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Corps 5 predictions in 2022

Corps’ five predictions for the security sector in 2022

New years are always a time for reflection – a look back at the year past and considering what the year ahead will bring. While the Omicron variant is making for an uncertain start to 2022, we believe that five key trends will shape the security industry in the coming 12 months.

1. Decent pay: with the UK experiencing a serious labour shortage, we believe that there will be enormous pressure on organisations to pay at least the Real Living Wage (£9.90 and £11.05 in London) to attract people. Many businesses which want to attract high quality people are already paying significantly over that amount.

2. Strengthened focus on ethical procurement: following the Social Value Act 2012, more businesses are following the public sector’s lead and buying social – from organisations which have a social or environmental mission. Social enterprises – like Corps Security – and community interest companies will become an important part of the supply chain.

3. Increased integration of manned guarding and security technology: because of the labour shortage, the upward pressure on wages and advances in technology, many organisations will consider paying security officers more but reducing the number required. We’ll see security monitoring playing a greater role with advanced CCTV complementing officers on the ground. At the same time new technology, such as Corps’ VR security training through our partner MoonHub, will become more widespread.

4. More flexibility to react to Covid: Omicron proves that the pandemic hasn’t gone away. Over the past two years, security officers have had to continually adapt and that’s going to continue. Whether it’s keeping empty buildings safe, supporting a skeleton staff or becoming more mobile, the security sector will be kept on its toes to support our clients as they continue to adapt their businesses.

5. More focus on equality, diversity and inclusion: security is a diverse sector with people from many different backgrounds but to date there has been little in the way of focus on equality and inclusion. The labour shortage, and the associated need to engage talented employees, will see an increase in inclusion strategies, such as our Corps Together campaign to improve a sense of belonging.

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Security Savings Calculator

Security Savings Calculator

A blend of manned guarding and cutting-edge monitoring solutions. Saving you money and delivering complete peace of mind around the clock.

With the return to the workplace at the top of many corporate agendas, we know that building occupancy levels that were once the norm pre-March 2020 will likely be significantly less as we step forwards into the era of the pandemic recovery. Businesses are reassessing their property portfolio, finding their way with hybrid working and welcoming employees back to the workplace, many of whom won’t have stepped foot inside an office for more than 14 months.

Where security is concerned, one size never fits all and every business has varying needs in normal times, let alone in this new step into the post pandemic world. Higher demand for reduced building running costs but also more flexible ways of using buildings as people opt for a more hybrid model of work will be key. As a result, organisations are looking for a more flexible approach from their security partners. That’s why we’ve launched our security savings calculator. We know businesses need to adapt and are sensitive to cost. We are ready to support that.

Security monitoring solutions can present significant cost savings compared to labour intensive manned guarding. By combining manned guarding with monitoring solutions businesses can benefit from friendly, professional, wellbeing-centred front of house security officers to look after the best interests of their staff, and the monitoring integration can assure round-the-clock safeguarding of their premises and assets.

Our Corps Security savings calculator helps organisations to make sensible decisions around their security provision to enable them to plan for an uncertain post-pandemic future.

It’s so simple. Just enter your manned guarding hourly charge rate and the number of security hours currently deployed and see how your 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 your business, a blended approach to security using security monitoring to complement front of house officers on the ground, means officers can be paid more in line with Living Wage levels, increasing job satisfaction and retention.

Through Corps Security’s intuitive customer portal, Corps Secure, businesses can have a complete 360-degree overview of both their manned guarding and monitoring service for complete peace of mind.

See how much you could save today.

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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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Case Study - A Change In Approach - Manned Guarding To Remote Monitoring

Case Study – Manned Guarding To Remote Monitoring

The lockdown has changed the way security is delivered to sites across the UK. Read how one property management firm in south London switched from manned guarding to a remote monitoring option to protect their site.

The Challenge

A property management firm in south London was faced with a number of operational challenges to secure their building and assets as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions from the UK-wide lockdown. Faced with these issues they approached Corps Security, as their incumbent security partner, for our guidance and support. Corps usually provides guards to secure their site.

The offices are home to several independent businesses, some of which were providing essential services although operating with reduced staff.  As the restrictions increased it became clear that the building would need to be locked down and an alternative security model put in place.

Corps Security conducted a risk assessment of the site, in consultation with the property manager, the existing security equipment maintainer and our own security site-based team. We identified several appropriate options that would address their specific demands.

Our Solution

The existing building and fire alarm systems were easily enhanced by adding a simple and inexpensive alarms transmission unit, which communicates all alerts to our state-of-the art NSI Gold Accredited Cat II monitoring centre in Scotland, allowing the critical systems to be remotely monitored.

There was already an existing CCTV system that was used to record locally onto a DVR recorder. Through the existing maintenance firm, we arranged to have this connected to our monitoring centre over a broadband connection on a secure VPN. This, combined with the existing building sensors, enabled us to provide a robust sensor-activated security solution.

In addition to securing the building itself, during the initial assessment of the site the property manager mentioned that his own staff would need occasional access to the building along with cleaning and maintenance staff. An existing swipe card access system was already in place and, in partnership with the maintenance firm, we were able to configure secure remote access to the site controlling the doors remotely through our monitoring centre. An inexpensive Voice Over IP (VoIP) intercom with camera was added to the main entrance and we agreed several protocols to ensure secure access. As an emergency back-up, we installed a remotely-monitored, Bluetooth-enabled key safe on the external wall of the building to cater for any failure of the door access system. The Secured by Design product is  olice and Insurance Association approved.

In order to protect the staff visiting the building, who could be classified as lone workers in the current environment, they were issued with our Corps/Zonith remotely-monitored Personal Protection and Positioning System app. It’s installed on their mobile phones and protection is enhanced with an ID badge holder with an integrated panic button. This links back to our monitoring system and ensures that if they had an accident while on site, or were under threat, they could alert our monitoring centre.

The Business Benefits

By designing an holistic and integrated solution that addressed the specific demands of the site, the building was protected from any potential incident – intruder, fire, flood or serious incident.

The proactive monitoring solution could be efficiently escalated using verified evidence to the emergency services or key holders alongside Corps Security’ own mobile response teams.

Other options

Prior to confirmation that the maintenance firm could attend the site, alternative solutions were considered including Corps Security supplying a 4G GSM transmission unit with in-built Sim card, passive infra-red sensors and smoke/heat detectors. An ideal solution for buildings without existing monitored intruder or fire alarm systems, the device is plugged into a power socket and also houses an internal battery backup with the power availability also monitored remotely.

In parallel, a plug-and-play 4G router option is also available where a maintainer is unable to connect an existing DVR to a monitored broadband line due to the current movement restrictions. This solution securely transmits live sensor-activated CCTV footage to the Corps monitoring centre in the event of a trigger from an existing sensor, intruder or fire alarm system.

All the systems detailed provide a solid foundation for providing secure remotely-monitored electronic security solutions which Corps Security has the in-house expertise to scale to enterprise-level nationally.

We’ve set up a dedicated coronavirus support team to answer any questions about the impact of coronavirus on your business. Please contact us on covid19@corpssecurity.co.uk and we’ll do our best to help.

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The new face of manned guarding

The New Face Of Manned Guarding

The uncertainty around the recent election, the rising cost of labour, civil unrest and protests, and an uncertain situation in Iran after the US assassination of Iran’s General Qasem Soleimani have compounded to place pressure on the security industry. The industry is of vital importance; crime costs UK businesses about £9 billion a year. Despite this risk, the demand on the industry to provide services with ever tighter margins is high. However, this is a sector which, by it’s very nature, is highly agile. It is rising to meet these challenges and a new model for manned guarding is emerging in those leading the sector into the coming decade.

The UK is suffering a chronic shortage of skilled labour, a growing concern for the security profession. In addition, the National Minimum Wage is set to rise 6.5% from April, adding to financial pressures. An increased Living Wage also squeezes the bottom line and will continue to do so with an unprecedented rise of 6.2% announced for April. This increase of more than four times the inflation rate will also leave employers less to invest in other aspects of their business or require that they take on fewer members of staff. These statutory changes present significant knock on effects for the businesses as staff costs increase considerably. 14% of the UK labour force in the FM sector as a whole is from the European Economic Area (EEA).  Already, we are seeing significant drops in migrant worker numbers and with Brexit upon us, it is not a far stretch of the imagination to see these numbers falling further still. Not only is finding talent a real challenge, retaining it can also be difficult; because of the pressure on margins and pay, security professionals will move on to another employer for a small increase in pay. With long-term familiarity with sites being such a valuable asset in a security officer, retention demands attention.

The industry is starting to tackle these issues with the help of technological advances. Manned guarding is far from losing its place in the security matrix but, when applied alongside technology, it can now be carried out far more efficiently. A combination of the latest security technology with experienced security officers can provide considerable savings for organisations.  Having an officer onsite 27/4 can cost an average of £120,000 per year. By transferring some manned guarding responsibilities to the latest technologies, organisations can make savings and enhance the reliability and resilience of their security. They can reinvest these savings back into their security function by improving security officers’ salaries, benefits and working conditions to increase their motivation and engagement, reducing churn.

Few security specialists offer both manned guarding and a technology solution. In doing so, they miss the opportunity to create this powerful combination of people and technological security, designed to work optimally together, all at a single point of contact. This simplifies invoicing and administration, in turn reducing costs further.

Manned guarding is – and will be for the foreseeable future – an important means of providing security in a world of evolving threats. It provides a visual deterrent to crime, and an immediate on-site response to any issues. However, with clients unwilling or unable to pay rising costs, the industry must use innovative means of tackling the novel threats that worry all those running an organisation, including theft, terrorism, and cyber security. The use of technology alongside manned guarding is a model for the security sector in an era of seemingly indiscriminate terrorist threats, political turmoil, and cyber security issues. It is an approach to technology that places clients at the heart and ensures every penny of their money is invested into having the greatest possible benefit on their organisation.

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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

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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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