It is planned that the Securitas Operations Centre will be the cornerstone of Securitas’ risk-based solutions approach to customers’ needs in the UK. The environment has remote services with analytics capability right across the spectrum, together with the first Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) in the UK, built to the new European standards (BS EN 50518.) The pinnacle of this facility is the combined access to the new City & Guilds accredited Training and Development Academy where Securitas will further develop the skillset of their managers, specialised officers and technology specialists and an Interactive Customer Experience Centre, which bring together cutting edge capabilities, at the heart of intelligent security.

At the Securitas Grand Opening, SOC Director Grainne Kelly commented: ‘Having been in this industry some 20 years, I am delighted to see this professional, risk and threat based approach to our customers’ needs. All too often, security has been about expensive labour driven inputs. This strategy places professional risk and threat at the heart of the security solution. We review the customer risk profile and then combine people and technology to offer future proofed protective services. The result for our customers is risk removal or mitigation and a long term partnership, with common goals and objectives’.

The opening of the SOC happened just 4 weeks before Securitas opens its new UK HQ and London office in Russell Square, Central London. According to the company, this is a clear message to the UK’s security market, that Securitas a global security leader is here to stay, demonstrating long term investments that focus on protective services, risk and threat an area that deserves and commands its own expert approach.

To support the new 2020 vision the Securitas UK business will have three regions (North, South & London) plus a new Specialised Protective Services division. The new division will further develop the already successful Emergency Fire and Safety Services and Aviation business.

The Securitas new regional structure is designed to enable managers to increase their focus on customers by reducing the portfolio per manager by 50%, supported by increased investments in IT systems and processes.

In addition, Securitas will invest further in the technology support structure to deliver more cost effective solutions for our customers. This technology support team has now grown to more than 40 highly skilled technology experts and is expected to grow significantly by 2020 through both organic growth and acquisitions.

The CEO of Securitas UK, Brian Riis Nielsen adds: “In an industry often referred to as ‘traditional’, these changes and investments offer a defining moment for Securitas and the market. Our commitment is to lead the way, focussing on people, technology and risk, with the goal to be the first choice advisor, supplier and employer, in an industry that over many years has lacked investment.”