Contractor Europa’s team at MetroCentre, Gateshead has won ‘Security Team of the Year’ award at SCEPTRE 2008, which recognises best practice and people in the shopping centre sector.
The award shows, the firm says, benefits to outsourcing support services to specialist FM companies in the retail sector and is testament to Europa’s record at MetroCentre. Other security achievements at the centre include the 2003 Safer Shopping Award and the Business in the Community ‘Big Tick’ for Power in Partnership in 2005.
A contributor is the training that Europa staff receive in health and safety, customer service, diversity and forensic awareness, surveillance, first-aid and defibrillator use.
The ‘plain clothes’ Retail Crime Unit works with police and retailers, providing crime prevention training and has achieved a 50 per cent reduction in retail crime while maintaining a 95 per cent detection rate. 2007 involved 383 arrests, 135 civil recovery claims and recovery of £52,373 stolen property. They were subject of a BBC documentary in 2005 and featured in Professional Security Magazine, most recently last issue.
Police Inspector, Paul Bentley, says: “There’s no doubt that our partnership with Europa security at MetroCentre has resulted in huge reductions in crime in all categories. Partnerships like this are the way forward for shopping centres.”
MD says
David Pollock, managing director of Europa says: “This award signifies the growing professionalism and importance of FM services in this sector. Secure shopping centres are safe and hassle free, which are two fundamental requirements for a successful retail experience.” David Hopper, Debenhams security manager, adds: “The ongoing strong partnership between the security team and Debenhams has helped reduce losses and consistently keeps them low.”
And Mark Roberts, Boots manager (and chairman of MetroCentre’s tenants association) adds: “The Europa security team is excellent, creating a safe environment and favourable trading conditions, many retailers reporting best-in-class stock losses.” MetroCentre, a flagship shopping centre in Gateshead near Newcastle upon Tyne, is owned by Capital Shopping Centres (CSC), featured in Professional Security Magazine in February 2008. Europa is employed to manage the FM contract for five of its shopping centres in the UK.
About Europa
Europa is a privately owned facilities management business, operating across the UK. It employs around 2,000, with its head office in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. Europa delivers FM services across four markets – corporate, public, retail and utilities.
