G4S Secure Solutions’ Ulster Bank Team won the BSIA’s Best Team Award in the Northern Ireland Region.
The Ulster Bank Team, from around the UK, won the award for their work as a part of G4S’ contract with the Royal Bank of Scotland. The team is made up of G4S employees Luis Martin Renderio (earlier winner of a BSIA’s Outstanding Regional Act Award), Emma Cook, Shaun O’Connell, Nicola Semple, Matthew Balura, Matthew Stanley, Patricia O’Keefe and Jenny Jarecki, who all jumped into action when RBS saw a system failure across its 96 Ulster Bank branches in Northern Ireland last year.
After the crash an emergency notice was put out for volunteers and the team helped colleagues in the branches. Over three weeks G4S security officers dealt with tense situations arising from distressed customers. Given the fast-moving circumstances, team supervisor Emma Cook sourced accommodation, transport and food and drink for the influx of G4S officers.
Emma Cook said: “On behalf of the entire team at G4S, I would like to say how delighted we are to win this award. We were working in some pretty tough situations with some very disgruntled customers, who were finding it difficult to access their money at our customers’ branches. The job was tense but all the team showed excellent people handling skills to make sure Ulster Bank staff and customers felt safe and secure.
“Luis deserves a special mention for dealing with a violent incident with the customary professionalism I expect from all members of the team. At the end of the day were doing the job to the high standards that are expected at G4S and we’re honoured the BSIA Award recognises this.”
The contractor will now be put forward to the national judging phase of the awards. If they are successful in the second round of judging, they will then be invited to attend the association’s annual lunch on July 16 in London where they will be presented with the national award.
