Securitas-Alert Services, the independent monitoring division of Securitas, has held a series of VIP guest days for installers at high profile venues: the new Wembley Stadium in London, and the JJB Stadium in Wigan.
Each event comprised two half-day seminars, in private suites, plus refreshments and interesting behind-the-scenes site tours. More events are running around the country; (for details call 0845 605 5545.
At the first of two Wembley days, in December 2007, over 30 security installers from London and the South East were among guests invited to learn more about plans to transform alarms receiving centre (ARC) operations in the UK, and its intruder alarm, CCTV, fire, vehicle tracking, lone worker protection and other monitoring services for business, corporate and residential customers.
Dave Gladwell, National Sales Manager of alarms-over-IP supplier Emizon, which co-hosted the event, told his audience that: "Securitas-Alert Services offers the most competitive monitoring charges in the UK". Bob Marston-Taylor, Country Manager-UK for Securitas-Alert Services, added that the company recognised that with some 80 other NSI Gold-accredited ARCs available its service has to offer something extra.
"Besides being competitive, we aim to provide โbest in classโ monitoring while integrity, vigilance and helpfulness are our watchwords. Weโre financially secure, as part of the largest monitoring company in Europe, with plans for long-term investment and evolution โ including a new ARC operation," Bob said. "But as a newly independent monitoring provider, our status will be good news for customers โ especially as we do not compete with installers by offering our own installation services."
Among developments, โAlert 828โ allows installers to commission systems at the ARC from 8am to 8pm, while โMASWebโ lets you quickly and easily access client records and change other details at the ARC online.
Giving reactions on the day, the invited installers were upbeat. Paul Halsey, Sales Manager with BSS Security Installers and Consultants, said: "The presentation was very informative and it was interesting to hear what Securitas-Alert Services had to say about the โold worldโ of digicoms and the โnew worldโ of IP-related monitoring. Most premises we go to now have broadband connections and weโd like the chance to educate our customers about the extra services and cheaper monitoring costs available using IP."
Andrew Hogger, Electronic Security Manager at Universal Security Group, said: "Iโd be interested to talk to Securitas-Alert Services about keyholding functions as an add-on service to alarm monitoring, because weโre getting requests from our customers for this at a time when the police do not always attend in the event of an alarm activation."
Samantha Riley and Dawn Harwood of Minerva Integrated Security Services were also positive: "Bobโs presentation told us a lot about what Securitas-Alert Services is doing in an honest way, but it wasnโt too long and was also enjoyable," said Sam. "This is a fantastic venue and the Securitas-Alert Services team are approachable and friendly," added Dawn.
Wigan wander
In Wigan โ Securitas-Alert Servicesโ presentation partners at an event held in July 2008 included CSL Dualcom โ who unveiled intruder alarm signalling systems including the companyโs GradeShift technology, as well as information about 21CN โ plus CCTV specialist Xtralis, whose innovative surveillance solutions were profiled in Professional Securityโs September issue (page 52). Giving their reactions, the installers attending were upbeat about what theyโd seen and heard. Alan Gaskell and Neil Grice of Complete Security Solutions reported interest in the CSL Dualcom/Securitas-Alert Services alarm signalling and monitoring package and described the CCTV presentation by Xtralis as being helpful in terms of the potential it offers for alarm confirmation. Barry Evans, MD of Blackpool-based Ace Security UK, which installs and maintains access control, CCTV, fire and intruder alarms and lighting systems, said the presentation had proved interesting and useful, prompting his interest in extending the firmโs existing services using networked and IP-based CCTV systems.
Another attendee, Daren Lang, Business Development Manager of network video products manufacturer Axis Communications (UK), remarked that Axis is focused on what he called โbest of breedโ partners to help facilitate true end-to-end solutions using the partnersโ combined knowledge and expertise. "This has been a good opportunity to look at IP surveillance signalling and how itโs being addressed," he said.
Seated alongside Daren, business partners Marie Walsh and Ian Bond of Manchester-based ES2000 Security Systems, who combine security and fire systems work and have installed systems for the likes of Manchesterโs Trafford shopping centre, Thistle Hotels and Lancashire County Council, added that CCTV is a technology they would like to explore more: "Surveillance is something we have tried to get involved with in the past, but found that operational issues and the costs involved were problems at the time," said Marie.
"Technology has moved on and prices have come down since then," Ian noted, "and this event has been useful because we need to offer the best, integrated systems packages at a cost-effective price."
