A Hampshire security company is among the finalists in the UK Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs). Venture Security, based in Andover, has been shortlisted in the category of Outstanding Contract Security Company – Guarding.
The OSPAs in the Uk and in separate ceremonies abroad recognise performance and best practice in security. Now in their fourth year, the UK awards acknowledge the contribution that companies, initiatives, teams and individuals make to the security industry and wider community. Venture has made the list for the work its city centre security officers are doing against anti-social behaviour in city centres across the region, such as Salisbury, Winchester and Basingstoke.
Paul Howe, Venture Security MD, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have been shortlisted. Looking at the other finalists, we can see it is a tremendously tough category. With a turnover of just under £2m, Venture is the smallest company in the category by miles, but we have always punched well above our weight! Our town and city centre security schemes are genuinely making an outstanding difference in tackling antisocial behaviour for the benefit of the wider public and it’s fantastic to see this recognised on such a prestigious stage.”
The security officers have been carrying out daily city centre patrols for Salisbury City Council for more than two years. The officers have been tackling anti-social behaviour, including alcohol consumption, excessive noise and intimidating behaviour. The company works similarly for Winchester Business Improvement District (BID), and Basingstoke BID; and was recently awarded a contract to carry out patrols for Fareham Borough Council, in south Hampshire.
Venture was the first security company in Hampshire and Wiltshire to be accredited under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) for city centre security. The accreditation gives Venture’s officers low level police powers and took a year of vetting, screening, assessments and training to achieve.
The OSPAs winners are revealed on February 26, at a ceremony at the Royal Lancaster London. Visit https://theospas.com.
As featured in the November 2019 print issue of Professional Security magazine, Venture recently gained an English Heritage contract for Stonehenge guarding.
Pictured courtesy of Venture: Darren Winter, city centre security officer at Venture, in Salisbury’s Market Square. He was among the winners in the ACS Pacesetters officer of the year awards in May.
Visit www.venturesec.co.uk.
