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H&M Security

A message to our Customers and Frontline Colleagues from Ian Henderson

By | News

I Hope that you are staying safe during this difficult time.

I felt that it is even more important than normal to keep in contact, to both reassure you that H&M Security are continuing to provide essential services to our clients and to show support for our teams working on the ground.

Our 24-hour control room and team of Operations Managers and Mobile drivers are working hard supporting our officers on site, and our offices are open to support our clients.

We have seen an increase in demand for our services and we have officers deployed supporting Hospitals and Health Centres, British Transport Police, Local Councils, NWR,  as well as supporting our core business with major construction and infrastructure projects that continue to work in order to keep our economy working.

Fortunately, at the start of the year we strengthened our team bringing in a new Operations Director Steve Rigby, and two new Operations Managers Kevin Keene, and Aron Graves. This has given us additional resilience during this difficult period, as well as many years security experience across a broad range of sectors. I look forward to being able to introduce our new signings to you over the coming weeks.

I cannot send out a message at this time, without saying a massive thank you to all H&M’s security officers and staff. I understand that you will have concerns about the impact of the current situation on you and your family, but also want to reassure you that H&M Security is in a good position for supporting you in your current duties, and to move forward and grow when the economy stabilises.

Reports suggest surge in break-ins at commercial sites during coronavirus lockdown

According to report, police forces across the UK are having to carry out extra night patrols in empty city and town centres, as burglars target shops, pubs and other commercial premises during the coronavirus lockdown.

Collating intelligence data from police reports, the UK has seen a significant rise over recent weeks in commercial burglaries and attempted thefts in London, Manchester, Merseyside, Gwent and Cleveland.

Last week the SIA and British Security Industry Association confirmed that the current definition of key critical workers includes regulated security professionals. Roles essential to supporting law and order, with the potential to reduce demand on policing, also meet the critical worker definition. This includes the guarding and CCTV monitoring of empty or closed commercial, retail or office premises, and the provision of alarm response centres, including mobile units.

Vulnerable premises like construction sites, which contain valuable plant and equipment, are now standing empty for a few weeks, so they need to be kept secure.”

H&M Security Services has always recognised the importance of developing and maintaining effective business continuity planning. These are now being tested to the full and proofing an essential guide for managers as we work our way through this difficult period.

If you need help with your security, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your requirement.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a significant challenge but together, we are rising to it and will undoubtedly overcome.

Why should security professionals be considered key workers

Whilst health workers are protecting people and dealing with the human aspects of protection, security workers are there to protect the economic and other physical and intangible assets of the nation.

With the possibility of office buildings being left unused or more-or-less empty, they can become easy targets for criminals. As well as physical assets there is also wealth of valuable data – be it personal data, intellectual property or any other type of data.

Commercial premises and empty construction sites have a lot of that can be stolen and will be seen as easy targets by some groups during these difficult times. While many premises are often unused at weekends, we are currently in a very different situation when you’re talking weeks, or maybe months were premises will remain closed, and the police and other emergency services will have other demands being placed on them.

Buildings – operating or closed – all still need physical security, even though the need may be slightly different, whilst the data in hospitals, government departments, enterprises, small business, etc., all still need protection as well. The requirement for protection has not decreased as a result of the coronavirus.

The coronavirus will change security over the next few months and years to come. Your assets need to be protected to ensure that not only workers continuing to work from wherever they are able to do so, but that when things get better the assets left in the unused buildings have not been stolen, damaged or negatively affected through criminal activities.

Ian Todd, SIA CEO: “I am able to confirm that the current definition of key worker DOES include regulated (licence holding) security professionals, essential to national infrastructure, operating in critical roles under the eight broad headings listed. …”

Key worker journeys jeopardised after metal thieves rip out railway signalling cable

While the country looks to pull together and help each other through these difficult times, criminals simply see it as an opportunity to take advantage of the over stretched resources of the police, and social distancing measures designed to control the coronavirus spread.  Metal thieves have disrupted the journeys of key workers after ripping out hundreds of metres of railway signalling cable.

Several locations in Network Rail’s North West and Central region have been targeted by callous thieves taking advantage of the corona pandemic to carry out their crimes.

This has jeopardised journeys for key workers like doctors and nurses, as well as disrupting freight trains carrying thousands of tonnes of food and products to supermarkets across the country.

Engineers worked throughout the night on Saturday (March 28) to replace 300 metres of cabling ripped out of the signalling system between Alderley Edge and Crewe in Cheshire.

British Transport Police Chief inspector, Gary Jones, said: “In these challenging and unprecedented times acts like this are appalling, particularly as the rail network plays an important role in helping people make essential journeys to support the national effort. It also plays a critical role in the distribution of essential supplies around the UK. Everyone else should be staying at home to stop the spread of the virus, which helps saves lives.

“Offending disrupting vital transport links shows a real disregard for the efforts of those who continue to work on the frontline, fighting this pandemic. It also puts lives at risk which could place further demand on the already stretched emergency services. Be assured that anyone who steals from the railway will face the strongest possible action.”

First electric train for the Stirling-Dunblane-Alloa line.

By | News

Network Rail managed to reach another significant milestone on the Stirling-Dunblane-Alloa Electrification project last week with its first successful electric test train on the route.

The A Class 380 train ran at line speed along the newly electrified lines to Dunblane and Alloa overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday.

Over the course of the week, further test train runs will commence ahead of the introduction of the ScotRail electric passenger services on the line from December 9th.
During a 2 year period engineers have installed over 2,000 stanchions and structures supporting more than 300km of overhead wires along the 50km route.

Overall, the project will enable:

•The introduction of class 385 electric trains which will provide a smoother travelling experience and from Stirling to Glasgow to Edinburgh
•Provide more seats on vital services
•Reduce noise and pollution levels

Network Rail’s delivery director Iain McFarlane said: “Successfully running this first test train brings the railway a step closer to introduce electric services for customers”.

H&M Security’s Commercial Director Frank McLintock said “we’re pleased that a project we provide security for is moving in a positive direction with its test successful. This is a massive step in the right direction for travel in Scotland”.

Richard Ashie, Commercial and Marketing Manager

ref: https://www.railbusinessdaily.com/first-electric-train-…/The

Local MP Iain Duncan Smith

By | Blog

H&M Security services were delighted to welcome local MP Iain Duncan Smith last week to present their award for being named in the top “1000 Companies to Inspire Britain” list produced by the London Stock Exchange (LSEG). The award, which highlights the most inspiring and fastest growing companies in the UK also examines the growth areas and challenges facing SME’s.

Help for Heroes

By | Blog

H&M Security Services is a keen supporter of Help For Heroes. This week Ian Henderson Managing Director presented them with a cheque for 6000 pounds raised at a recent event in aid of this worthy cause. The presentation also was attended by The Military Wives Choir who treated all present to a beautiful rendition of some of their songs.

Ten Year Service Award

By | Blog

Two dedicated H&M officers commended for over 10 years’ service with a fabulous lunch at head offices in Highams Park.

On Friday 17th August, two H&M security members of staff were honoured for their long service, dedication, and continuous devotion to H&M security. The lunch recognised staff who have reached a significant milestone in their careers that spanned over 10 years’ service with the company.  

Managing director Ian Henderson praised the members of staff for their hard work and dedication. “We’re really pleased to have staff that have been working with us for such a long time we value our officers and are proud that they can act as great ambassadors for the company and our clients. Our people are our strongest assets so we wanted to do something nice for them to show that they are appreciated”.

Inder Rathore, who works on the Costains London Bridge redevelopment project said “H&M have been pretty good to me, and I’ve enjoyed working with the company”.

“I’ve never had any major issues as such, any time I wanted anything done or if I’ve had a problem I could go to management, speak to them and my problem would be dealt with.”

“At London Bridge the team spirit has been great and we’ve become more of a family now. We were just colleagues at first, but because we’ve obviously spent more time together we’ve grown to develop a good relationship, we know each other’s’ pros and cons. You do have general guards that come and go, but the main ones have stuck things out from the start. Many of us have been working here for the past six years so it’s been really good”.

The group celebrated with a gorgeous assortment of drink and food supplied by Breeze London as they laughed joked and reminisced on the early days of H&M.

Another staff member being recognised for their long service was Abbas Daramy-Basse who works at Paddington on Laing O Rouke’s project. He spoke on how he couldn’t see himself working for another security company.

“I did try a number of companies but I eventually settled with H&M as that’s where I felt most comfortable and I’ve been with the company ever since. If I had to leave H&M then I would be going to a different career but I can’t leave H&M to join another security company because it just wouldn’t feel right when H&M have been so good to me.”

Filming at London Bridge

By | Blog

At H&M Security we are very proud of what we do, and the services we deliver to our clients. To help promote this work, and help projects starting to plan new work, we thought it might be helpful to create a short video, which highlighted some of the security threats which projects face, as well as looking at where integrating can deliver best value solutions.

With the help of Talking Edge Studios, we have just finished two days of filming at London Bridge, capturing how our security team work closely with the project delivering the re-development of London Bridge Station. We would like to say a big thank you to Mark Howard (Project Director) and Graham Dean (Security Manager) for Costain who helped arrange the filming for us. We hope to be able to launch the video on the 7th March 2017, at the event being hosted at the House of Commons, by The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP.

H&M Security Listed in Top 1000 to Inspire

By | Blog

H&M Security services are delighted to celebrate being named in the top “1000 Companies to Inspire Britain” list produced by the London Stock Exchange (LSEG).

The report, which highlights the most inspiring and fastest growing companies in the UK also examines the growth areas and challenges facing SMEs. It looks at the sectors and trends that will shape the future of the British and European economies. To be selected for the list, businesses not only had to demonstrate positive growth in revenue over the last three years but also outperform their sector peers. The end result is a unique and varied list of the UK’s most dynamic and forward thinking companies.

H&M Security’s MD Ian Henderson said: “I and my partners, Frank McLintock, and Brian Tuite have worked tirelessly to deliver highly professional security services to all of our clients”. “We believe in the idea that our people are our strongest assets and our inclusion in the report reflects our dedicated approach to high levels of customer service and invocation within the security services industry over the years”.

London Stock Exchange’s chief executive Nikhil Rathi said: “These dynamic companies are the backbone of our economy, playing an important role in the UK’s ability to innovate export and grow. This report is a significant part of London Stock Exchange Groups broader campaign to support UK high growth companies. We are committed to championing British businesses and Britain’s dynamic entrepreneurial spirit.