Esoteric broadens global coverage with new Middle East operation

Leading international counter-surveillance company Esoteric is broadening its global coverage by incorporating a new company in Dubai.

Based in the DMCC Free Zone in the Jumeirah Lakes Towers district, Esoteric Middle East will provide a range of specialist security services to corporate and Government clients in the MENA region and help achieve its goal of becoming the region’s leading counter-espionage service provider.

Specialising in providing end-to-end solutions that address the issues of corporate espionage, competitive intelligence gathering and the theft of information, Esoteric Middle East will focus on offering a full suite of counter-surveillance services including Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM), otherwise known as electronic bug sweeping, espionage and threat awareness briefings and TSCM training.

Emma Shaw CSyP: md at Esoteric

Esoteric’s managing director Emma Shaw CSyP, who’s also chairman of The Security Institute, explained: “We’re delighted and excited by this recent development in the company’s growth strategy. The new Dubai office strengthens Esoteric’s commitment to the region, and I know that our specialist and professional approach will be welcomed by clients across the Middle East.”

Audrey Bedford, head of sales and marketing at Esoteric, added: “We have identified a clear demand from clients in the Middle East where we have been working for some time now. It has become imperative that we establish a base close to where demand is strong. The new Dubai office is a further step in the development of our services in the region.”

*For more information on Esoteric Middle East visit: http://www.esoteric.ae

Further detail about Esoteric

Esoteric is a leading bug sweeping and covert surveillance company working discreetly with corporations, Government departments and high net worth individuals on a global basis to safeguard private information and conversations from illicit eavesdropping devices.

The company firmly believes in delivering a strategic approach that assists its clients in understanding the risks facing a given business. Esoteric works with its customers to implement Best Practice systems, policies and procedures and undertake appropriate measures to address the threat of potential, attempted and actual attacks from competitors, criminals, overseas agencies and employees.

Services include:
• Development of counterespionage/security strategies and policy implementation
• Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM)/electronic bug sweeping
• Critical information protection products such as E-Room 24/7 monitoring sensor, mobile phone detectors and mobile phone blockers
• TSCM training and espionage awareness briefings
• Covert investigations and surveillance

100 in 100 2014: creating new apprenticeships for UK security

The official launch of 100 in 100 2014 – the fourth annual drive to energise more brand new apprenticeships across the security world – took place at a special presentation held in the IFSECGlobal.com Centre Stage Theatre at IFSEC International 2014 on Wednesday 18 June.

100 in 100 aims to energise 100 or more new apprenticeships in the UK security sector within a 100-day timeline starting at IFSEC International 2014 (which ran from 17-19 June at ExCeL, London).

“Last year, the 100 in 100 campaign exceeded its target and even caught the eye of the Government with a personal letter of congratulations from Prime Minister David Cameron,” said Simon Banks, Group Managing Director at the CSL DualCom Group and the co-founder of 100 in 100.

“This publicity is crucial in order to keep employers’ minds focused on apprenticeships as a credible recruitment source. Employers must engage with apprenticeships and recognise how valuable an apprentice can be within their company in a relatively short time frame.”

Simon Banks: co-founder of 100 in 100

Banks also stated: “In just three years, the right candidate can become integral to the team and a great source of fresh ideas and skills. When you also factor in the potential skills gap predicted in the UK by 2020, it really is very important for employers to act now. Put simply, there has never been a better time to hire an apprentice.”

The political will is also there to make apprenticeships work. Matthew Hancock MP – the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning – is once again supporting the 100 in 100 campaign.

New apprenticeship opportunities in the UK security sector

Supporting the 2014 campaign are CSL DualCom and Skills for Security as well as the major inspectorates – the National Security Inspectorate and the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board.

Also backing the apprenticeships drive are the British Security Industry Association, the Fire Industry Association and the Fire Protection Association.

Matthew Hancock MP: supporting this year’s apprenticeships drive in the security sector

As always, UBM Live’s Security and Fire Portfolio (with http://www.IFSECGlobal.com at its heart) is the campaign’s official media partner.

100 in 100 focuses on all types of apprenticeship, among them installation engineers, manufacturing engineers, business administration, Human Resources, marketing and PR.

Apprentices usually take around 18 months to gain Level 2 qualifications, with a further 18 months required to take the apprentice to a Level 3.

Employers embracing the opportunities on offer will be responsible for paying employment costs of at least the minimum wage (for 16-18 year-olds and 19-year-olds in the first year of their apprenticeship). Employers will also be required to provide work-based training within their companies.

Skills for Security has again committed to look after paperwork for those organisations willing to employ new apprentices, right from initial sign-up through to appointing the college or training provider.

The training and skills body will also draw down Government funding on each participating company’s behalf.

Why should your company take on apprentices?

According to the National Apprenticeship Service research undertaken in 2010, 77% of employers canvassed believe apprenticeships make them more competitive. The research also showed that 80% of employers believe apprenticeships reduce their staff turnover, while over 80% of consumers favour using those companies that take on new apprentices.

That’s why your company should take on apprentices NOW!

Richard Jenkins – CEO at the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) – commented: “It’s vital to engage with young people and encourage them to view our industry as a credible and rewarding career choice. The NSI’s mission is to raise standards in the industry and, to help achieve this, young enthusiastic talent must be nurtured in order to carry the industry forward in a professional manner. The NSI wholeheartedly supports the 100 in 100 initiative and encourages employers to seriously consider the many benefits that apprenticeships can bring to their businesses.”

Richard Jenkins: CEO at the NSI

Geoff Tate – Chief Executive of the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB) – added: “We’ve supported the 100 in 100 initiative since its inception and we’re delighted that it has been so successful. To ensure that the industry continues to service the market well, we need to make certain that the skills base of those just starting to work in the security sector is as good as it possibly can be. The success of this project is testament to the enthusiasm of all those involved, and to the resilience of the sector overall.”

Geoff Tate: CEO at the SSAIB

What the employers have to say

Speaking from the perspective of an employer fully committed to taking on apprentices, Anthony King – Managing Director at Kings Security – explained: “Kings Security has always believed in apprentice investment and, over the last 30 years, we have increased our intake each year. At the moment we average 50 apprentices every 12 months, and we’re proud to host an onsite Learning Centre.”

King continued: “By training an apprentice you’ll nurture an employee with the exact skill-set required by your business so the initial time spent training them pays dividends in the future. Many former apprentices now head up our teams of engineers. Kings Security is committed to continue our apprentice investment for future years.”

Kings Security’s managing director Anthony King

Another keen supporter of 100 in 100 is Lucy Banham, Director at The Banham Group. “At the Banham Group, we use the apprenticeship scheme to bring into the business young individuals who are keen to learn. It’s important for any company to safeguard their future by nurturing a variety of experience and ages within their workforce.”

Importantly, Banham added: “The fact that a potential apprentice has sought out an apprenticeship with your business shows an immediate level of commitment. They are prepared to go through training and college work in order to prove to us as an employer that they really want a job at the end of the process. We also find that apprentices are good, mature candidates as they have made this important career decision so early on.”

Telephone Skills for Security’s Customer Relations Team on 01905 744000 TODAY and play your part in the UK security apprenticeships drive for 2014.

For further information visit: http://www.csldual.com/uk/news/get-apprentice-aware-in-2014.html or e-mail: TheApprentice@csldual.com

About IFSEC International 2014

IFSEC International 2014 showcased effective and efficient security solutions across a wide range of product areas, among them: Access Control, Integrated Security, Smart Buildings, Intruder Alarms, Perimeter Protection, Physical Security, Safe Cities and Video Surveillance.

IFSEC International is the largest security event to showcase a range of solutions for the entire security buying chain. Visitors are able to attend the IFSEC Academy and experience the wealth of education on offer from many industry leaders and experts in chosen disciplines.

IFSEC International 2014 is part of UBM’s Protection and Management 2014. Registration for IFSEC International is open and gives badge holders access to all the shows within Protection and Management 2014 including: FIREX International, The Facilities Show, Safety & Health Expo, Energy & Environment Expo and Service Management Expo.

IHS Research Note: ‘Fire market to embrace wireless and IP technologies?’

In the latest Research Note from IHS, Justin Siller (manager of the security and building technologies group) informs on the global fire detection and suppression market.

Despite traditionally being slow to use new technologies, the fire market is starting to see increased interest in wireless and IP (Internet Protocol)-enabled products.

Wireless products have typically been used in specific applications where wiring is difficult (such as historical buildings), but outside of this the market has been virtually non-existent. Barriers such as reliability, price, variations in frequencies and installer reluctance have slowed adoption.

However, wireless is now beginning to be embraced. This is particularly true in the United Kingdom (UK) and Nordic countries.

Despite traditionally being slow to use new technologies, the fire market is starting to see increased interest in wireless and IP (Internet Protocol)-enabled products

IHS estimates some 25% of wireless product sales in Europe are taking place in the UK. End users are now willing to spend a bit more upfront for such solutions in exchange for lower installation costs as wiring is obviously unnecessary.

Focusing on the integrator/installer channel

The main barrier to mass-market adoption is the integrator/installer channel. Installers continue to be reluctant to market wireless products because they would need to complete more installations in order to realise the same financial returns as they do with wired installations.

That being the case, while end users see the benefits it remains the case that installers struggle to see any advantages.

For IP, increasing demand to integrate multiple building systems is driving acceptance. The managers of large facilities, centrally-managed chains and campus-style buildings want to connect multiple building systems together to gather higher levels of data on a single platform.

Surprisingly, most demand for these solutions is coming from the Middle East and South East Asia where legislation is more lax on integration standards. Here, building managers are integrating fire equipment with building management, security and lighting equipment to improve operational efficiencies and have fewer people reviewing/monitoring the information.

These moves are expected not only to increase the adoption for networked addressable panels but also enhance the adoption of more sophisticated communication channels such as IP and Modbus.

Demand for these technologies is expected to remain modest in the short-term. However, as other building technologies – such as access control, video surveillance, intruder alarms, building automation, elevators and visitor management systems – move to use wireless and IP-ready products, and are integrated, the fire industry may be hard-pressed not to follow suit.

Kasabian’s Summer Solstice homecoming gig heralds new dawn for Showsec

Rock band Kasabian’s historic Summer Solstice homecoming gig in front of 50,000 fans massed at Leicester’s Victoria Park presented crowd management and event security specialist Showsec with the perfect opportunity to put on a ‘show’ of its own.

Showsec event stewards and managers debuted the company’s new uniform designs at the 21 June gig, which took place barely a stone’s throw away from the company’s Head Office in the city.

“It seemed entirely appropriate this should be the occasion when we used our new uniforms at a major event for the first time, and it certainly heightened the importance of the event to us,” explained Richard Church, Showsec’s regional manager for the Midlands. “We were proud to play such an important role in staging this historic event for the city of Leicester, which will always be remembered as an exciting step forward for the company.”

Kasabian: brilliant gig at Leicester’s Victoria Park

Church continued: “The new uniforms are a further representation of how we are continually looking to achieve excellence in service for both our clients and members of the public. All of the feedback has been extremely positive, and it’s quite apparent that our staff feel good about the new uniforms which can only enhance that level of service.”

First major concert in Victoria Park for a decade

Showsec’s strong presence at Victoria Park meant that there was predominantly a splash of yellow on the scene for Kasabian’s Summer Solstice event. A workforce of 450 staff was directed by a 62-strong team of management and supervisors put in place for what was a large-scale operation.

The new Showsec uniforms made their debut

“This was the first major concert in Victoria Park for more than ten years,” outlined Church. “The occasion was extra special for a number of other reasons, too.”

From Showsec’s point of view, one of the significant aspects of Kasabian’s homecoming gig – which hihglighted tracks from the band’s new album 48:13 – was that the event took place in the early stages of the security company’s new contract with Leicester City Council, who had collaborated with Live Nation to make the concert happen.

“The operation had its challenges, largely due to the lively audience and the park design, but the event was an overwhelming success,” enthused Church. “We worked closely with Leicestershire Police on crime reduction measures and the feedback from them was very complimentary, as indeed it was from the local authorities and others involved in the organisation.”

As always, the Showsec event stewarding operation was excellent and drew much praise

Kasabian put on a great show, featuring lots of classic tracks including Shoot The Runner, Underdog, Empire, Processed Beats and Club Foot (the latter two tracks from their excellent debut album).