal gratification, boasting about what they have just stolen from the very people they were hired to protect, disappearing every time a police sniffer dog was in the vicinity and SIA licence holders who could not speak English.
So just how do you know if you are hiring the right security company? The best way is to go back to the techniques used before absolute belief in the SIA badge and that is through word of mouth, others recommendations, testimonials and references from people who have had a great deal of satisfaction from using a particular company.
Do not forget that small security companies know that they are only as good as their last contract and will make absolutely sure that you get only the highest calibre of operator available because if they do not, then they will be out of business very quickly.
For further information about this article or if you have a general query then please contact us via the information contained on this page or visit our website.
Source...