Amthal Fire & Security raises protection level for Debenhams Ottaway

Amthal Fire & Security has worked closely with innovative law firm Debenhams Ottaway to design and install fire and security solutions for its commercial offices and yield ultimate site protection for staff and visitors.

Debenhams Ottaway is a multi-service law firm known for delivering outstanding client service and award-winning legal advice. The business works with successful individuals, families and companies in Hertfordshire, London and across the UK, helping them to make the most of new possibilities or deal with unexpected challenges at home or in the business world.

Having required assistance to ensure compliant fire safety and security at its main commercial offices, Debenhams Ottaway’s facilities management team spoke with the local business community to source Amthal Fire & Security’s services and discuss design and specification requirements.

Harry Kinsley, Debenhams Ottaway’s head of facilities and property management, explained: “Our people and clients continue to be at the heart of our success. That’s a key part of our clear vision and ambitious growth plans. With this in mind, we have a Duty of Care to protect them and offer complete peace of mind when they visit from both a security and fire safety standpoint.”

Kinsley continued: “Amthal Fire & Security came highly recommended and made an instant impression. The team worked closely with us and offered professional advice throughout, from initial design through to the organisation of a smooth installation for the bespoke CCTV, door entry and barrier servicing. The business also now ensures that we achieve the necessary requirements for fire safety and also continues to maintain security on our behalf.”

Risk assessment

Amthal Fire & Security worked with Debenhams Ottaway to complete a full risk assessment of its commercial offices in St Albans, duly establishing product requirements, right from the necessary perimeter protection through to internal fire safety procedures.  

The St Albans-based outfit designed and installed a layered security system, integrating CCTV and door entry to maintain an active presence for the safety of all staff and visitors, alongside car park barrier services to control access on site. From a fire safety perspective, Amthal Fire & Security now actively services the fire doors on site, including all necessary inspections such that they remain compliant in relation to the latest standards.

Paul Rosenthal, sales director at Amthal Fire & Security, told Security Matters: “Every law office should have a comprehensive security system to monitor its physical premises and keep confidential client data secure. With Debenhams Ottaway, we worked in a true partnership style, right from being assigned to a dedicated risk assessment of the complete premises.”

Rosenthal added: “Our aim was to fully understand the requirements and install discreet security solutions to work with everyday activities and blend in with their surroundings. This included ensuring there’s sufficient capability to monitor the traffic across the site, at all times, and both during and after office hours. We continue to work closely with the facilities management team. Being so local, we can quickly respond to any issues and scale security arrangements as required for the benefit of staff and clients.”   

*For more information visit www.amthal.co.uk

Notting Hill Genesis surveillance upgrade project witnesses Cloudview and Amthal Fire & Security working in tandem

Amthal Fire & Security has been working closely with secure cloud CCTV specialist Cloudview in order to upgrade legacy network surveillance systems and realise smart cloud-based and, importantly, compliant solutions for the benefit of staff and residents involved with Notting Hill Genesis. 

Notting Hill Genesis is one of the largest housing associations in London and the South East, with its head office at Kings Cross and five further site locations requiring high quality protection for more than 1,500 office-based members of staff.

Amthal Fire & Security has been working closely with Cloudview to take responsibility for security maintenance across the office portfolio, alongside ensuring the safety and security of residents housed in both new and existing dwellings.

To ensure efficiency savings, compliance and smart capability when it comes to CCTV, Notting Hill Genesis’ visual data partner Cloudview has supplied its specialist systems for Amthal Fire & Security engineers to install across the office and development network.  The new system removes the need for DVRs and allows authorised personnel instant and secure remote access for the management of evidential footage stored as required in case of a threat or an emergency scenario.

Compliance with the GDPR

Suki Kahlon, office services manager for central services at Notting Hill Genesis, informed Security Matters: “The need to update CCTV systems for ensuring compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was of paramount importance, both for the Notting Hill Genesis team and also for our residents and their safety. Partnering with Cloudview and, later on, Amthal Fire & Security has been of great benefit. They understand our working environment.”

Kahlon continued: “Both companies operated in such a way as to enable a scalable upgrade programme of works across our office base and various housing developments. Essentially, our ambition is that wherever we have CCTV systems in place, we want to upgrade to the cloud and bring our networks together in a centrally managed visual data infrastructure. The Cloudview solution has been well received by building managers and authorised personnel.”

To date, Amthal Fire & Security’s installation and maintenance teams have completed install works at the head office in Kings Cross and at the West London office in Hammersmith, in addition to new housing development connections.

Visual data

The new surveillance technology is created to offer alerts when instant action is required and based on what’s identified as a threat. Visual data can be accessed anywhere at any time and on any device. It can also be shared immediately and saved for up to 12 months if required, with 30-day delete options as standard in order to comply with the GDPR.

Crucially, the data is only accessible to authorised personnel, all of whom have audit control capability for full compliance.

Stephen Bates, CEO at Cloudview, observed: “Notting Hill Genesis is committed to providing safe and secure communities in which residents can thrive. Equally, the client is very clear on its responsibilities to its team members who are at the heart of these communities. The need for smart surveillance technology that can be centrally managed is integral. We were delighted to offer a solution that could bring these requirements together. With the help of Amthal Fire & Security, we have enabled a seamless installation process between all Notting Hill Genesis’ offices and housing developments.”

Phil Bryant, manager of the strategic accounts team at Amthal Fire & Security, added: “At the heart of social enterprise is the overriding need to create homes and communities in which residents want to live, with management taken care of by the dedicated local teams employed by Notting Hill Genesis. The organisation now has smart systems in place to ensure ongoing safety and security.”

Bryant continued: “The Cloudview system installed by Amthal Fire & Security, with both of us operating in constant collaboration, has proven to offer best value and significant efficiency savings that can be maintained to ensure ongoing compliance and simple maintenance plans. It also allows Notting Hill Genesis staff to have a much more reactive and instant approach to any threat identified, thereby affording total peace of mind.”

Amthal fires up 20th Anniversary celebrations by launching specialist logo

Amthal Fire & Security is celebrating its 20^th Anniversary with the launch of a new logo, dedicated to showcasing the company’s fast-growing and evolutionary journey towards becoming a fire and security specialist.

Launched in 2000 by close friends John Allam and Paul Rosenthal, Amthal Fire & Security now has over 60 members in the team and operates on a nationwide basis providing design, installation, maintenance and monitoring services across the commercial, public and residential sectors.

Amthal Fire & Security is dedicated to satisfying end user needs for security and safety by offering design, installation, service and remote monitoring of advanced electronic fire and security solutions, including intruder, fire, access and CCTV systems.

In 2008, Jamie Allam joined the management team to become commercial director and created the structure to drive an ambitious growth plan, incorporating all aspects of the business from operations through to sales and on to commercial targets.

Since last year, a dedicated senior management team has been created to manage day-to-day operations, including team members from across the business, some of whom began their Amthal journey as apprentices.

Jamie Allam commented: “Since we opened our doors in 2000, the economy and the challenges our clients face have evolved dramatically and our business has always taken a proactive approach. We’ve continued on our dynamic journey, transforming the way in which we work to operate as a total solutions provider for clients in order to deliver full fire and security services.”

Allam continued: “We’re very excited to reach our 20^th Anniversary and wanted a special way to celebrate our year, which reflected our mission, vision and values, both to our incredible team and our customers. The logo was created by providing keywords we associate with Amthal, such as ‘Strength’, ‘Diversity’, ‘Understanding’ and ‘Trustworthy’ alongside recognising our commitment to smart solutions and the latest technology.”

The logo will now be appearing across all social media channels and marketing material, and marks the start of the celebrations through the year, culminating in a special event on Amthal’s actual birthday, which is 14 November 2020.

Amthal Fire & Security is accredited by the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE).

Amthal wins support contract to maintain security solutions for Mitsubishi Electric’s UK headquarters and regional offices

Amthal Fire & Security has been awarded a new support contract with global technology leader Mitsubishi Electric Europe to upgrade and maintain security solutions at the latter’s UK headquarters in Hatfield and across its estate of regional UK offices.

Mitsubishi Electric has eight regional offices, including its UK head office in Hatfield, supporting over 700 staff members. The new contract with Amthal covers the provision of support and maintenance across each of Mitsubishi Electric’s sites to ensure that security arrangements, including CCTV, intruder alarm and access control solutions, are maintained to the highest level and upgraded quickly where required.

Karen Kelsall, facilities co-ordinator for Mitsubishi Electric’s Business Services team, observed: “Each of our UK office locations has its own security arrangements that must be maintained on a regular basis. We needed to source a reliable company that could not only meet this requirement, but also ensure that we continue to offer our staff complete peace of mind at their place of work.”

Mitsubishi Electric’s head office in Hatfield

Kelsall continued: “Amthal proved themselves even before the contract was signed, responding to several different site requests quickly and with true technical capability and professionalism. In addition, being a local company to our head office makes a difference when it comes to ensuring the efficient and sustainable supplier service that we now look forward to building.”

Jamie Allam, commercial director for Amthal Fire & Security, responded: “This contract award is extremely significant for Amthal. It’s great for us to be associated with such a global brand. It also demonstrates our commitment to our customers, both new and existing. The team’s knowledge, experience and expertise together with an ability to react quickly and ‘get the job done’ undoubtedly contributed to our appointment. We will continue to work in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric to deliver the highest levels of operational excellence and continuity of service, both on a local basis for its main office and regionally across all sites.”

Amthal Fire & Security is dedicated to satisfying end user needs for security safety and convenience, offering design, installation, service and remote monitoring services for advanced electronic fire and security solutions including intruder alarms, access control and CCTV systems.

The business is accredited by the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and British Approvals for Fire Equipment.