H&M VISITS 10 DOWNING STREET
Building on a long standing relationship with the military that started when H&M Security Services Managing Director, Ian Henderson joined The British Army as a boy soldier in 1973 where he served for 2 years, and then moved on to serve with the 1st Battalion The Royal Highland Fusiliers for 6 years, H&M Security has sponsored an annual reunion for Scottish Veterans over the past fifteen years.
The reunions have included visits to the Normandy beaches to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings, the First World War Military graves in France and a visit to the House of Commons and House of Lords. The group have also visited Gibraltar twice, meeting the Governor with a private tour of his residence by his Excellency.
Despite the increasing age of the group, this year’s event was well attended and included an invitation to 10 Downing Street by the Prime Minister’s office.
On Monday 16th November 2015, Ian led a group of ex-veterans to 10 Downing Street. The visit was to be hosted by the Prime Minister David Cameron, but unfortunately due to the tragic events in Paris the weekend before the visit, he had to attend a meeting of world leaders in Turkey at short notice. The Right Honourable Iain Duncan Smith stepped in at short notice to host the visit and show the veterans around No. 10 culminating in the group sitting in the Cabinet Room, where Ian Henderson sat in the Prime Minister’s chair.
Ian was joined by his two sons, Iain and Scott, who are both working with H&M Security Services. Iain is currently working as an Operations Manager with responsibility for our contract with Costains working on the National Grid London Power Tunnels project. Scott is working as a Security Officer at St Leonards Hospital in North London.
Ian hopes that Iain and Scott will develop their skills and understanding of the business and when the time is right will be able to take the Company he formed fifteen years ago to the next level.
The visit to 10 Downing Street follows last year’s visit by the Home Secretary, Theresa May, to H&M’s Head Office in Highams Park, that recognised the good work being done by our HR Team in the vetting and screening of staff, an important aspect of any security company’s business and for the Government in dealing with the risk of terrorism and the challenges caused by immigration and illegal workers.
At H&M Security Services we are proud of our past, and excited by the future. We would like to thank everyone who has helped us get this far, and look forward to working with you in the future.