Archive for category: Corps Security Press Releases

Corps Security Provides Female Staff With Free Personal Security Protection

Corps Security Provides Female Staff With Free Personal Security Protection

Corps Security is giving all its female employees free personal security protection to keep them safe following the tragic death of Sarah Everard and a rise in concern around women’s safety.

More than 300 people employed by Corps Security across the UK ­– including office-based and front-line officers – will be provided with the Corps Guard app for free. All Corps employees’ families are provided with the service at cost price if they want it.

The Corps Guard app can be downloaded onto any smartphone and provides support when people feel unsafe or in the event of an emergency. It’s particularly useful for people travelling at anti-social hours, when they’re alone or entering a potentially unsafe area. The tool complements Corps’ existing lone worker security support and is ideal for people’s personal use in the evenings and at weekends.

The Corps Guard app is activated prior to an individual starting a journey or putting themselves in a situation where they feel unsafe. A signal is transmitted to the Corps Monitoring Centre in Glasgow and highly-trained operators begin tracking the person’s movements.

Should the individual feel in danger or under duress at any time, simply shaking or tapping their smartphone or pressing their Corps Guard Bluetooth wristband instantaneously sends an alert to the Corps Monitoring Centre and designated emergency contacts. The alert page has a tracking facility that displays an exact GPS location which is refreshed every 45 seconds so all emergency contacts can follow their movements.

Depending on the type of the alert, the monitoring centre will either attempt to contact the person to determine their situation, contact the nearest member of the security team if the user is on site, or if the evidence suggests a threat to life, contact the local police.

The user’s mobile phone automatically sends audio and video footage to the Corps Monitoring Centre so they have full exposure to anything that happens. This footage can be used to identify an assailant and used in a court of law. The audio-visual recording is uploaded automatically to the user’s account via the cloud and onto Corps Monitoring Centre’s system, so even if the phone is stolen or damaged, the evidence is always accessible.

“Looking after our people is our main aim at Corps Security – it’s the reason we were set up over 160 years ago,” said Mike Bullock, CEO of Corps Security. “Giving the Corps Guard app to our people, and their families, will give them an extra layer of reassurance that we are there to help them when they may need us most.”

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Manned Guarding Savings Calculator

Create a cost effective security model that reflects the changing landscape of your business

As businesses plan their return to the office, the security landscape has changed significantly. Some of the adjustments we saw during the pandemic – more mobile patrols, different shifts and levels of cover and increased use of technology – will continue as organisations adjust to new ways of using their property portfolio.

Businesses are looking at their estate differently from how they did in March 2020. They want reduced building running costs but also more flexible ways of using their buildings as people opt for a more hybrid model of work, combining home with the formal workplace. As a result organisations are looking for a more flexible approach from their security partners.

Which is why Corps Security has launched our manned guarding savings calculator.  It helps organisations to make sensible decisions around their security provision to enable them to plan for an uncertain post-pandemic future.

Facilities managers simply enter their manned guarding hourly charge rate and the number of security hours and see how their security costs could be cut by integrating security monitoring solutions with professional security officers to protect your premises, assets and people.

Because we provide both manned guarding and remote monitoring, we’re ideally placed to be able to advise on the best blend for your organisation – whereas other security companies will always favour one or the other. This gives you the confidence that your blended solution really works for you, both in terms of the security level offered and the associated cost.

As well as reducing costs for the organisation, a blended approach to security using security monitoring to complement officers on the ground, allows officers to be paid in line with Living Wage levels, increasing job satisfaction and retention.

Through Corps Security’s intuitive customer portal, organisations can have clear line of sight of both their manned guarding and monitoring service making it a completely integrated approach.

It’s completely without obligation, so why not see what you could save while also providing the right level of security for your business into the post-pandemic world?

 

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Corps Security Unveils Manned Guarding Savings Calculator

Corps Security Unveils Manned Guarding Savings Calculator

Corps Security has launched its Manned Guarding Savings Calculator to help businesses rightsize their security provision as they plan the return to workplace reoccupation.

Facilities or security professionals simply input their manned guarding hourly charge rate and the number of security hours into the calculator and it shows how security costs could be significantly reduced by integrating security monitoring solutions with traditional manned guarding to protect premises, assets and people.

The calculator is a no-obligation tool to help facilities professionals planning the return to work think differently about their security spend.

As well as reducing costs for the organisation, a blended approach to security using security monitoring to complement officers on the ground, allows officers to be paid in line with Living Wage levels, increasing job satisfaction and retention.

Through Corps Security’s intuitive customer portal, organisations can have clear line of sight of both their manned guarding and monitoring service making it a completely integrated approach.

“We know companies are laden with financial concerns about the costs associated with their premises as well as seeking more flexible ways of using their buildings as people opt for a more hybrid model of work, combining home with the formal workplace”, said Mike Bullock, CEO of Corps Security. “As a result they are looking for a more flexible approach to their security. Because we provide both manned guarding and remote monitoring, we’re ideally placed to be able to advise on the best blend for an organisation.”

To access the Manned Guarding Savings Calculator, click here.

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Security Officer's Wellbeing

Security Officers’ Wellbeing

Listening to a radio interview with a front-line cleaning operative recently, I was struck by the way in which she was expected to be on the front-line and keep her employer’s customers safe, but wasn’t being offered the same support herself.

In this instance, the worker became ill with Covid but her unnamed employer refused to let her take paid time off until she received a positive test result – something that should surely be a cause of shame for our sector.

As a Living Wage employer, we have worked hard throughout the pandemic to support our security officers on the front line. From shielding our most vulnerable people, changing shift patterns to enhance safety to improving the welfare of others through the new wellbeing section of our colleague portal, we have tried to ensure that even when under pressure, our security officers always feel safe, supported and appreciated.

Which is why it is frustrating that having kept people safe and secure, often at risk to themselves, our front-line workers are not also near the front of the queue to receive the vaccine. The current programme from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) reports that while health and social care workers are prioritised, as you might expect, front-line support staff, such as cleaning operatives and security officers, in hospitals and the wider community are not prioritised.

We firmly believe that security officers, having served UK Plc throughout the last 11 months while many people worked from the safety of their own homes, should be prioritised in receiving the vaccine. The research we carried out in the first lockdown revealed that security officers are one of the most at-risk occupations thanks to a combination of their age, sex, ethnicity, geography and the nature of their work. And that has only got worse.  The latest data from the Office for National Statistics shows that security officer deaths are now 100.7 per 100,000 (up from 45.7 per 100,000 in May 2020). There’s never been a more urgent call for security companies and the security industry to do more, and fast.

After all, as organisations begin to gear up for the return to the office, security officers are the ones who will be welcoming people back to their workplaces, demonstrating the new social distancing measures and ensuring everyone feels safe. They need to do that safe in the knowledge that they are protected through the vaccine.

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Corps Security Celebrates 162 Years

Corps Security Celebrates 162 Years

Corps Security reached a significant milestone this weekend and marked its 162nd birthday on Saturday, 13th February.

The Corps of Commissionaires (now Corps Security) was founded in 1859 by Captain Sir Edward Walter. Thirteenth February is the official date that we celebrate the company’s humble beginning. On that day, 162 years ago Sir Walter made the below note in his notebook and we recognise the company’s inception from that very day:

“The Commissionaires will parade at 10am tomorrow morning and attend Divine Service at Westminster Abbey, after which they will dine together.  The undermentioned men have been appointed to the Corps.”

Captain Sir Walter was the first to find an effective remedy to provide jobs for returning servicemen who were willing and able to work after the Crimean War. The company started with seven officers, and the ‘Original Eight’ etching was completed after Thomas Hancock VC joined in March 1859. Corps Security is the oldest security company in the world and our chief life Governor is the Queen.

Corps has a strong relationship with the Armed Forces and many of our colleagues have served in the military and emergency services. We also actively support the work of SSAFA – the Armed Forces charity, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association, providing lifelong support and advice to servicemen, veterans and their families, and Combat Stress, a charity organisation which provides specialist treatment and support for veterans from every service and conflict, focusing on those with complex mental health issues.

We are proud of our rich heritage and our ability to combine the experience of the past with the needs of the present to give our customers an unrivalled level of service that always delivers first-class quality. Our founding values were ‘loyalty, integrity and service‘ and these still underpin everything we do today. These values have guided us in becoming the UK’s most established and respected specialist security services provider.

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Corps Security Achieves Carbon Neutral Status

Corps Security Achieves Carbon Neutral Status

Specialist security services provider Corps Security has been awarded carbon neutral status after working hard to reduce its carbon footprint and offsetting unavoidable carbon.

Carbon Neutral is a term used to describe the state of an entity, such as a company, service, product or event, where the carbon emissions caused by them have been balanced out by funding an equivalent amount of carbon savings elsewhere in the world.

In the past year, Corps has cut its carbon through a range of measures including reducing its diesel fleet; reducing air travel; and cutting the use of paper in offices, particularly for tender documents.

At the same time, the organisation funded several projects to offset the 477 tons of carbon it produced in the past year including a wind-based power generation project in India. The project in Maharashtra is helping the country to reduce its reliance on coal while also creating jobs as wind power is labour intensive. The project was recommended by Carbon Footprint, which provided Corps with its carbon neutral certification.

Corps Security is also working towards rolling out more electric vehicles and installing electric charging points at its London and Glasgow offices.

The move to carbon neutral status is part of Corp Security’s drive to ensure it met the requirements of the Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) scheme that came into effect in April this year. “We wanted to go one step further and demonstrate that we’re a carbon neutral company,” said Mike Bullock, CEO, Corps Security. “As a company with a 160-year history, we take a long-term view and it’s important to us to ensure that our world is around for future generations to enjoy.”

 

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Corps Security Launches ‘Working In The New Normal’ Complimentary Service Reviews

Corps Security Launches ‘Working In The New Normal’ Complimentary Security Service Reviews

Specialist security services provider Corps Security is offering ‘working in the new normal’ complimentary security service reviews for new and existing customers. The new service implements security services that meet the ever-changing landscape in a way that is commercially viable, without compromising on safety.

Responding to market demands around financial pressures, compliance and future-proofing services, Corps has developed a service review programme that looks at the individual requirements of each business and provides future-fit, tailored recommendations that drive down costs. With buildings that were once occupied by thousands of employees, now only accommodating tens or at the most a few hundred people, or are completely vacant altogether, security provisions need to change to be effective both operationally and from a cost perspective.

Recognising budgets are under pressure in new ways, this review service is free of charge and focuses on providing solutions that are cost-conscious. Corps’ four-step review process evaluates the current spend, reviews the existing security provision, recommends cost-cutting initiatives and mobilises a revised programme in as little as four weeks so cost savings can be realised immediately.

Mike Bullock, CEO, Corps Security said: “We know companies are laden with commercial restraints and concerns about their premises. As a trusted security partner for more than 160 years we are ready to help them implement financially attractive, resilient and agile security measures that don’t compromise on safety.

“At a time when requirements are changing with speed it’s important to have a provider that can navigate the storms with you and be equally agile and adaptable. With our global support network and our extensive heritage, we have the right foundations to provide value and protect our customers’ investments, buildings and people, whatever the weather.”

>> Pandemic Solution – Complimentary Security Service Review

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Corps Security Trials Speech To Text And Translation Technology

Corps Security begins pilot scheme which equips officers with speech to text and translation tools to overcome communication issues caused by wearing face masks, and addresses language barriers.

 Forty Corps Security officers across retail sites in Birmingham, Cheltenham and Exeter have access to transcription functionality (audio to text), written text translating capability and verbal conversation translation between two different languages. All services are delivered via mobile application and operate offline eliminating the need for internet connectivity.

Corps has implemented the transcription service to support communication difficulties posed by wearing a face mask. Individuals with hearing impairments can struggle to understand a security officer wearing a face mask as facial expressions and lip reading are severely hindered. This technology integration ensures security officers can effectively deliver critical safety information about Covid-19 and associated social distancing measures, and ensure the information is fully understood. It also ensures staff, clients and members of the public have a tool to help them raise any concerns and ask questions when a face mask can potentially hinder their own verbal communication.

When language barriers arise, the verbal conversation translation function offers an automatic translation of two-way dialogue as each person speaks, so there’s no need to take turns operating a translation tool. The written text translation service offers an alternative stream of communication. It’s helps a security officer understand what a person is trying to communicate, and helps that person feel assured that what they are communicating has been understood accurately.

This new speech to text and translation technology pilot scheme is led by Neil Shanks, National Account Manager, Corps Security. Commenting on the benefits of the scheme, Shanks said: “Language barriers present security officers with challenges and now we also have the added barrier of face masks which hinder communication. This technology integration could be a key differentiator in ensuring Covid-secure safety information is understood and adhered to, and in determining positive outcomes of stressful situations such as a missing child or preventing a suicide attempt.”

Mike Bullock, CEO, Corps Security said: “Integrating this transcription and translation functionality means our officers are in a stronger position to support our customers and members of the public, and it helps us improve the quality of our service. We can ensure important safety information is conveyed at a time where communicating health and safety measures is absolutely paramount.”

 

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Corps Security raises more than £2,000 for Armed Forces charity

Corps Security Raises More Than £2,000 For Armed Forces Charity

Last week Corps Security celebrated its link to the Armed Services by raising just over £2,000 for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity as part of the annual Armed Services Week.

The Corps Security team took part in several different fundraising activities, from the Big Brew Up and virtual 13 Bridges Walk, to baking cakes. In addition more than 30 security professionals working across the country, many with their own distinguished military service records, performed  the SSAFA Salute to our Armed Forces. The photos were shared across Corps’ social media channels and website.

“It was an inspirational week and highlighted just how close so many of our colleagues are to the armed forces,” said Paul Lotter, MD of Corps Security.

Corps has a strong relationship with the Armed Forces as the organisation was set up in 1859 to provide employment for service men returning from the Crimean War; former servicemen still make up a large percentage of the organisation’s employees.

Follow Corps’ social channels for updates and images of these and other activities. And please do support this worthy cause by donating here.

>> Dontate Here

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Corps Regional Director Volunteers For RAF Police

Corps Regional Director Volunteers For RAF Police

Corps Security’s Regional Director John Ford has mobilised with the RAF Police for a six-month tour to support the organisation during the Covid-19 crisis.

Ford, who has been an RAF Reservist for the past five years, is stationed at RAF Honington with 3 (T)PS and is now mobilised with 7 Sqn at RAF Brize Norton. His role is with the Air Transport Flight (ATSy) at the main Brize Norton terminal to assist with the screening and security of the passengers as well as monitoring air cargo to ensure it’s safe to board the aircraft for onward transport.

“The RAF Police asked for volunteers to help with the UK Covid-19 mitigation effort and I volunteered so I could play my part, albeit a small part compared to the NHS workers,” Ford said. “The RAF Police reserve is deployed to support and work alongside the regular RAF Police force during these unprecedented and worrying times. For me it was a straightforward decision to volunteer, as well as my duty and it’s what I’ve been trained to do.”

John joined Corps Security in 2014, and was appointed to Regional Director in November 2017. In his role, he leads the operations teams in the south region. John has over 20 years’ experience in the security sector having previously held senior national account management positions in a number of leading security companies before joining Corps.

“As an organisation which was set up more than 160 years ago to provide employment for service men returning from the Crimean War, we are committed to always supporting our armed services,” said Mike Bullock, CEO of Corps Security. “Enabling one of our RAF reservists to be drafted into regular service is a key part of that.”

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Our Social Values

We protect more than you think

There’s a lot more to Corps Security than you might expect. Yes, we are experts in security and we have over 166 years of experience. But we’re also experts in how to put sustainability and diversity at the heart of everything we do.

We are a Social Enterprise

>> ESG Report

>> Carbon Reduction Plan

>> Equal Employment Opportunities Policy

>> EDI Survey 24-25 Action Plan Report

More Information

Accreditations

Corps Security Accreditations

About Corps Security

Built on over 166 years of experience and a clear social mission, we provide specialist security services tailored to ensure the safety of people and property.
Our values are at the heart of everything we do, through the people we work with, the people we employ, the people we help and the planet we protect. Together we protect the things that matter.

Registered Office at 85 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6PF.  Registered in England No. 03473589

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