Bob Forsyth, the Managing Director of MITIE Total Security Management (TSM) introduces his seventh blog on Infologue.com. Bob writes: "In my last blog I talked about integration and my view that delivering great service alone isn’t enough for a business to really succeed. Taking that thought a little further I’d like to explore the business advantages of acquisition vs organic growth. So what is the best way to grow your business? Organic growth is a result of consistently good business performance, something which is achieved through the right business model, great service and produc...

Regular Infologue.com columnist , Chris Cully of Dillitas, takes a look at the topic of the "lone loon" and the impact one individual can have on an event. Chris writes; "As a Cambridge supporter and a seasoned Thames oarsman, I settled down on Saturday 7th April 2012 with chums at Dittons skiff club to watch the Boat Race. With beer in hand and great expectations of the event to come, the race began, the crews set off, the expectant crowd cheered. Within a few minutes, one of the great British sporting events is in chaos, due to a lunatic antipodean who decided to go for a dip in the ri...

Bill Fox of conflict management specialists Maybo explores how security guarding companies may be affected by mandatory training top up training for door supervisors. Many security guarding companies will be confident they already have the proposed elements of SIA ‘Top up’ training covered, such as awareness of dealing with 14-18 year olds, terror threats and first aid. They will also provide physical intervention, the substantive training element, to a relevant level for certain roles and contract requirements. Companies may feel therefore that they are caught in the collateral of thi...

The Chief  Executive of the Security Industry Authority updates the industry on S.I.A. activities during March in his latest on-line blog. Bill writes; "Apart from the unseasonal but very welcome sunshine, March proved to be an interesting month. As well as my usual meetings with people involved in the industry and government, we have rolled out improvements to our licensing arrangements, have spent time on our preparations for the Olympic Games, and are considering how we take forward new requirements for physical intervention training for those with the Door Supervisor licence...

Bob Forsyth, the Managing Director of MITIE Total Security Management (TSM) introduces his sixth blog on Infologue.com by explaining why service integration is our fututure. Bob writes; "Coming from a proud Englishman I will take a deep breath before I move on, but after watching Wales defeat England recently at Twickenham it made me think about the importance of integration and strategic long term thinking. It’s amazing what can be achieved by having the right strategy, planning, teamwork and leadership in place working together when going after your goals. Take the Welsh rugby team w...

John Briggs, Operations Director of First Security writes his first of a new series of blogs exclusively for Infologue.com. Here, John looks at the future of the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) and asks what's in store during this transition period as policing levels come under increased scrutiny. Figures revealed by the Observer (10 March 2012), obtained by the shadow home office using freedom of information requests to all 43 police constabularies in England and Wales, have shown that “the jobs of several thousand frontline officers have been lost as forces undertake the ...

Regular Infologue.com columnist at large, Chris Cully, takes a slightly irreverent look at the current topic of Water Cannons or has he refers to them, WC’s. Chris writes; Plastic bullets, water cannons, and to a much lesser degree, CS gas, have always been options to UK police officers in public order situations. With the exception of the use of CS gas in Toxteth in 1981, none of these options have been deployed by police on the UK mainland. The events of last August have now brought the use of these tactical options into closer focus and the police are now considering their use, probab...

In his third article for Infologue.com, Bill Freear, Managing Director of Pilgrims Group Ltd asks the question, "What real benefits does your security provider bring you?" Bill continues: "When you get down to the basics, security manned guarding providers who win new contracts are taking the same personnel supplied by your previous supplier, paying them the same Terms and Conditions (As dictated by TUPE) and in many cases using exactly the same Assignment Instructions to run the contract with. In some cases clients have become so demoralised by the lack of effective input and manageme...

Most people will have heard that employees will have to work 2 years before they can make a claim to an employment tribunal that they have been unfairly dismissed, writes Infologue.com Workplace contributor and labour lawyer of Beers Solicitors, Paul Housego. But do be careful. It is never as simple as a headline. I hope most people have checked out what the new regulations actually say. I can put the important part really simply. FOR THOSE THAT START WORK AFTER APRIL 2012 THE QUALIFYING PERIOD IS 2 YEARS. The trap for the unwary leaps out when you stop and think for a moment. If someone s...

The Chief  Executive of the Security Industry Authority updates the industry on S.I.A. activities during February in his latest on-line blog. Bill writes; February included an appearance before the Leveson inquiry, visits from overseas regulators, the motivation of security guards, a debate and the retirement of one of our Directors. The month started with my appearance as a witness at the Leveson Inquiry. The Inquiry was considering private investigations and I was asked to give evidence on its regulation. Witnesses from the three industry bodies appeared as witnesses as well. I was a...