Cougar Monitoring and BT Redcare to run joint Roadshow for fire and security installers in Midlands region

Led by Cougar Monitoring, the Roadshow will be hosted on Friday 6 October at one of BT’s key buildings in Birmingham city centre near to Birmingham New Street Station. In addition to presentations from representatives of Cougar and BT Redcare, there will also be representatives from the technical departments of both companies available for advice, guidance and training.

Eric Roberts, CEO of Cougar Monitoring, said: “BT Redcare has been in the alarm signalling market for over 30 years. The company is tried and tested and the majority of its products are third party certified. Having met with the new BT Redcare management team recently, it’s abundantly clear that they have a renewed focus and intention to work closer with both ourselves and installers. We’re delighted to join them to reinforce that message to our installers.”

BT Redcare sits at the heart of home and business security, bridging the gap between customers, installers and Alarm Receiving Centres (ARCs). Backed by BT’s trusted technology and the largest R&D budget in the UK, the business has been leading the way in reliable alarm signalling. Having recently undertaken a refresh of its brand and approach to the market, the company has now pledged to work closer with ARCs and installers to help grow their businesses.

Cougar Monitoring was established in 1996 and holds a number of nationally-recognised accreditations. The business is registered by the Security Industry Authority as an Approved Contractor for key holding, security guarding and Public Space (CCTV) Surveillance and has also received the National Security Inspectorate’s Gold standard EMS and Health and Safety accreditations.

Cougar Monitoring is part of the Prime Interaction Group that also includes Securenett and Kings Security, making it one of the largest independent security groups in the UK. The company invests heavily in cutting-edge technology to provide clients with an “innovative and inclusive” security service. Its high specification alarm receiving and monitoring set-up enables the company to keep response times enviably sharp and to provide reliable and professional assistance.

Going forward, Securenett will be recommending BT Redcare alarm signalling products to its customers.

Commenting on the Cougar initiative, John Ware (general manager of BT Redcare) said: “I met personally with the senior leaders of Cougar Monitoring recently and it’s clear that they, like us, are looking to the future and wish to expand their operation. We’re perfectly placed to help them do this. The combination of our expertise in the market and Cougar’s reach to installers means attendees at the Roadshow will receive the best advice, value and support from both companies.”

*Details of the Roadshow will be issued soon. In the meantime, installers wishing to register an interest in attending can do so online at www.formwize.com/cougarroadshow

 

Apprentice Installer Awards winners set the bar high in 2017

The British Security Industry Association’s (BSIA) Annual Luncheon on Wednesday 12 July played host to the prestigious Apprentice Installer Awards, where one overall winner and two joint runners-up received awards for their achievements.

The Apprentice Installer Awards recognise the academic and practical successes of Level Two and Level Three apprentices involved in the installation of alarms, CCTV, access control or a combination of these systems.

As well as rewarding the accomplishments of bright young apprentices, the awards also highlight the commitment of security companies and training providers alike in providing young talent with the opportunity to succeed in the security industry.

Overall winner in 2017

This year’s overall winner is Corrie Stewart, a 21 year-old student from New College Lanarkshire who’s presently in the third year of her apprenticeship with Connelly Security Systems.

Stewart has been impressing her peers and tutors at every level of her apprenticeship, being nominated for the award for her attention to detail and overall skill set.

In his nomination, David Scott (curriculum and quality leader for the built environment and electronic fire and security at New College Lanarkshire), explained that Corrie “is performing well beyond her years in terms of understanding systems and system circuitry.”

Stewart has been excelling in both the theory and practical elements of her apprenticeship, completing 12 units of her qualification with a 90% pass mark or more. Although a third year apprentice, Stewart is already out on her own running her own fire and security jobs, which include installation and maintenance visits to British and European Standards. Her fantastic interpersonal skills means she never leaves a customer until they’re comfortable with and compliant in using the systems.

Talking about her award, Stewart enthused: “I’m incredibly proud to have won this award. I’ve absolutely loved my apprenticeship with New College Lanarkshire and Connelly Security Systems. It has been hard work, but my determination has paid off and I cannot wait to see where it takes me next.”

Stewart went on to add: “The apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to enhance my skills, gain valuable experience and work with those who have vast experience in the industry. The programme offers a varied career that requires skills and problem-solving and you face different challenges every day. I’m really proud of my success in such a male-dominated industry, but I can already see the industry changing and I’m delighted to hear that there’s another female apprentice in first year now.”

Runners-up in 2017

The joint runners-up in the year’s Apprentice Installer Awards are Callum Walker and Craig McAdorey (both third year apprentices with Kings Security). They were joint runners-up as their nominations were scored so closely by the judges that it was impossible to decide between the two.

21 year-old Walker was referred to the apprenticeship scheme at Kings Security by a friend, and has been excelling as a technical support apprentice ever since. Joining a team of over a dozen technical support engineers, all of them with a great amount of experience gained within the security industry, Walker has had the confidence and aptitude to speak out in group conversations and express his ideas, quickly gaining him the respect of the rest of the Kings Security team.

Lee Kerry, head of services at Kings Security, nominated Walker for the award and praised him in particular for the fact that he’s also always looking to broaden his technical knowledge, identifying new online courses and even completing some in his own personal time.

“I’d like to thank Kings Security for giving me the opportunity of learning a trade and developing myself as a person, but also for the belief the company has shown in me becoming a security systems engineer,” observed Walker. “The support has been tremendous from the company with its in-house training. I feel this has been the key to my progression, allowing me to work with a variety of systems.”

Walker added: “This achievement has given me the confidence and belief that all of the training and the hard work I’ve put in has been worthwhile. My plan for the future is to continue striving to succeed both personally and professionally on behalf of the next generation of security systems engineers.”

Craig McAdorey has quickly become an asset to his team at Kings, completing a number of in-house signalling training courses including those involving WebWayOne, CSL, Digital Communicators and Emizon.

The diverse skill set gained means that McAdorey is very confident in the installation process, being capable of delivering the end product on time and to a high standard.

Gavin Salter, area engineering manager for Kings Security who nominated McAdorey for the award, also highlighted the apprentice’s excellent customer interface skills.

“Craig is always prepared to go the extra mile in order to deliver on and, indeed, exceed the requirements of the customer. He always maintains a highly professional manner and answers any questions that customers may have.”

Talking about his achievement, McAdorey said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank my employer as, without the company, none of this would have been possible. I enjoy my job as a security systems installer. I love working on all disciplines and find all aspects of my role both challenging and enjoyable. Being successful in this competition is a great achievement for me personally and for Kings as a company. I take great pride in my work and will endeavour to progress further in the future in order to fulfil my personal goals of becoming a fully-qualified security systems installer.”

This year’s Apprentice Installer Awards were sponsored by Syntinex. “As a business, Syntinex recognises the importance of development and training future engineers,” commented Jacques Lombard, the company’s managing director. “We’re very proud to sponsor the Apprentice Installer Awards.”

The BSIA would like to take this opportunity to thank Syntinex for sponsoring these awards and wish all the very best of success for the winners in their future careers.

Hikvision’s DS-2TD2136 thermal camera: CCTV Product of the Year in PSI’s Premier Awards 2017

Hikvision UK & Ireland is delighted to announce that its DS-2TD2136 thermal camera has been named as CCTV Product of the Year in the prestigious PSI Premier Awards 2017.

Forming part of the company’s network thermal camera range, the DS-2TD2136 comes with a host of features including 384×288 resolution, 3D Digital Noise Reduction technology and the option of a 10 mm, 15 mm or 25 mm lens.

Besides the above features, the DS-2TD2136 camera also harbours a number of smart functions including line-crossing technology, audio exception and region of interest entrance/exit monitoring as well as an advanced fire detection algorithm, all of which add value for security solution installers and their end user customers.

“We’re ecstatic to have won this award, especially as this is voted for by the readers of PSI Magazine,” enthused Andy Keeley, head of marketing for Hikvision UK & Ireland. “Hikvision always strives to produce industry-leading products and solutions and this award recognises the hard work and commitment of the whole Hikvision team.”

*To find out more about the DS-2TD2136 and the rest of the Hikvision thermal camera range visit: www.hikvision.co.uk

**Professional Security Installer Magazine is a sister title of Risk UK and Benchmark at Pro-Activ Publications

BSIA security systems guide published to help education sector officials ‘raise the alarm’

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has issued a free guide to aid key decision-makers within the education sector when it comes to understanding the benefits of installing intruder alarms and other security systems in order to safeguard schools.

Schools and other educational establishments face a number of security threats year round, including vandalism, arson attack and trespassers. As such, school officials have a Duty of Care to ensure that staff and student welfare is always a top priority, as well as a requirement to protect high value goods like IT equipment, personal possessions and confidential personal and financial data.

“It’s essential that key decision-makers are taking security seriously and making the necessary arrangements to protect their premises from both internal and external threats,” explained Martin Harvey, chairman of the BSIA’s Security Systems Section. “The installation of high quality intruder alarms and their integration with other security systems, such as access control and CCTV, can provide vital peace of mind that the site is being protected both in and out of school hours. With such a wide variety of products on the market, as a BSIA Section we felt it was necessary to create a helpful and concise guide to inform decision-makers of the benefits of different security systems.”

Earlier this year, the BSIA surveyed members of its Security Systems Section in order to discover their involvement in securing the education sector over the previous year. While 50% of respondents felt that the use of private security measures in the education sector had increased over the previous 12 months, 67% anticipated them increasing over the next 12 months. 67% of respondents also felt that awareness of safety and security among education professionals had remained the same in the previous year.

The new guide endeavours to highlight the benefits of installing intruder alarms and other security systems, showcasing their effectiveness in not only responding to known threats, but also in deterring criminal activity.

Recently, the BSIA also commissioned a White Paper entitled ‘The (Real) Price of Security Solutions’ on the challenges of buying and selling high quality security solutions. The document aims to explore the price versus quality debate from the perspectives of both buyers and sellers of security solutions in order to identify the relative advantages and disadvantages between low-priced and high quality solutions.

The main findings of the White Paper clearly suggest that end users would find it far more beneficial to consider and deploy high quality security solutions. In terms of intruder alarms, a high quality solution would be one that meets with all the necessary requirements to ensure an effective police response.

“There are many standards that intruder alarm systems and their installers must meet in order to ensure that good quality products and services are available for end users,” explained Harvey. “The new guide serves to highlight the essential standards with which systems should comply in order to make them truly ‘fit for purpose’.”

*Copies of the new guide can be downloaded free of charge from the BSIA’s website: http://www.bsia.co.uk/portals/4/publications/331-intruder-alarm-education.pdf

IDIS cuts the ribbon on new UK office

To support continued robust growth and an expanding customer base, IDIS has opened new offices and training facilities in London.  Remaining in the recently refurbished The Mille in Brentford, the new facility features significant additional desk and recreational space and meeting rooms and doubles the capacity of the company’s training and demonstration facility.

Over the last two years, IDIS has significantly grown its sales force in the UK as well as strengthening its technical support team. This growth has corresponded with a larger partner network and customer base that has seen the demand for IDIS product demonstrations and training soar.

Brian Song, managing director of IDIS Europe, said: “Our new UK office is testament to the growth surge IDIS has experienced over the last four years. Since the launch of our own brand business in 2013, we’ve expanded our workforce and infrastructure both here in the UK and at our global headquarters and manufacturing facility just outside Seoul, as well as opening regional headquarters in the Middle East and the US. The new facilities in Brentford mean that we can continue to deliver world-class sales and technical support at a local level both now and in the years to come.”

Last year also saw Sean Um join the IDIS Europe team following an eight-year tenure at the IDIS global headquarters in various product and sales roles. In his new position as product manager, Um works closely with system integrators, installers and end users to drive the IDIS product road map. His remit is to work at a local level to understand the needs of European customers and ensure a continuous cycle of innovation that builds upon the IDIS signature of easy-to-use and high performance surveillance.

Song, added: “Since joining us last year, Sean has been instrumental in liaising with our product planning and development team in South Korea. His appointment has ensured that we continue to bring new products and technologies to market that deliver improvements upon common industry offerings that strengthen security and improve the user experience.”

IDIS will showcase its core technologies, including the flagship DirectIP offering (a true plug-and-play solution that eliminates the complexity of installing and operating networked surveillance), at this year’s IFSEC International. The show runs at London’s ExCeL from 20-22 June. IDIS can be found on Stand G700. The business will be celebrating 20 years of innovation.

Chubb Systems set to showcase fire and security solutions at Data Centre World

Chubb Systems will be showcasing its smart security management software – along with the company’s extensive range of fire safety and security solutions – at Data Centre World on 15-16 March at ExCeL, London.

Chubb Systems will be demonstrating its powerful fire and security management system – ADACS – which collates data from multiple channels, enabling Data Centre operators to manage fire safety, security, building controls and power supplies from a single platform.

The feature-rich ADACS platform presents real-time information to control access privileges, monitor fire detection and suppression systems and manage CCTV and monitoring systems installed within the Data Centre.

Chubb works with Data Centre operators to tailor solutions to help protect people and assets and assist in safeguarding Data Centre uptime. “We use our expertise and the latest security and fire technology to create secure, reliable and compliant solutions,” said Graeme Heanan, managing director at Chubb Systems. “These solutions provide a first line of defence and early warning of any problems, preventing a small incident from becoming a major issue and limiting downtime to an absolute minimum.”

Visitors to Data Centre World will also be able to view Chubb’s cabinet access management system (CAMS), a safe and secure solution for the management of cabinets and racks. The CAMS allows only authorised personnel access to allocated cabinets and supports compliance with a full auditing capability. Permissions are administered via the Chubb ADACS system, in turn giving direct control over access rights.

Chubb’s comprehensive approach includes the design, installation, maintenance and monitoring of intrusion detection systems; high-performance video surveillance systems linked to a 24/7 CCTV monitoring centre, advanced access control and fire detection systems (gas fire suppression systems and high-pressure water mist).

AMG Systems launches new website and brand identity

AMG Systems – the UK manufacturer of intelligent, industrial grade, reliable edge-of-network transmission solutions – has launched a new website and refreshed its brand identity to better reflect its position as a market leader in the provision of specialist Ethernet and IP systems and products.

The new brand identity and website updates offer a visual representation of AMG’s capabilities as the only UK-based manufacturer of Ethernet switch technologies. The changes also incorporate a new tagline, ‘Transmission with Innovation’, which encapsulates AMG’s flexible and adaptable approach: developing innovative and custom-built solutions to overcome some of the most common transmission challenges in the most difficult environments.

AMG Systems’ business development director Sara Fisher said: “We wanted to ensure that our new look reflected AMG’s unique approach and position in the specialist networking transmission sector. As a UK manufacturer of sophisticated IP and Ethernet switch solutions, we have complete control of our firmware thanks to our in-house technology design team. This means we’re far less vulnerable to cyber security issues than those manufacturers who source their firmware or products externally.”

Fisher went on to comment|: “We also have a long history of designing bespoke transmission solutions, integrating signals such as CCTV, standards-based or bespoke audio and any type of serial data on to the same Ethernet transmission network with systems to cater for almost any situation. Our new look and website are designed to convey that unique expertise and experience.”

*Access the company’s new website at: www.amgsystems.com