Rock Security Solutions has extended its Security Industry Authority (SIA) Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) approval to cover four licensable activities: Close Protection, Door Supervision, Security Guarding and Key Holding.
The company previously held ACS approval for Close Protection and Door Supervision. Its latest assessment extends the scope to its Security Guarding and Key Holding operations.
The ACS is a voluntary quality-assurance scheme for the private security industry. Contractors are assessed against requirements relating to areas including management, processes and service delivery, with approval granted for specific security activities.
The SIA currently lists around 670 approved contractors for Security Guarding and 22 for Close Protection, according to figures supplied by Rock. Once the latest changes appear on the SIA’s live register, Rock expects to be among a small number of UK contractors holding approval across all four activities.
The company said it will become the 13th contractor to hold this combination of ACS approvals.
Rock Security Solutions was established with a focus on Close Protection and specialist security services. Its operations have since expanded to include security guarding, keyholding and alarm response, retail security, concierge services and mobile security.
Company Director Ross Merison said the additional ACS approvals were intended to ensure the company’s expanding services were subject to the same external assessment as its existing operations.
“Close Protection and Door Supervision have historically been what Rock is known for, and they remain part of the foundation of the business. But over recent years our clients have increasingly trusted us with their wider security requirements – particularly guarding and keyholding. As those areas of the business have grown, it was important to us that they were independently assessed against the same standards.”
The extension of the company’s ACS scope followed an external assessment of its processes, management systems and service delivery.
Managing Director Alex Declercq said the accreditation should be considered alongside other measures of performance rather than as an indicator on its own.
“We’re incredibly proud of the work that has gone into achieving this, particularly because of the level of external scrutiny involved. But we also appreciate that ACS approval isn’t the only indicator of a successful security company. A certificate doesn’t build a great client relationship, look after an officer or deliver an exceptional service. Ultimately, it still comes down to relationships, exceptional service and trust. However, the accreditation gives our clients another level of independent reassurance behind that.”
The SIA states that organisations listed on its Approved Contractor register have met the requirements of the ACS for the activities for which they are approved.
For Rock Security Solutions, the expanded approval brings its guarding and keyholding operations within the same ACS framework as its existing Close Protection and Door Supervision activities. The company said it will now focus on the continued development of these services.