OCS Resolution Security reports it has gained three awards in the annual British Security Industry Association (BSIA) awards.
Two are for best regional team, won by OCS Resolution Security staff in Aberafan, Wales and Gateshead. The third is an individual award for best newcomer to the industry which goes to 36 year old Wendy Andrew, 36. She is site security manager at Xscape, the Glasgow leisure and entertainment complex.
For the Aberafan Shopping Centre team in Port Talbot, South Wales, the awards are becoming a habit. This is the third consecutive year the seven man team has been honoured. The team, under manager Chris Morgan, is acclaimed for its proactive and good humoured approach to dealing with many incidents as well as helping shoppers and shopkeepers with day-to-day problems. The seven have qualified to become volunteer responders for the Welsh ambulance service.
In the North East, the OCS team based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead has consistently gained 80 per cent satisfaction in independent patient assessments and are called upon to provide security support for distressed or disturbed patients. They also play a front line role in tracing and returning absconded or difficult patients. In a turbulent year the team, under security manager Rob Stead, has among other incidents been called upon to administer life-saving first aid, apprehending shoplifters and dealing with a dangerous car fire outside the maternity unit.
Wendy Andrew has won recognition only one year after entering the industry from 18 years as a full-time mother. Wendy began work with OCS at the Forge Shopping Centre in Glasgow but quickly showed the skills required in dealing with often difficult situations. She proved able to communicate on any level, regardless of the type of incident she was handling, and was subsequently appointed shift supervisor at the Xscape Leisure facility as part of a team of 12 dealing with thousands of visitors to the complex. Wendy also showed her administrative skills by taking responsibility for all paperwork and procedures and, now as site security manager, she has been central in fostering a sense of teamwork on this relatively new contract for OCS.
Congratulating his people on their awards, OCS Resolution Security managing director, Richard Fenton-Jones said: "We have two teams on opposite sides of the country who have not only displayed consistent professionalism but have gone one step further by creating a safe environment in friendly and supportive manner. And in Scotland, one of our people has stood out as a natural team player able to cope with any situation with authority and sensitivity. In all these examples we have demonstrated that our business is not just about doing what is required but going the extra mile to be the best at what we do."
OCS Resolution Security employs 3000 staff across the UK and is part of the property support services group OCS – One Complete Solution – which has sales in excess of £600m and 61,000 employees across four continents. OCS chief executive, Chris Cracknell said: "Our business success is due in no small part to the calibre and professionalism of our people. Our OCS Resolution Security teams tackle issues and incidents which many might find difficult to cope with, yet they do so in an entirely professional manner and with a strong sense of humanity. These winners deserve our congratulations and thanks."
