CHRONICLE

Volume 1 | Autumn

FGH Security’s quarterly magazine

fghsecurity.com

Security MasterpieceFGH Security are multi-category finalist at national security awards

Yeeeeeehaaaaaaa!The end for cowboy clampers?

Good GrasshopperStaff Interview with Richard King

OVERVIEW

Worth a 1000 wordsClockwise from top: One of the biggest nights of the year for us a the Security excellence Awards; The Main Stage at Kendal Call-ing this year; Don’t worry only another few weeks to go, supposedly; Baroness Ruth Henig CBE (Chairman of the Security Industry Authority) and my good self when she visited our offices.

W

One of the classics…The theme for this months cover has been floating round Dave’s head for the past couple of months but he didn’t have just cause to use it until we received our invite letters from the SEA – every security team should be a Masterpiece.

Getting in touch with us… If you’d like totalk to us about the Chronicle, the services we can offer, would just like to find out a little more about us or see how we could be of use to you then please feel free to get in touch with us at our Head Office.Call us on

01524 847 554Email us at info@fghsecurity.co.uk

Look us up online at www.fghsecurity.co.uk or just type FGH Security into Google

Or write to us atFGH SecurityAlston HouseWhite CrossSouth Road LancasterLA1 4 XQ

‘Alan would love this!’....Know someone who has a security provider not living up to expectations or would benefit from knowing about us?

You can either give them this issue or email their name and address to dave.hassall@fghsecurity.co.uk

Well, what to write this time? We’ve had an excellent three months. As you may know the summer months bring the majority of our festival and event work upon us - and so far they’ve been an excellent success. I’d personally like to extend my thanks to all the staff members who have put in some ex-tremely long hours (it’s a good job that security is exempt from the Working Time Directive!), it makes me very proud to receive so much positive feedback from the general public and event organisers alike, so thanks again to all concerned. I’d also like to extend my congratulations out to Andy Smith and Ben Robinson the young Kendal Calling Event organisers who I know work exceptionally hard and have overcome many obstacles in the months leading up to the event and make it possible for 6,000 people to have such a fun filled weekend.

It looks like we are finally coming out of the recession and I do hope so too. “40 days and we’re out of it” said the country’s top economists on the 21st August! Quite a precise prediction I might add! On an almost daily basis I get asked “how have you been affected by the recession?”

I must say that it has not had a massive effect on how we operate; tight quality controls are obviously still in place and we have taken on more contracts without loosing any significant existing ones. Many security guarding contracts and in particular work carried out for the public sector has remained constant with guards being required 128 or 168 hours per week regardless of a recession happening. However, on average any one door supervision contract is approximately 15% smaller than it was 12 months ago as spending across the leisure sector has fallen. Partially due to the rise in petty crime which the reces-sion has brought, some areas of our business have actually grown significantly whereas others (such as the static guarding on building sites) have almost disappeared completely!

Over the past twelve months or so we have chosen to broaden our horizons and offer a few extra services to supplement the business and our customers. It has also been necessary to tighten our belts a little bit, and, just like most businesses have decided in 2009 unfortunately no pay rises have been awarded to our staff – but neither has it been a year for rate increases to our customers either – our average charge rate has actually fallen for the first time in 6 years. This is due to us finding more efficient working practices and economies of scale associated with the business growing!

On the whole, the security industry is changing; recently, sector analysts have predicted that 20% of the top 900 security companies are actually in financial turmoil. I suspect that these are the businesses who don’t listen to their customers and have failed to adapt to the tighter regulations placed upon the industry in the past few years. Anyway, enough doom and gloom talk, as I write this we have only 34 days to go until the recession is over! So roll on the 30th September!

The highlight of the past three months has definitely been getting into the finals of the Security Excellence Awards in five separate categories! Another big thank you to the customers who have given references to the judges and we will be keeping our fingers crossed on results night 22nd October.

Lastly, your feedback is important to in making this magazine and in continuing to operate FGH Security as a success so please email your views to feedback@fghsecurity.co.uk and they’ll be eagerly read.

Best wishes for the next quarter,

Peter HarrisonManaging Director

FGH Security Ltd

Employees of the quarter Dave BarrettDoor SupervisionDave originally came to work with us whilst he was studying at Lancaster University. Since graduating he has stayed in Lancaster and continued to be an asset to the Door Supervision division. “Dave is one of the unsung heroes of FGH. He is a cornerstone of the Revolution team and helped massively in inducting and training new staff. Plus, at Kendal Calling he ensured that the night team performed exceptionally well even though I know he was getting by on very little sleep,” said Adam Tom-linson, Lancashire Area Manager.

Ben KnottMultiple DivisionsBen has performed a range of roles in his time at FGH and at every occasion his managerial and leadership abilities have shone through. Most recently he; has been instrumental in helping set up Northwest Parking So-lutions, was Chief Control Officer at Kendal Calling (managing all of the staff logistics and liaising with the Kendal Calling Senior Management Team) and regularly works at a range of venues performing roles as both a Door Supervisor and Head Door Supervisor when required. Well done Ben.

Obinna AjuruchiSecurity Guarding“Obinna is a fantastic Security Guard. His own personal work standards are exceptionally high, plus he is excellent when it comes to dealing with members of the public and site managers alike. He represents the company really well and understands the role he plays in creating good customer experiences,” said Dan Willis, Security Guarding Manager. Con-gratulations Obinna and thank you for all of your hard work it doesn’t go unnoticed.

Staff Section | 2

This quarter’scontributors

Dave Taylor Feature writer

Dave has worked for FGH Security since 2006. He has fulfilled a number of roles within the company including Door Supervisor, Security Guard, Mobile Patrol Operative, Dan Willis’ chief brew maker and is currently the company’s Vetting Officer.

Prior to joining FGH Dave worked as an English Teacher in Preston. He does not recommend this profession to anyone, but is thankful for the skills he developed as he now has a black belt in conflict management.

Dave’s favourite memories of security work include getting lost trying to find the front door of Passions and Idols while carrying a struggling miscreant and the night where he was forced to eject seventeen people, despite only thirty three coming into the venue all night.

Dave is a keen practitioner of Aikido, the Japanese art of people folding, and also holds a personal best of losing a competition Judo fight in a spectacular three seconds.

Ben KnottFeature Writer

Since joining FGH Security in 2007, Ben has enjoyed many different roles within the company, everything from Head Door Supervisor to static guard.Prior to joining FGH Ben worked as a manager in the retail industry. Whilst he enjoyed the long hours, very modest pay and complete lack of any recognition he eventually quit to research information on the internet.

Like most Door Supervisors Ben has a host of anecdotal stories that make him a massive hit at dinner parties. One of his best involves working a shift at Walkabout Lancaster last year when a fracas between a group of young gentlemen occurred in close proximity to the bar. Ben responded with his usual profes-sionalism and efficiency, wasting no time dragging one of the fighting lads out, only to realise it was actually German Phil, who was trying to eject one of the males in the first place.

Ben has a real passion for fitness, so much so, he has joined, and quit, the gym 4 times already this year. Perhaps next year he’ll stick it out.

Other news

On the 4th November FGH Security’s Head Office will be hosting one of the few SIA licence dispensation training courses for approved contractors in the northwest. These are designed to improve both understanding and administration of the LDN system which basically allows Approved Contractors to deploy staff whilst their SIA licence is in the final processing stages. All approved contractors who are authorised to deploy staff under licence dispensation will be required to send at least one representative (free of charge) to at-tend the formal training over the next few months.

FGH is a finalist in five categories this year at the Security Excellence Awards, which I’m sure you’ll agree isn’t too shoddy. We are one of, if not the, most nominated companies so we hope you’ll keep your fingers crossed for us over the next few months. For more information see the article on page 8.

A huge well done to Joe Gorton too. Joe (pictured left)was our featured employee in the last issue of the Chronicle and since then he has gone on to finish 4th in the Natural British Open Strongman earlier this month. Joe beat some seasoned world class competitors and is fast becoming a forced to be reckoned with at a national level.

Finally, well done to Peter Harrison for raising over £700 for Cancer Care by running the Cockerham Sprint Triathlon. Pete finished in a time of 78 minutes and informs me that he was surprised the event organisers didn’t have to break the ice on the lake up because it was that cold.

Important dates

>> Students return to Lancaster 26th September – 3rd October

>> Christmas Eve 24th December*

>> New Years Eve 31st December

* Time off request should be coming in soon please – priorities given to those with young families

Upcoming pay dates

_ 11th S

eptember

_ 25th S

eptember

_ 9th O

ctober

_ 23rd O

ctober

_6th N

ovember

_ 20th N

ovember

_4th D

ecember

Internal vacancies

None at the minute, although we would be interested to hear from any existing members of staff, particularly from the Lancaster, South Cumbria and Greater Man-chester areas who have a knowledge or experience in the electronic security market (CCTV or alarms).

Dav

e an

d B

en

Obi

nna

FGH Security Ltd

Do

you

know

kung

fu?

WRITER: DAVID TAYLOR GRAPHICS: DAVID HASSALL

FGH Security Ltd

Staff Interview | 4

Upon waking from his instant ‘com-bat training’ programme in The Matrix, Keanu Reeves exclaims: “I know Kung Fu!” Richard King believes that by doing this he demonstrates entirely the wrong attitude. Kung Fu translates roughly as “achievement through great effort” and is more about learning the philosophy and behavioural codes inherent in martial arts training than about instantly being able to dodge bullets – “your weakness is not your technique.”

Richard trains in two different martial arts. Initially he began training in Wing Chun, a form of Kung Fu designed by a woman pri-marily to neutralise an opponent’s strength and size through the application of ef-fective technique. More recently he has been learning Aikido, an art derived from Ju-jitsu by Morihei Ueshiba which empha-sises blending with an attack to neutralise an opponent with the minimum of force.

Richard trains several times a week. He attends one class of Wing Chun weekly at the Samuel Kwok Martial Arts Associa-tion at Lancaster University. He attends two weekly classes of Aikido at Lancaster Aikikwai Aikido based at Ridge Community Primary School. He also trains Wing Chun daily on a wooden practice dummy at home and, having trained with him, I can

tell you it is really effective at toughening him up.

When asked how good he is Richard sidesteps the question. He does not believe in telling somebody that he’s got a tangerine belt with three cyan stripes and an magenta tassel. He believes that “a belt is just something to hold up your trousers.” Richard has never graded in Wing Chun, although after nine years of training it’s hard to imagine he’s less than competent. Richard is extraordinarily humble about his achievements. He has trained in Aikido for three years and holds a grade of 4th Kyu (Mon), yet he regards himself as a beginner in the art.

When asked to compare the arts he practices he stresses that he does not want to oversimplify anything. However, to give a broad overview he says that Wing Chun contains more striking and is more effective at a beginner to inter-mediate level, but he regards Aikido as the ultimate perfection in martial arts as, when you have mastered it, nobody can touch you and you do not have to harm your attacker in any way. He claims that his ultimate goal is to achieve an effec-tive union of the two arts.

This begs the question whether the ultimate goal of martial arts training is the preservation of your attacker’s safety? Richard believes that it should be one of them. He suggests that if you neutral-ise your attacker without harming him then you teach him a valuable lesson, you are not harmed while defending yourself and, importantly, you do not get arrested. He believes that if someone attacks you and you destroy him utterly with an unreasonable level of force then you become no better than he is.

One might wonder whether this is more the view of a philosopher than a fighter. Richard suggests that when practising martial arts one should always strive to be both. When asked what his personal philosophy is he says that he does not ascribe to any particular one, but looks to take the best parts from several. He mentions Bushido, the warrior code of the samurai, as a good example. This code stresses respect and responsibility towards one’s fellow man as key issues. It also stresses politeness, something that can sometimes be lacking in a modern society. Richard mentioned one particu-lar point; a samurai never gives his word. If he says he will do something then it will happen – he does not have to promise.

He also cites Gandhi as an influence and refers to the quote: “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” This leads quite naturally into a discussion of what it means to be strong. Richard says that strength is the capacity to survive adver-sity and overcome personal demons to promote their inner philosophy. Some-one who brings up children alone and in poverty is strong. A drug addict who conquers his addiction is strong. Strength is not, he says with a certain level of distaste, punching a drunk on a Saturday night to prove how tough you are.

Richard has no time for the culture, which can be prevalent among young men, to roam around boasting of their physical prowess and attempting to

intimidate people. One of the reasons he gives for originally taking up martial arts training was so that he would never have to fear such bullies. He has no time for the ‘hard man’ philosophy.

Perhaps surprisingly for a martial arts en-thusiast Richard is no fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Mixed Martial Arts, exemplified by the UFC, is one of the fastest growing sports worldwide, with viewing figures that recently overtook boxing in America. He believes that turn-ing a Martial Art solely into a sport takes away the philosophical element and that the art is poorer for it. He also be-lieves that hybrid arts can create a sense of one-upmanship between practitioners of different arts. He believes that when ego enters the training this can lead to a degree of conflict that can be ultimately detrimental to the process of learning.

Richard also has a creative side. He is an aspiring artist and has a number of excellent paintings on display in various locations around Lancaster. Richard believes that painting is also a form of Kung Fu, requiring discipline, applica-tion and technical ability. Painting, and calligraphy in particular, has been as-sociated with the warrior classes in both China and Japan for hundreds of years, yet Richard does not see a link between the two in his own work. He sees his art merely as something he loves doing, not something to which he feels a need to apply regular, structured practice.

In the door supervision industry staff are sometimes, regrettably, exposed to violent assaults. It is open to debate whether traditional martial arts have a place in this situation. Richard believes that there can be a professional applica-tion to his recreational activities. Like the health warning on TV stunt shows Richard warns that this should only be tried by an experienced practitioner and then only as a last resort. He stresses that the first thing any good martial arts club will teach is what Bruce Lee described as “the art of fighting without fighting,” a method of avoiding conflict using patience, psychology, bluff and tactical retreat. He stresses that an advantage of formal training can be that it gives a wider range of restraint options in the event of physical intervention and this maximises the chance of the resolution of violent conflict without harm coming to either party.

So do you know Kung Fu? Is it what you thought it was? Richard believes Martial art training is an excellent idea for any-one who wants to improve their fitness, develop their mind or dispel the climate of fear that the media works so hard to create. However, if your goal is ‘to become hard’ or simply to learn how to fight then such training, as Richard views it, is certainly not for you. Martial arts are not an instant fix. You will not learn to dodge bullets in your first week, but if you are prepared to achieve great things through effort and application then why not give it a go? Richard leaves the final words to Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikdo:

“How beautiful is this form of heaven and earthCreated from one sourceWe are members of one family”

Grey sky in the morning...One of Rich’s paintings that currently hangs in Peter and Wesley’s office.

IkkyoRich refining his skills at Aikido

FGH Security Ltd

5 | IN THE KNOW

92%of all properly completed licence applications were processed within 40 working days according to the SIA in August.

£12,600,000,000was the estimated total cost of crime against British businesses in 2008

Currently there are

628security companies who are

members of the SIA Approved Contractor Scheme in the

county. According to research conducted by the SIA FGH Security is in the

top 25% of these companies.

£2.2 BILLIONis the estimated increase in the security industry’s total turnover since 1995. It now has an estimated worth around £5.2 billion in the UK alone.

£13,354is what the FSB estimate it costs each of its business members per year due to crime. However, they acknowledge this figure could be much higher as often crimes go unreported and business owners just accept the loss- we think they shouldn’t have to.

39% of the security industry

is made up of manned security. Despite the competition from electronic security services this sector is still growing. We think it just goes to show that technology is only as good as the people using it.

Every 37 seconds a home somewhere in

Britain is burgled.20% of households

experience more than one incident a year.

13% are burgled twice and 7% three or

more times.

60%of burglaries on homes fitted with burglar alarms are unsuccessful, according to government statistics. In our experience professional alarm monitoring greatly increases the chance of apprehension, limits damage/ theft and in most cases discourages crime before it even happens.

The number of SIA Approved Contractors who have had their

approval withdrawn. Did you know they are liable for up to a £5,000 fine if they continue to use the ACS mark.Is your security provider one of them

but not telling you? www.the-sia.org.uk/home/acs/acs_withdrawal18

the amount the average man can save in a year banishing junk food and alcohol from their diet!£4

160

DID YOU KNOW...FGH DOOR

SUPERVISORS CONDUCTED OVER 1,500 SEARCHES AT

THE KENDAL CALLING FESTIVAL

20 Questionswith Simon Ledwick

01 What was your first job?I used to work in a hotel in Blackburn, my brother and sister worked there too. My brother once

found me having a tactical sleep under one of the tables! It was a great place to work, there must have been about 50 part time staff and we would all socialise together after work. Good times.

02 What do you like most about your current job? I love working for myself, when you are your own boss there’s less pressure and you can

do things when you want to do them (most of the time). You also get the rewards when things go well. Oh yeah, free Subs & cookies too!

03 What do you like least about your current job? Strangely enough the same answer! There’s nobody to mop up any problems, if something bad

happens you have to stop what you’re doing and sort it out. The buck always stops with you. Whether it’s 5am or you’re on holiday with friends, you’re probably going to end up getting a phone call.

04 Favourite saying that is relevant to your life or the way you run your business? “No business is better than bad business” - that was something my uncle told me. Why bother

working hard if you’re not going to get anything out of it?

05 Who are your heroes and why?Nobody really springs to mind, I look up to some members of my family but I wouldn’t say I have

a hero as such.

06 Where do you see yourself in five years time from now? I’d like to see myself on a beach in the Bahamas running the business from a laptop but it’s not

very likely. Ha who knows??

07 What things in your life are you thankful for? It’s got to be my health, I spent 5 months on crutches a couple of years ago, what a pain!

Getting a cup of coffee from one room to another while hopping is pretty challenging, luckily it wasn’t my carpet! I’m not going to go into the red wine story.

08 Do you have any regrets? I don’t think you can have regrets if you’re happy with life (and I am). You wouldn’t be where

you are without making a few bad choices along the way...

09 What’s your earliest memory?I’ve been asking my friends about this, I think I’m a bit strange because I don’t really have one,

is that unusual?!?

10 What’s your fondest memory?I think the whole time I spent at Lancaster University, I met some great friends and had the best

time of my life. I’ve still never had to use my degree!

11 What are your hobbies and interests? I’m a big Rugby League fan but playing it broke my foot so I’m getting my kicks out of mountain

biking now. I did a 100k race last month! For the first year of the business I worked too hard and didn’t really play much. I’ve realised that isn’t good for you so now I try to fit in as much social time as I can.

12 What’s your favourite item of clothing that you own?It’s got to be the ‘Pleather’ jacket – plastic leather look jacket from Primark – bargain!

13 What are your pet hates?Rude people – there’s just no point! And people who are off work sick all the time.

14 What would be your dream holiday or car?I really want to travel and see some more culture, but something always gets in the way. Either

you don’t have enough money or you’ve got too many commitments. I’ll get some time one day soon.

15 Who’s your football team and why? I’m a Blackburn Rovers fan, my uncle has a season ticket and when I was young I used to think

that he went out every Saturday to play for them. I was gutted when I found out that he only went to watch. I’m from Accrington originally so it would be rude not to keep an eye on how Accrington Stanley are doing!

16 If you were stuck on a desert island and you had to pick two people to be on there with you who would they be?

Kelly Brook to look at, and someone funny to laugh at! I’ll have to get back to you on the comedian.

17 If you were Prime Minister for the day what would you change?I’d put someone else in charge for the day, I can’t think of anything worse!

18 What was your favourite pet? I’ve never had a pet, I’m not really a big animal person. In fact I still have a scar on my arm

from one of Pete’s strange looking cats.

19 What’s the best thing about working with FGH? They never seem to let you down, it’s a professional set up and they let you use their classroom

for free! That’s an added bonus. I’ve worked with them on and off since day one, and I don’t think I’ve ever had a problem?

20 Now that you’re famous is there anyone you want to say hello to?It’s got to be Phil from C2 inns, he’s got to be our best customer by a country mile... Thanks Phil!

FGH Security Ltd

Regular Columns | 6

There will be times when a person is at work when that person will be required to work on their own. You may ask yourself; is it legal to work alone and is it safe? This is a question asked by many people who have to work alone. There is no definitive answer; it will depend on the findings of an appropriate risk assessment. It will often be found that it is safe. All employers have responsibilities for the health, safety and welfare of their employees when at work. They also have a responsibility for the health and safety of those affected by the work, for example any visitor employers may receive on site. These responsibilities cannot be transferred to people who work alone. It is the employer’s duty to assess risks to any lone workers and take steps to avoid or control risk where necessary.

Who are lone workers and what type of jobs do they do? Lone workers are those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision. They can be found in a wide range of situations, or occupations; for example:• Only one person works on the premises, venue or site. For example in small workshops, petrol stations, kiosks.• People or employees who work separately from others. For example in factories, warehouses, training establishments.• People who work outside normal hours. For example cleaners, security, maintenance.• Mobile workers working away from their fixed office or base. For example home visitors, outreach workers, wheel clampers.

Safe working arrangements for lone workersWhen planning safe working arrangements employ-ers should look at whether the risks of the job can be adequately controlled by one person. Lone workers should not be at any more risk than any other employees.Employers have also to assess whether there is a risk of violence to employees and whether women or young workers are especially at risk if they work alone. The employee should be medically fit and suit-able to work alone. Training is particularly important where there is limited management and supervision to control in situations of uncertainty. Training may be critical to avoid panicked reactions in unusual situations. Lone workers need to be sufficiently ex-perienced to understand the risks, precautions and contingencies fully. Employees should know when to seek advice from a supervisor or manager. Any Management or Supervision of lone workers in relation to their health and safety can often be car-ried out when assessing their work. The extent of su-pervision required depends on the risks involved and the ability of the lone worker to identify and handle health and safety issues. Employees new to a job or undergoing training may need to be accompanied at first, using a buddy system. The level of supervision required is a manage-ment decision which should be based on the findings of risk assessment. It should not be left to individuals to decide whether they require assistance. There should be regular safety checks on lone workers. These should also provide contingencies in case of illness, accident or emergency when at work. Lone workers should be capable of responding cor-rectly to emergencies. Emergency procedures should be established and all employees trained in them. Lone workers should have access to adequate first aid facilities and any mobile workers should carry a first aid kit suitable for treating minor injuries.

If you require training or would just like some more information about personal safety, lone working or conflict management then Dave Pattinson can be contacted via FGH Security t: 01524 847 554 e: info@fghsecurity.co.uk

Assessing Lone WorkingSECURITY TIP OF THE QUARTER

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20 Besides doing stupidly long bike races in the small amount spare time he gets Simon spends his working life running the host of Subway franchises he owns throughout the northwest with his brother. Simon initially began working with FGH over four years ago when he worked for another company and we are please to say that he has continued to stay in touch and still uses our services. You’ll also see that Simon has kindly given us a fantastic deal for this issue of the Chronicle if you turn to the readers’ offers page.

FGH Security Ltd

7 | Staffage Title

Staff & Company | 8

FGH Security Ltd

The film Rocky is the story of Rocky Balboa, who is a struggling boxer trying to make the big time. When heavyweight champion Apollo Creed visits Philadelphia, his managers want to set up an exhibition match between Creed and a struggling boxer, touting the fight as a chance for a “no-body” to become a “somebody”. Creed is supposed to win easily, but someone forgot to tell Rocky.

It was one of the iconic films of the 80s and showed that with enough drive, determination and self belief that anything is possible (this is summed up in a fantastic training montage). As romantic as it sounds I think the same ideals run through FGH and that’s a key reason why this year we have made it as finalists competing against the best in the Security Excellence Awards.

The Security Excellence Awards is now in its 11th year of consistently acknowl-edging and rewarding the very best operators, consultancies and people within the security industry. Basically it’s the UK Security Industry’s Oscars.

The initial short-listing for finalists took place on the 20th July, were the initial judging panel decide on the finalists for that category. Then on the 22nd July a panel of independent industry experts came together to judge the finalists based on their original entries. Each category was assigned to a panel that debated and discussed each entrant against the rigorous criteria set in place for each category.

Out of an estimated 400 individual entries this year, for the first time in FGH Security’s history, we have been con-firmed as finalists in the following five categories;

Security Guarding Company of the YearThis award is presented to a security guarding company that has demon-strated professionalism, consistency of service and responsibility to both customers and staff throughout the course of its operations.

Event Security Team of the YearOver the last few years, the growth in major events and functions has seen a new type of security professional emerge. This category looks at security companies that specialise in providing a range of event services from large scale sporting events and festivals through to protection of celebrities and other VIPs at these events.

Best Practice in Door SupervisionThis Award will be presented to the company or individual that has con-tinually demonstrated professionalism, consistently high levels of service and responsibility to customers, members of staff or the leisure security sector in general. For us being nominated for this award highlights the excellent level of service we offer when compared on a national basis. Door Supervision was one of our founding services and we’ve always been focused on crating the best experience possible for all our staff, clients and wider community; we are proud that our hard work and dedication has been rewarded in this

sector.

Contract Security Manager of the YearThis award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated excellence in a senior security management role, with the ability to inspire and lead a team of dedicated security professionals. This year our very own Adam Tomlin-son (Lancashire Operations Manager) will be competing against eight other nominees for this award.

ACS Champion of the YearAs you’re probably aware the SIA Approved Contractor Scheme aims to raise standards and promote good practice for the creation of a safer environment for the public and better opportunities for the private security industry. This is a specialist award, open only to Approved Contractors, that seeks to identify those that have taken exceptional steps to further the spirit of the scheme given the available re-source. The fact that we are finalists in this category goes to show that we are one of the top ACS members not just in the region but nationally as well.

As nice as it is to have been nomi-nated for these awards we know we couldn’t have got to this position, even after six years hard work, if it hadn’t been for our clients and our staff. So a heart felt thank you to each of our clients, especially those that gave us the glowing references we received for each category we were nominated in. Thank you for your constant support and feedback that has allowed us to refine the company to make it one of the county’s best security providers. Also, well done and thank you to each and every member of FGH staff, past and present, who have contributed to our exceptional service and ensured that we remain a benchmark security company, one that others look to for how they should be performing.

As philosophical as it sounds, though, I like to think that FGH Security itself isn’t the real finalist here; it’s each individual person that makes up who we are as a collective.

You should be very, very proud of yourself. (Adrian, I did it!)

For more inform

ation about the awards and

to see a full list of finalists in all categories visit securityexcellenceaw

ards.co.uk

Showing that nationally you’re a SOMEBODY

9 | Reader Offerstle

How do I use these then?To redeem the vouchers on this page all you have to do is cut them out and take them along to the participating venue or business, in most cases you don’t even have to be an FGH Security employee.

If you would like to place a voucher in the next issue then just get in touch with Dave Hassall (dave.hassall@fghsecurity.co.uk) and he’ll even do all the artwork for you.

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2009

FGH Security Ltd

New Contracts | 10

BASSENTHWAITE LAKESIDE LODGES Security Guarding

Bassenthwaite Lakeside Lodges is a holiday park with numerous lodges based around Bassenthwaite Lake. FGH was called in to provide a highly visible deterrent in order to prevent thefts.

THE CROSS KEYSDoor Supervision

Is a friendly traditional pub in the heart of Barrow-in-Furness town centre owned by

friendly and well respected licensee Larry Hunt. It offers an excellent selection of

conditioned cask ales and caters predominantly towards the over 25s market.

The staff are very friendly and there is regular live music and the occasional night of

karaoke.

KENDAL OUTDOOR RETAILER SHOW (KORS) Security Guarding

This is large scale display event for various companies who supply the outdoor leisure industry. The centerpiece was a large tent display, based outside at Lakes Leisure, Kendal. Our security team was respon-sible for overseeing this and protecting against crime and vandalism.

T.K.MAXX LANCASTER Security Guarding

This is a short term contract for which we provided manned guarding on a daily basis. Our operatives were responsible for the entry control of the, site ensur-ing that only the builders and contractors gained access to the store. TK Maxx is a company that specializes in providing cheap, high quality cloth-ing and has opened a branch on the site of the old Woolworths store.

PREMIER TRAVEL INN Security Guarding

Upon completion of a brand new hotel in Kendal, Askam Construction called FGH to assist in secur-ing valuable areas until the owners are able to take over and officially open the hotel. The guards are responsible for ensuring the safety of the site and a large amount of high value stock.

SUNLIGHT SERVICE GROUP Security Guarding

Following the recent promotion of the General Manager of Sunlight Services in Lancaster, we were contacted by one of the Sunlight sites in Chesterfield. The Manager from Lancaster had given them a glowing appraisal of our security provision. It was agreed that FGH would cover this site for them. The site is very similar to the Lancaster site, provid-ing cleaning services to huge organisations, such as the NHS.

WRITER: DAVID TAYLOR // GRAPHICS: DAVID HASSALL

11 | Staff

It’s difficult not to notice it when it happens, almost overnight the entire town is taken over by large groups of inebriated teenagers who aren’t wearing tracksuits with ‘Rockport’ splayed across their chests. In fact, they’ll usu-ally be wearing togas, or pyjamas, or they’ll be dressed up like the Village People or any combina-tion of the above. They are the Freshers.

Imagine the scene, driving up to your University for the first time past the group of drunken third years with the large banner reading something along the lines of “Lonsdale College Welcomes Your Daughters.” As a parent I’m sure the scene does not inspire confidence. For the majority of students, however, the loan money is already starting to feel heavy in their pocket and the first question many ask, some even before they unpack is, “where are the bars?”

Most students love bars and bars love them right back. Drab midweek trade can be turned into an explosion of Saturday night proportions by the judicious ap-plication of a student night. From a security perspective student nights can be a godsend. It’s all about knowing how to deal with them.

The majority of work with stu-dents involves being friendly and approachable. If you issue clear instructions in an assertive tone then most students, especially Freshers, will readily comply with any reasonable request. A large percentage of a door supervi-sor’s job during Freshers week is looking out for the customers and making their first week as stress free as possible.

Particularly during Freshers week there is a tendency among many new students to go too far. They are mostly still teenagers and many are away from home for the first time. A large number of incidents during this week will involve somebody who has drunk so much they may be in need of first aid. In this instance it is important to remember a bit of sympathy goes a long way. In many cases they will need a glass of water and a friendly face more than serious medical attention.

Another massive part of the door supervisor’s role during Freshers week is finding things. These things will include coats, shoes, mobile phones and friends to name but a few. It may seem tedious, but you never forget the look of gratitude on a young girl’s face when you reunite her with her coat having been given only the information “it’s black and I left it over there somewhere.”

Remember that most Freshers are in town for the first time. They do not know where anything is or what to expect from a venue. They will need to know where the taxi rank is, which venue to go to after yours and which takeaway does the best chips n’ cheese, for some reason students always love chips n’ cheese, possibly because it provides the best calorie to cash ratio. This week is a chance to create an impression of FGH Security and also the venue that could last the whole three years of their course.

All this being considered a top class door supervisor should be in equal parts a combination of Hawkeye, Inspector Morse and Karl Kennedy. He should be able to guide his customers through

unfamiliar terrain, defend them from harm, find what was thought lost and nurse them back to health when mishaps occur.Students are also an excellent source of recruitment. Approximately 35% of FGH Door Supervisors in Lancaster are, or have been students themselves. Considering the hourly rates, the social life and the fact you don’t have to get up in the morning door supervision is probably the best student job around.

Most venues experience substantially smaller revenue without the students. Without student trade Lancaster’s night-life could not hope to sustain the comparatively wide range of clubs, bars and eateries that we currently enjoy. The odd student night or drinks offer is a small price to pay for this.

All this being said every city needs its annual influx of young, revolutionary minds ready to cure cancer, develop fusion power or overthrow the bourgeoisie, just as soon as mum’s done their laun-dry. Remember, half the reason none of these things have yet occurred is that many of these minds don’t get out of the pub long enough to achieve them. For the Freshers of Lancaster Univer-sity and the University of Cumbria we leave one final message. Welcome to Lancaster.

FRESHERS

FROM A SECURITY PERSPECTIVE STUDENT NIGHTS CAN BE A GODSEND. IT’S ALL ABOUT KNOWING HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM.

FGH Security Ltd

LANCASTER’S LIFEBLOOD

WaistcoatDoor Supervision optionalThough not part of the mandatory uniform it adds a nice level of refinement to the standard uniform and, more importantly for some, adds an additional layer during the cold winter nights. Ideally if you choose to wear one it should be black with no obvious decora-tive patterns or pin stripes.

Suggested stockistsHigh street: Most specialist suit retailers (e.g. Greenwoods, Moss Bross, Suit You) and most department stores.Online: mytuxedo.co.uk , clermontdirect.com

Price rangeThe cheapest we found was £16 but as an average expect to pay approximately £20- £25.

Black long sleeve shirtDoor Supervision essentialThe shirt should be a classic cut without a button down collar. Your shirt should always be clean and neatly ironed with an evident straight crease running down each sleeve.

Suggested stockistsHigh Street: Most large chain supermarkets with a clothing section (ASDA, Tesco, Sains-burys etc), and other large clothing retailers (e.g. Primark, BHS, Officers Club).Online: numerous retailers plus almost all of the high street store brands.

Price rangeBetween £4 -£10 for individual shirts though additional savings can be made through buying multi-packs.

Hi-Tec MagnumsDoor Supervision and Security Guarding optionalThough clean black polished leather shoes are mandatory uniform for all FGH employees we are always keen to recommend Hi Tec Magnums to all staff members. The Magnum is used by a variety of Police, Army and Special Forces units around the world due to its durability, light weight design and comfort.

Suggested stockistsHigh Street: Most outdoor or walking/ mountaineering equip-ment shops should stock. Online: hi-tecdirect.co.uk , surplusandoutdoors.com , milletsports.co.uk

Price rangeMagnum Patrol ST (ankle boot) £29.99 through to the Magnum Elite II which has an RRP of £90.00. The average price you should expect to pay for a middle of the range pair would be £40 - £50.

Black TrousersDoor Supervision and Security Guarding essentialA plain formal suit trousers with neat straight creases on both sides of the leg. All staff are aware that dark jeans, ‘skinny’ fit trousers and pants that are not black are unacceptable options. Tailors will tell you if you choose to wear a belt this should always match your shoes, who are we to argue so your belt should always be black leather.

Suggested stockistsHigh Street: Most large chain supermarkets with a clothing section (ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury’s etc), and other large clothing retailers (e.g. Primark, BHS, Officers Club).Online: numerous retailers plus almost all of the high street stores.

Price rangeAgain this is very subjective as the pants could be part of a full black suit or bought on their own. If bought on their own expect to pay between £8 (cheaper retailers such as ASDA and Primark) -£20 (Larger high street stores such as Burtons and Topman/Topshop)

White long sleeve shirtSecurity Guarding essentialSecurity Guarding staff that work in excess of 30 hours a week for FGH have company white shirts provided for them, if you work less then this you will be required to provide your own.

Suggested stockistsHigh Street: Most large chain supermarkets with a clothing section (ASDA, Tesco, Sainsburys etc), and other large clothing retailers (e.g. Primark, BHS, Officers Club).Online: numerous retailers plus almost all of the high street store brands.

Price rangeBetween £4 -£10 for individual shirts though additional savings can be made through buying multi-packs.

FGH Security JumperSecurity Guarding essentialCompany emblazoned black wool jumper with epaulettes provided for all regular Security Guarding staff.

StockistsIssued by FGH Security Head Office and costs you nothing if you’re part of the Security Guarding Division.

Security GuardingFGH Security High Visibility JackedBesides ensuring that FGH meets all of its health and safety requirements it also allows the guard to act as a visible presence as they go about their duties.Stockists: FGH Security Head Office and costs you nothing if you’re part of the Security Guarding Division.

Door SupervisionBlack Suit Jacket Another staple part of the Door Supervisors’ armour against the elements. The suit jacket should be black, with no pinstripe, and single breasted with either two or three buttons.Stockists: Suit jacket fits will vary due to the tailor and pattern used so it may be worth taking a trip up the high street to ensure that the jacket fits you well. Recommended high street retailers include most large chain supermarkets with a clothing section (ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury’s etc), and other large clothing retailers (e.g. Primark, BHS, Officers Club).Price range: If bought on its own expect to pay between £20 (cheaper retailers such as ASDA and Primark) - £80 (Larger high

street stores such as Burtons and Topman/Topshop).

Crombie or smart dress coatFGH Security always recommends a Crombie overcoat for all Door Supervision staff. However, smart overcoats are also acceptable they should be black, wool based, with no brand names and fitting in line with the rest of the suit based uniform. Under no circumstances should a FGH Door Supervisor ever wear a bomber jacket (it’s not 1992), a sports/tracksuit top style coat or anything with ‘security’ written across it. FGH prides itself on its staff being smartly dressed professionals. If ever you are in doubt then please ask your Head Door Supervisor or your Area Manager and they’ll be more then happy to advise you.Stockists: Most high street retailers with a suit department should stock suitable coats and a quick search online should produce a range of results but again just like the suit jacket we recommend that you try the coat to ensure a correct fit before you by. It’s also worth bearing in mind that the coat will be worn over a suit jacket on most occasions, so may need to be a little bit bigger than what you’re used to. Price range: Pricewise expect to pay between £55 - £80 for a Crombie.

…Essentials for the Great Outdoors

Uniform View

an overview of the main types of uniform currently in use in FGH.

Special thanks to Chris Watt (concept) and our handsome models

Chris Hinchcliffe and Obinna Ajuruchi

(re)

FGH Security Ltd

A Fistful of DollarsWRITER: BEN KNOTT GRAPHICS: DAVID HASSALL

FGH Security Ltd

Clients & Company | 14

Yiou return to your car and as you approach your vehicle, you see a big, dirty yellow

accessory strangling the wheel of your pride and joy.

It is a heart wrenching, sick to the stomach feeling that words fail to describe.

You’ve been clamped!

It’s a familiar story in England and Wales, a story that seems to promote misery and anger amongst a population already in economic crisis. Cowboy clampers have been rustling up a quick buck at the expense of the townspeople.

It’s fair to say wheel clampers have had a lot of bad press. I’m a wheel clamper and I can tell you they deserved every last rotten article written about them. Charging extortionate release fees and tearing at the soft belly of our fair country. They have been, metaphorically, donning masks and holding a Smith & Wesson to the heads of motorists for far too long.

In 2001, the government took action and, just like the “old school bouncers” and Wild West train robbers, cowboy wheel clampers were to be a distant memory of a bygone era.The Security Industry Authority was born.

The SIA introduced strict controls concerning the licensing of wheel clampers or, as they are now known, vehicle immobilisers. Like the new style Door Supervisors, all Vehicle Im-mobilisers had to be educated, licensed, and professional in addition to maintaining a clear criminal record. It is fair to say, this cleaned up the industry almost overnight.Has it solved the problem though? No longer than a month ago, June 2009, the Daily Mail wrote a full page spread on wheel clamping companies, describing the industry as a “money making machine” who use “bounty hunt-ers” for staff.

There are companies within the industry that openly admit charg-ing £400 to £600 per clamp, removing vehicles without noti-fication, charging thousands of pounds in the meantime and de-manding extortionate amounts of cash on the spot as though they were holding up a bank. Does it mean they are operating ethically just because they have a license?

The simple answer is no. People are still being ripped off, and the industry is still in chaos.

In 2008 Peter Harrison, Managing

Director of FGH Security and Business Director, Wesley Downham embarked on a new venture intended to create a successful business that operates both fairly and morally. Just a few months later Northwest Parking Solutions was born.

Taking many of the operating policies from the already well established, and highly respectable business, FGH Security Ltd, they were able to fashion a company that challenged their rivals, while still practicing well within any and all guidelines set by both the SIA and the BPA (British Parking Association).The BPA recommend you should charge around £150-£200 for the removal of a clamp, so Northwest Parking Solutions charged £125. The BPA also recommended you wait 10 minutes before issuing a clamp to a vehicle; Northwest Parking Solutions wait 15 minutes and, if a site requires five warning signs, they’ll put up seven.

When NPS acquires a site, they usually wait at least a week be-fore they start patrolling. This is to allow time for their warning signs to take effect, offering people a chance before penalising them.

To date, NPS are the only com-pany we know of that operate this way.

NPS is not a “money making machine” - it’s a service. While it’s fair to assume we are not go-ing to win the hearts and minds of the people we clamped or issued penalty notices to, it has to be recognised that we always try to give everyone a chance before hand. Usually that’s in

the guise of our bright yellow signage. Landowners take up our service, usually when they have a problem with motorists abusing their property. Never forget, wherever you choose to park your vehicle, the chances are it’s someone else’s land. This is land that has to be cleaned, maintained, and might need to be kept free for the use of staff and customers.

Whenever people abuse me per-sonally, or the company I work for, I always offer them this simple anecdote; “Imagine how furious you would be if someone parked in your driveway?”

Maybe that’s a little exaggerat-ed but offers the same principles - your driveway is your private property.

The vast majority of enforcement companies stop there. They see the money and the facts and that is all they need. We, howev-er, consider the point of view of the motorist too, a point of view ignored too often by many.

Our fines are heavily reduced in comparison to others, and our staff members are paid by the hour so they don’t work on com-mission alone.

So the next time you see a wheel clamper fitting an accessory to someone’s wheel, don’t berate them. Just think “I hope for the motorist’s sake that’s an NPS car park!”

Are you a land owner and tired of problem parking or would just like some more information about NPS? Then give Ben a quick call on 07815 531 275 or visit our site nps-uk.com

Yeeeeeha!Industry regulation coupled with ethical practices within organisations should help to make scenes like this a ting of the past.

Professionalism goes a long wayNPS staff in their company uniform.

Making full use of the

service Current

NPS clients include ...

This is Tony. He’s a security guard and between you and me he’s not the brightest bulb in the box.

I’ll let you into another secret too; the nicest way to describe his work history would be ‘questionable’- fired for theft from his last job, bad time keeping for the one before that and years where he was ‘working for a mate’ for a little bit of cash in hand.

Tony hasn’t got an SIA license either. His employer promised him that he would send all the paperwork off and that it’d be fine for him to work doing mobile patrols. It isn’t. Both the employer and Tony are breaking the law.

The last job that Tony responded to he had a quick look around the out-side of the building, reset the alarm and left a note for the business owner. Then later on that night the same people who’d broken in and stolen in the first place came back. Worst of all they got in through the same way and took even more. Tony took 40 minutes to get there,

but it was alright. Tony and his boss apologised and reassured the owner that this was a one off; “Things like this never happen”.

Of course that’s if you don’t count the four alarm activations where Tony averaged a response time of 46 minutes, the diesel theft that he missed completely because he wasn’t doing his checks properly (the thieves were still in the compound) and the three sites he should have seen at least four times each last week but just decided he couldn’t be bothered and just made up the paper work.

It’s alright, though. Tony’s company has its signs up all over the place. They’ve been established for years and surely all their staff aren’t like Tony?

Would you really want to take that chance if it was your home or business?

Tony wouldn’t have stood a chance of getting through the initial

application stage with us. For start-ers, as standard in our seven step induction plan, all of our staff have a full detailed five year work history and lifetime criminal record check. They are all fully licensed and trained for the job they do and each one of them takes the pride in their work that you’d expect from staff that are experts at what they do.

To us good security is all about trust and going beyond the call of duty. For Tony and his company it’s all about doing enough to get by and taking your money every month, but you knew that already.

You could give us a call, but if you’re happy with Tony who are we to argue?

SAY HI TO TONY

t: 01524 847 554e: info@fghsecurity.co.uk

Staff // Customers // Community