The new facility is located in Manvers, South Yorkshire and effectively brings together two separate capabilities – the company’s security guarding Control Room and its remote video response centre (RVRC) – under one roof to further improve the quality of service provided to Axis Security’s clients.
Chris Wisely, the finance director at Axis Security, has stated that there were both practical and operational benefits behind this latest move from the security solutions specialist.
“Following on from the centralisation of our headquarters and London operations into our King’s Cross offices,” said Wisely, “we also wanted to create a security guarding Control Room. In order to do so, we decided to invest in our existing remote monitoring centre in Manvers, in turn creating a larger ‘hub’ from which we could also control our security guarding operations.”
The development of the combined centre draws on the expertise of key personnel already in place.
Wisely continued: “Dave Leivers, who manages the remote monitoring centre, also has a proven track record in running guarding Control Rooms. In practice, this has made the transition even easier.”
The communications centre is now crucial to the day-to-day management of Axis Security’s guarding operations, making maximum use of the TimeGate Roster Management software to ensure officers are where they should be, when they should be. If there’s an issue at any time, it can be resolved quickly and efficiently.
The RVRC includes state-of-the-art CCTV transmission/recording technology designed to manage and respond to alarms generated from sites protected by Axis Security.
Where a physical response to that alarm is required, Axis Security also has the ability to deploy its own officers on site, thus delivering a truly integrated ‘manpower/technology’ solution.
The new combined guarding communications centre/RVRC is manned 24/7, 365 days a year by up to eight security officers and trained RVRC operators.
Axis Security contracted to guard prominent city estate
In addition, Axis Security has recently won a major contract to protect the Fleet Place commercial estate in central London.
Fleet Place is a sophisticated city space managed by Broadgate Estates, the famous property management firm that manages a portfolio of mixed-use developments and locations across the UK.
Axis Security will provide 24/7 security guarding for Fleet Place, a development which includes 10 Fleet Place – a sophisticated structure designed by leading architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill – and the associated estate.
“Given its close proximity to the Old Bailey and St Paul’s Cathedral, together with a number of high profile clients that are based at the landmark building, it’s imperative that the security service provision at Fleet Place is of the highest standard both for protection and safety procedures,” explained Emma Coomber, property manager for Broadgate Estates.
The Axis Security team of 14 trained officers will now replace the previous company that manned the site for the past five years.
Broadgate Estates made the contract available for competitive tender and, of the four companies that tendered, Axis Security was selected due to its refreshing employee-focused attitude.
“We were very impressed with the way that Axis Security values its staff and delivers an outstanding benefits package,” said Coomber.
“It was quite clear from the tender that Axis Security recognises its people as the principle asset of its business. From the interviews that we conducted, and after meeting with Axis Security, we felt that it was a very professional, sincere company and the most attractive option for our situation.”
The contract acquisition represents a significant achievement for Axis Security, and the company is pleased to be working with such a successful and well-respected property management concern.
Jonathan Levine, group managing director at Axis Security, told SMT Online: “We’re delighted to have been chosen to work with Broadgate Estates and to fulfil the needs of the Fleet Place project. It is particularly rewarding that, once again, our industry-leading employment package has received the seal of approval from a major and respected client.”
Broadgate Estates was formed in 1986 and rapidly became one of the most distinguished specialist property management firms on the market.
The organisation now manages many of the UK’s most prestigious developments, including Chiswick Park, Paternoster, More London, Regent’s Place and 1 Poultry.