Shield Security rated in top 25 per cent of security providers

Shield Security has been hailed as being in the top 25 per cent of ACS Contractors providing security services in the UK by industry inspectors, highlighting its strong management, expertise and professional service to customers.

Shield, established 13 years ago, has grown into one of the biggest regional security providers in Yorkshire, serving large private and public organisations including local authorities, the NHS, colleges and businesses including the likes of Sewell Group and F Smailes & Son.

The firm, which employs hundreds of staff across the north, has been subject to assessments by the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) since its formation, with its NSI accreditations in security and guarding giving assurance to customers that it is continually meeting industry standards.

Now, an audit carried out by the NSI on behalf of the Security Industry Authority Approved Contractor Scheme (SIA ACS), has put Shield Security in the top 25% in the country for medium-sized security firms.

As part of the inspection, businesses are given a final score to provide them – and their customers – with a clear indication of where they sit in terms of performance nationally.

Shield were visited by NSI chief executive Richard Jenkins, who acted as an observer to assessors on the day, with the company exceeding the pass level by 116 points, placing it in the top quarter of security companies of its size.

Mr Jenkins said the assessment had focussed on assessing the integrity of the business, its level of expertise, the professionalism with which it is run, and how it serves customers.

“In terms of the assessment, these results show that Shield Security is providing really strong level of service to customers, one that matches that of many bigger businesses in the security industry,” he said.

“It is clear that the management at Shield imposes very high standards on itself in all aspects of its work. This means the business is robust, well managed, competent and meeting high standards of service.

“For a regional business to achieve a result like this is very impressive, and sends out a message to its customers that it is doing the job to a very high standard.”

Dave Frank, managing director of Shield Security, was delighted with the results.

He said: “We have been with the NSI for some years now and can honestly say it has been a journey for both establishments, and one that we are still on as we look to continually improve and expand our services to customers.

“From day one of the business we have recognised the huge importance of being fully accredited by all the relevant bodies in the industry and we’ve worked hard at all times to continually improve what we do, and how we do it.

“We have achieved and passed many milestones over the years that we have been a part of the NSI and achieving this score was certainly a large milestone, but it’s not the end of the journey or even a resting place.

“From my point, I don’t judge our success in reaching this industry recognised peak of excellence, but by the distance we have travelled as a business from the point where we started.

“Shield Security is relatively new compared to our competitors in the industry and we just keep getting stronger and pushing that service level a bit more with each year that passes.

“The NSI are one of only a few bodies that can actually judge Shield Security from the point of where we started, and it is fantastic to see them recognising our progress and current high standards across the business.”

The recognition comes as Shield has celebrated the extension of a number of large contracts, including at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, where it has been based since 2006, but has now expanded to offer guarding, CCTV and car park management services.

A contract with Hull College, first established in 2014 to maintain and manage CCTV and alarm systems, as well as car park management, has also been extended by a further 12 months, whilst new contracts have been secured for CCTV systems with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.

The firm, which was also recently chosen to provide security for a large pharmaceutical company which has taken premises in East Yorkshire, has also recently been accepted as a member of The British Fire Consortium, recognising its expertise in fire safety protection and system supply and service.

It also follows local recognition last year at the Hull Daily Mail Business Awards, in which Shield was a finalist in the ‘Customer Focus’ category.Judges described Shield as ‘going above and beyond the call of duty’ in its work, with it ‘clear that staff took great pride in their job, which benefitted all parties’.