Predictions of good weather, coupled with a weaker pound, have meant that many Brits are planning to holiday at home this summer. Consequently, the UK Events market is anticipating a busy season.
In total, G4S Events will safeguard venues attended by over two million sports and music fans, as well as those attending arts and cultural festivals.
As the biggest provider of event stewards for security in the UK, G4S Events will be securing stadiums, open air parks, race courses and concert halls right across the country. From Stornaway to Swindon, from tennis tournaments to antiques fairs, G4S Events is providing services to some of the biggest and most high profile events in the UK’s summer calendar.
Those events include: the Hebridean Celtic Festival, Radio 1’s Big Weekend, The Wimbledon Championships, the Olympia International Arts and Antiques Fair, the Norwich Union Grand Prix, the Derby Festival at Epsom Downs, Proms in the Park, the Great Scottish Run, T in the Park, the Fairford Airshow, the Open Golf, the V Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fireworks.
Security for the Homecoming Scottish Cup Final
The company – which serves as the specialist events division of G4S Secure Solutions (UK) – also provided the event stewards for last Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, where Nacho Novo’s stunning 30-yard strike helped Rangers defeat Falkirk 1-0 to take their second trophy in less than a week (the club having secured the SPL title a week earlier at Tannadice with a 3-0 victory over Dundee United).
In order to deliver services to such a large range of customers, approximately 4,000 G4S staff will be deployed across the UK this summer to provide security and stewarding services.
Speaking about the summer ahead, Mark Hamilton – the managing director of G4S Events – commented: “Since the acquisition of Rocksteady by G4S last year, our events business has doubled in size to become the leading provider of security and stewarding services in Europe. The company is now fully integrated, and employees and customers are seeing the benefits of new efficiencies and our expanded service offering.”
Hamilton added: “We’re really excited about the breadth of events we are supporting this summer. In April, we were protecting politicians at the G20. Now, we’ll be securing some of the world’s biggest tennis players come June and, arguably, the world’s biggest music stars in July. That’s just a small part of our schedule. Protecting performers, VIPs and members of the audience and event attendees, G4S is committed to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience.”
Relaunch of close protection course
Meanwhile, another G4S business – G4S Risk Management – has relaunched the highly-rated Phoenix close protection course. The three-week course, which has already trained over 1,000 close protection operators, is Security Industry Authority (SIA)-approved and is run from a registered and approved City & Guilds Centre near Hereford. The first course starts on 27 July.
The comprehensive training package prepares men and women for a career in the close protection industry, whether in the UK or overseas. The City & Guilds-accredited course, which covers the 150 learning hours and standards set by the SIA, includes training on G4S’s unique close protection driving track, as well as Health and Safety and medical training.
The G4S Risk Management instructors are predominantly former Special Forces personnel, all of whom have been carefully selected to ensure they have extensive military experience, invaluable commercial close protection experience in hostile environments and the educational qualifications necessary to effectively teach the specialist skills required by clients.
Registered with the Department of Education and Skills
The course is registered with the Department of Education and Skills to accept students taking advantage of career development loans or other UK Government-led initiatives. It enables service leavers or those with security expertise to gain new skills and SIA qualifications, in turn allowing them to pursue a career in the security industry anywhere in the world.
G4S Risk Management recruitment teams are also on-hand during the course to give students the opportunity to discuss potential opportunities that may be available to them, as well as for interviews and advice.
Alex Reid – the director of training for G4S Risk Management – explained: “We’re very pleased to be relaunching our close protection course after a 12-month break. The course has always had a tremendous reputation within the industry. Phoenix close protection-trained personnel are highly sought after, and are deployed on a wide variety of assignments worldwide.”
Reid added: “We believe this course is perfectly designed for service leavers looking to pursue a career in the security industry, and we look forward to welcoming them to Hereford and helping them make the best possible start to their new careers.”
Jersey Airport contract in the bag
G4S Aviation Services (UK) has been appointed by Jersey Airport’s management team to provide a full aviation security solution for the airport.
Services provided will include the screening and searching of passengers, hold baggage screening, access control, airside and landside security patrols in addition to an ID issuing service.
The contract began on 1 April, and is fixed for five years.
G4S has a very successful relationship with the management team at Jersey Airport, having provided security services there for over a decade. There will be 90 G4S staff directly involved in servicing the contract.
Long-standing relationship to build upon
Gavin Windsor – the managing director at G4S Aviation Services (UK) – told SMT Online: “We’re delighted to have secured this contract to provide the total aviation security package of services to Jersey Airport. We have worked very successfully with the airport for over ten years, and are pleased to have the opportunity to strengthen this relationship further.”
Steve Read – the in-house security manager at Jersey Airport – said: “G4S has very successfully looked after the security at Jersey Airport for many years now. When tendering for the ongoing contract, it was good to see that the company is still ahead of the competition in terms of its ability to provide a comprehensive aviation security solution. G4S’s service has always been exemplary – the company’s understanding of our industry is a real asset.”
