G4S Transport and Borders will provide a range of specialised security services including check-in and profile monitoring of passengers, aircraft guarding, access control and aircraft searches at Heathrow; Gatwick; Glasgow Intenrational and Manchester.
The three-year contract, which commences next week, will see G4S help streamline Virgin Atlantic’s security processes, in turn providing a faster and more efficient service for around five million passengers each year.
G4S will also take care of security for the airline’s Heathrow drive-through operations that accommodates passengers travelling in Virgin Upper Class.
The contract was awarded by Virgin Atlantic following an existing eight-year partnership with G4S at three of the airline’s sites in the UK.
Safety and security “of paramount importance”
Commenting on the new contract Andy Blackwell, head of security and resilience at Virgin Atlantic, said: “Safety and security are of paramount importance to Virgin Atlantic. G4S is an integral part of our protective security arrangements and we’re delighted to be continuing to work with them to ensure the integrity of aviation security.”
Steven Taylor, the managing director of G4S Transport and Borders, said: “We welcome this opportunity to support one of the world’s leading airlines at all of its UK operating sites and look forward to assisting Virgin Atlantic across its entire network.”
Jonathan Yates, category manager at Virgin Atlantic, added: “Our existing relationship with G4S, combined with the efficiencies they have already demonstrated at some of our biggest airport sites, made them an excellent choice when appointing a trusted and effective security supplier for our UK operations.”
Good service for Goodman courtesy of Axis Security
Fresh from its triumph in the Security Guarding Company of the Year category at the 2011 Security Excellence Awards (more of which anon), Axis Security has just secured a further contract to provide security guarding services at a business park location in Leeds, West Yorkshire following a lengthy and detailed tender process.
The contract at Leeds Valley Park comprises a security guarding team of several officers, including a supervisor element supporting the core team, and a concierge service to the Darwin Building (one of the locations on this multi-building site).
Leeds Valley Park is located immediately to the south east of Leeds city centre within the Aire Valley region, one of the most significant areas of investment opportunity in the Yorkshire and Humber region, and is home to international companies such as Arla Foods, Ventura and ING Car Leasing.
It’s owned, developed and managed by integrated property group Goodman UK, for whom Axis Security has also fulfilled contracts at other locations (among them Rainton Bridge and Doxford Park).
Richard Potter, property services director at Goodman, explained: “Providing a safe and secure environment for our customers is paramount to Goodman. We’ve been very impressed by the customer focus and professionalism of Axis Security. We look forward to starting a successful relationship.”
Axis Security has also received extremely positive feedback regarding the mobilisation of the contract, which resulted in 100% TUPE of all full-time employees.
Commercial manager Michelle Foreman stated: “We’re really pleased to continue working alongside a firm that manages a number of prestigious sites across the UK, and both Goodman and the officers on-site have been very satisfied with the contract so far at Leeds Valley Park.”
Foreman added: “This is testament to the fact that we are fast becoming the employer of choice, and we believe it was down to our structured mobilisation process, our industry-leading benefits package and the hands-on involvement of the team throughout.”
Security Guarding Company of the Year 2011
Last week at the Hilton Hotel on London’s Park Lane, Axis Security won this year’s Security Guarding Company of the Year Award at the prestigious Security Excellence Awards.
Initially formed in 1994, Axis has become one of the fastest-growing companies of its kind, having achieved a 54% rate of organic growth since March 2009 and 36% growth taking place over the course of 2010.
Turnover today stands at approximately GB pound 36 million.
The Security Guarding Company of the Year Award celebrates ‘professionalism, consistency of service and responsibility to both customers and staff’.
Axis Security’s group managing director Jonathan Levine said: “The company has grown immensely over the past few years but at the heart of it remains a dedicated management team and the commitment of our officers.”
“The past 12 months have been about investment,” continued Levine, “and that investment has been across the board to ensure that, wherever our clients come into contact with us, we’re providing the very best level of service. This award is testament to the hard work of everyone at Axis Security, and the support of our clients. It’s a tremendous achievement.”
In addition to the Security Guarding Company of the Year Award, one of Axis Security’s key operations staff – Janet De Luca – was a finalist in the Contract Security Manager of the Year category.
De Luca is in charge of the Axis Security team at the Southbank Centre and, in the nomination, head of security Mark Foster described the work of Janet and her team as “raising the ‘service excellence’ bar to a new level”.