Consultants Open Door Security & Risk Limited have launched two new services, Open Door Employment Screening and Executive Travel Security Briefings.
Consultants Open Door Security & Risk Limited have launched two new services, Open Door Employment Screening and Executive Travel Security Briefings. Both services have been launched after repeated client requests, Cheltenham-based Open Door say, and an increased awareness of security and risk issues. Open Door believe that when employing someone it is essential to ensure that they are who they claim to be, have the qualifications they claim to have and that they provide accurate and truthful information in their curriculum vitae and application forms. Failure to verify candidate?s credentials, qualifications, background and the validity of referees can seriously damage the smooth running of any business, its reputation, staff morale, customer confidence and profits. The screening, by multi-lingual staff, is aimed at all employers. There are of course some more obvious areas of business that will use this service, such as financial services, education and occupations involving work with vulnerable members of society. However, many businesses and their customers gain feelings of confidence and peace of mind when a business boasts the ability to demonstrate that staff have been screened. Screening services are performed with the candidate?s permission to assist the employer in finding the right person for the right position. In most cases employers are furnished with a confidential basic report within four working days. An employment screening report enables the employer to benefit from a reduction in financial risk in terms of minimisation of re-recruitment costs, legal costs, loss of business and reduced training budgets. Moreover, screening reduces staff turnover and facilitates the retention of staff thus maximising human resource investment. Other benefits that will enhance a businesses competitiveness when utilising employment screening include the reduction of crime in the workplace, the security of assets (including information) and a reduction of unwanted surprises in a business. The second new service that Open Door has launched is the Executive Travel Security Briefings. This service is not just aimed at executives travelling on business; they are also applicable to expedition groups, aid agency workers, gap year students, individuals, family, and in fact anyone who travels. The bespoke briefings provide invaluable travel and destination information pertaining specifically to the security risks posed to the client as they travel through or to other countries. The briefings can take the form of a one to one or group presentation. Furthermore they are rapidly becoming accepted as a complementary service to corporate travel management firms and travel companies as they strive to better serve their clients. As UK overseas investment continues to rise it is inevitable that more people will travel abroad. The organisations that expect their employees or members to travel have a reasonable duty of care in ensuring that they are fully informed of the security risks that they may face on their journey and for the duration of their stay. For some travellers the risk can be very high. According to the London-based political think-tank The Foreign Policy Centre (FPC), economic kidnapping is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. In places such as Colombia, Mexico, India, Philippines, South Africa and the Former Soviet Union to name a few, guerrilla groups, political activists and criminal gangs view this activity as a valuable source of income. Being advised of such activities through a security risk briefing can help avoid a potential nightmare situation for all travellers. Until recently only the multi-nationals have been exposed to such activities, however with a growing global village culture much smaller companies are venturing abroad, often for the first time and often sending key players from the business. On occasions individuals and groups when either on charity work, holiday or expeditions have been exposed to these types of risk. The travel security briefings can also cover other potential risks that travellers and employers may face. These include theft or elicitation of information during conferences and tradeshows (research indicates that 19 per cent of vital business information can be sought by these means), theft of physical property or physical attack. The possibility of being an unwitting target for drug traffickers or other organised crime issues are also addressed. Open Door realises that businesses need to protect their human, physical and intangible assets. This is where Executive Travel Security Briefings play an increasingly important role. Once in possession of the briefing information the traveller and where appropriate employer, are better equipped to make better-informed decisions regarding travel and future investment, the consultans argue. For more information, visit www.opendoorconsulting.com or call 01242 522010.
