The Westgrove Group has scooped a number of prestigious industry awards for its outstanding security personnel work.
Six colleagues won regional awards in this year’s British Security
Industry Association (BSIA) awards. There was further success in the ACS
Pacesetters Security Officer of Distinction awards where the company scooped
one of only 13 UK awards.
The BSIA award winners were recognised by the trade body
representing the UK’s private security industry, in four categories – all
celebrating their great work. Winners of the regional awards are put forward to
the BSIA’s panel of national judges.
The BSIA holds awards both regionally and nationally to celebrate
some of the outstanding personnel within the industry who have gone above and
beyond the call of duty in their everyday work.
The ACS awarded Steve Brooks one of only 13 Security Officer of
Distinction Awards in relation in response to his contribution at Templars
Square Shopping Centre in Oxford. Steve was praised after he bravely calmed
a woman who was threatening to jump from the roof then went to put out a fire
started by two homeless men.
Approved Contract Scheme Pacesetters membership is made up
of Contract Security Guarding Companies who are in the top 15% benchmarking and
achievement levels set by the Security Industry Authority Approved Contractor
Scheme.
Steve will receive his award at an event at Royal Windsor
Racecourse in Berkshire on May 22.
Mike Reddington, Chief Executive of the BSIA said: “It is vital as
the voice of the professional security industry that we recognise the great
lengths security personnel go to in keeping the public and property safe.
“More often than not, these security professionals are first on
the scene when incidents and emergencies occur and they demonstrate true
quality and professionalism in their actions. This year’s regional winners are
no exception and have shown remarkable achievements throughout the past year.”
Westgrove Group Managing
Director Claire McKinley Smith said: “As always, we are very proud of our
security officers for their dedication, loyalty, team work, customer service,
use of technology and their bravery.
“It is a remarkable achievement and a
testament to how our people go the extra mile for the company and our Partners.”
www.westgrove.co.uk
The
Westgrove BSIA regional winners are:
Service to the
Customer: Steve Allen, Haymarket Shopping Centre, Leicester
Dual Service Manager Steven was instrumental in
achieving the Westgrove Aspire Six-Star award for the Centre and gained ROSPA’s
silver award for the second year running. He was part of the Green Initiative
for his work to help reduce the Centre’s environmental impact, slashing power
consumption by 35% and introducing the Lotus Pro chemical free cleaning system
which has cut the team’s chemical use by 95%. Steve, 57, won praise for his
‘consistently high performance and improvement in staff morale which gives
great value to the client and demonstrable results’.
Service to the
Customer: Paul Ogden, Market Place, Bolton
As part of the service to Market Place shoppers the centre
was keen to ensure that they identified a mental health first aider, something
which is being called for by many companies in the UK to be mandatory as part
of the ‘Time to Change’ campaign. Paul Ogden is Westgrove’s first site based
Mental Health First-Aider. Paul is now available to offer support and advice to
vulnerable customers visiting the centre as well as to the centre’s tenants. Paul,
49, was praised for his outstanding customer service, his positive outlook and
his extreme reliability.
Best use of
Technology: Vijay Odedra, Haymarket Shopping Centre, Leicester
On top of his
job as a security officer, Vijay, 27, used his initiative to introduce a comprehensive
Health and Safety online log which is now an essential part of monthly Health
& Safety meetings. It helps to track maintenance issues which may have
otherwise been overlooked and caused a danger to public and staff. Vijay
received an internal accolade from the shopping centre for his work as well as
a Quarterly Service Excellence award from the Westgrove Group.
Outstanding Act:
Gavin Jones, 50, Matthew Lamb, 48, and John Wallbank, 47, Ropewalk Shopping
Centre, Nuneaton
The team, who have each worked in the industry for over 14
years, worked together to prevent an intoxicated man with a drink driving
conviction from driving too far after leaving the car park. Their quick
thinking and instinctive skills were praised by the police for ensuring that
the public were not put in danger due to the actions of the driver.
Outstanding Act:
Steven Travis, Arcades Shopping Centre, Ashton-under-Lyne
Steve, 56, bravely dealt with a gang of
teenagers running amok in the shopping centre throwing bottles and armed with a
knife. He kept a clear head, radioed for help, calmed the situation down and
removed the youths from the premises.
Best Newcomer:
Matthew Bray, Concourse Shopping Centre, Skelmersdale
Security Officer Matthew, 30, won praise for his ‘infectious
personality and drive to help others’ after just four months in the job. He was
recognised for helping an elderly man who was unsteady on his feet to do his
shopping and also for quickly resolving an issue with a children’s vending
machine for a customer.
