SIA licence training courses

Our team of highly motivated tutors and trainers design and deliver occupationally relevant programmes to meet both the needs of the learner and employer.

We deliver security training on a regular basis and booking on one of our courses can be done by calling 08006123280 (24 hour) or emailing training@vistechservices.co.uk

Training courses we currently provide include:

• Security Guarding
• Door Supervision
• CCTV Operator
• Upskilling
• Crowd Control
• Physical Intervention
• Conflict Management
• First Aid
• NASDU GP L2

For welfare to work agencies, social housing providers, community benefit companies, colleges, universities and other not-for-profit companies we offer works experience, interviews and discounted training. Call us or email to find out more.

Any questions regarding our courses, for further information or to book call 08006123280 (24-hour) or email training@vistechservices.co.uk

Vistech Services SIA Licence Training Middlesbrough

Vistech Services SIA licence training Middlesbrough | New security training centre launched

Teesside-based security and facilities management company Vistech Services has launched a specialist training academy to teach all aspects of security including the growing industry of CCTV operation.

Vistech Services run the following courses on a monthly basis; Security Guarding, Door Supervision and CCTV Operator all from central Middlesbrough.

If you’re interested in taking a course to get an SIA licence with the Vistech Services Training Academy should contact them via email on training@vistechservices.co.uk or call 08006123280

From its base in Middlesbrough’s Boho Six building, the Vistech Services Training Academy is believed to be the first in the Tees region to provide door supervisor, security guard and CCTV operator training all from one approved training centre.

And there are plans to expand the security training courses to Newcastle, Hull, Leeds and Bradford by the start of 2018.

Specialists in manned guarding and security systems for the business across a range of sectors, Vistech Services protect property worth eight figures for a series of blue chip clients across the north of England.

The training academy is running two-week courses every month that result in recognised industry qualifications covering security guarding, door supervision and the operation of closed circuit televisions.

The courses are proving popular with members of the firm’s 125 staff who are keen to upskill, but trainees have also included new job applicants at Vistech Services and job-seekers referred to the academy by Job Centre Plus.

Vistech Services head of training John Welsh said: “We’re delighted with the popularity of our initial courses and plan to work with our partner agencies to expand the training academy across the North East and North Yorkshire in the months ahead.

“As a fast-expanding company with a growing workforce, we are keen to invest in our staff, giving them opportunities to expand their skillset, whilst creating opportunities for potential new recruits to get an introduction to the industry.

“We’re a business so we naturally want to make a profit but we’re absolutely committed to investing in our people, rather than treating them as commodities. The training academy’s courses are already having the effect of making our company and staff more flexible and competitive. Our employees are proud to work for Vistech Services.

“We invest time, effort and resources into recruitment and HR, so we thought ‘Why go elsewhere for out staff training when we have the skills to do it here?’”

Vistech Services have invested over £10,000 altogether in the training academy including high-quality equipment including a pan-tilt-zoom camera (PTZ) system to allow participants to train on a live system – a crucial aspect of gaining a CCTV operator license.

“CCTV is fast-growing area of the industry,” explained Welsh. “With many hospital staff now wearing bodycams, in essence that is now a public space surveillance camera, so they need to be trained as a CCTV operator. Equally, the general growth in the use of CCTV means that all security staff are going to need to get their operator license.

“As the only training operator on Teesside offering CCTV operator training, we’ve cornered a key area of the market. There is an obvious skills gap and we’re taking positive action to fill that ourselves.”

• Those interested in taking a course with the Vistech Services Training Academy should contact them via email on training@vistechservices.co.uk or call 08006123280

To outsiders, the security industry licensing system can at first look like a blizzard of baffling acronyms.

SIA Security Licensing. If you’re thinking of engaging a security firm, it’s important to know that they’re properly licensed, and that they’ve been professionally audited. So let’s look at what those acronyms mean.

SIA and ACS
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is the public body that regulates the sector. The key way in which they manage this, is by running the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS). The ACS sets service delivery and management standards for the security industry. Approved Contractors have to show that their standards, work processes and management demonstrate best practice. The ACS standards cross-reference to mainstream quality standards such as ISO9001, so the highest-performing security companies will have achieved both.

Other performance standards Procurement managers are looking increasingly closely, not just at the main contractor bidding for a contract, but at the whole supply chain of sub-contractors and suppliers. For many sectors such as healthcare, construction, energy and public services, this will mean that they expect the security company being employed by a main contractor, to have the same high standards as the contractor.

One of the key areas of interest will be the security company’s environmental credentials. The best-performing companies will hold ISO 14001 – Environmental Management System.
Clients can’t outsource their responsibilities for health and safety, so it’s important that any security firm can demonstrate its commitment to safe working practices. The Contractors Health And Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) is a good indicator, as is membership of the Safe Contractor Scheme.

There’s also a new health and safety scheme for companies that are registered on Constructionline. This is the resource pool of pre-vetted businesses, much used by the public sector. A good security company should have its own listing on Constructionline,

Key Holding - SIA Approved Key Holding Services

Key Holding. Some business owners think it’s OK to leave the keys with the manager, or a trusted employee rather than using a keyholder. It isn’t.

You must not put your employee in danger
As a business, you owe your employee a duty of care. You must not put them in danger. If they are called as the keyholder, in circumstances where there has been a break-in, you must not allow them to enter a potentially dangerous situation. This is particularly the case if they have no training, or are in any way vulnerable, such as someone who is older, or small in stature.
If the keyholder you have informally appointed is injured, you could find yourself facing an expensive lawsuit. Professional keyholders send trained and experienced staff to deal with possible security breaches and intruders.

Your keyholding employee is not available 24/7?
So you have a break-in on Christmas Day. Is your keyholder going to be able to drive to your premises, or will they have been on the Prosecco by then? Remember, there won’t be any public transport. And if the emergency is at night, how do you know they won’t sleep through the phone call? Or that they won’t have the answerphone on? Let’s face it, most businesses using employee keyholders are unlikely to have tested their 3 AM responses. And are you really going to arrange cover every time they go out for the day, or stay overnight at a party? Of course, the keyholder themselves may have a family emergency and be unavailable.

Your employee probably doesn’t know how the building systems work
It’s not unusual for the employee designated as keyholder, to be unable to unlock the door with the key. And they may be unable to find the alarm panel, never mind disarming it, and resetting it with another pass number. A professional security company will operate their keyholding service in accordance with the police guidelines. What’s more, they will have seen every possible circumstance before, and will be able to deal with an emergency quickly, safely and efficiently, reporting to you when necessary.

Security consultancy helps businesses target their budgets more effectively

Security Consultancy. Working with security consultants before you put security arrangements in place has multiple business benefits. It can ensure that your budget is spent where it will most effectively mitigate the risks to the business.

Our security consultants can carry out a review of your current arrangements and score them against the risks that your business faces. It may be that there are gaps, where risks are not controlled or mitigated, and where you need to make provision to manage the risk. But it can also often be the case that money is being wasted, for example on ineffective control systems, or where the risk is low. Risks change every day, some increasing, others decreasing. It’s hard for businesses to monitor risk intelligence daily and respond appropriately to changes in the risk profile. The nature of risks also changes, often in response to specific actions by bodies such as the security services and police. Therefore, the most appropriate way to respond to the risk also changes.

When a business engages security consultants, they’re drawing on professional expertise that is constantly refreshed and kept up to date. No business can hope to do this alone. It has become a highly specialised field, and some information is only available to those with a professional security status. The consultants have a broad view of the corporate security landscape and are able to benchmark your business against others, to see how you are performing compared to your peers.

Having an accurate and up-to-the-minute view of the real risks helps businesses target their security spending in the places where it will be most effective. They can then draw on the consultants’ market intelligence, to commission those security services that are going to be of most value in controlling and mitigating the risk. This is especially important when a business is opening new operations in unfamiliar territories, where the risks may be quite different from those in the existing sites. A security firm which can advise on locality-specific risks is invaluable in keeping staff, assets and the business safe.

Free security consultancy available, call 08006123280 or email enquiries@vistechservices.co.uk to book your consultation.

Gatehouse security - more essential than ever

Gatehouse Security. With increased threats to ordinary people and “soft” targets, gatehouse security is being seen by businesses as a key control and safety measure.
Gatehouse staff can carry out ID checks on both people and vehicles, and can be vigilant for specific threats or attempts to enter without authorisation.

Controlling access is key in many businesses because it ensures that only authorised people can enter the premises or controlled area. This enables employees to work within the area safely, and the sense of security that it brings can help create a more relaxed working environment. Sometimes gatekeeping staff are simply helping to keep the business running efficiently. They can keep out motorists who would like to use your office car park while they go to the supermarket, or they can direct deliveries to the correct place. They can ensure that vehicle movements don’t endanger people, and that commercial vehicles that should not be on site are excluded.

But of course, they’re also the first contact that many visitors, customers and suppliers will have with your organisation. In this front of house role, it’s essential that they’re smart, professional and well trained. They need to be able to combine a welcoming manner with a touch of firmness when circumstances require it. Gatekeepers are the first port of call for visitors who don’t know where to go, and if they are combining some reception duties with their role, they’re also the first point at which your business policies are implemented. They check people in, so that in the event of a fire, you know if anyone is unaccounted for. They often combine this with providing standard health and safety or fire escape advice, thus discharging a key “duty of care” responsibility for the business.

Gatekeeping is becoming more and more common because of the control it gives businesses. As a result, many different kinds of enterprise now use gatekeepers. We are able to supply highly trained, enterprising individuals who are alert to danger, meticulous about detail, but able to give your staff and visitors a professional and welcoming first impression.

From danger to ducklings: the role of the security guard

Security guard services. Guards are faced with multiple and diverse challenges. This applies whether they’re dealing with the public, carrying out close protection for someone well-known, helping to protect against terrorism, or even, as featured by ITN in a recent case, rescuing a family of ducklings who had fallen down a drain at Colchester hospital.

Security guards are chosen for their ability to handle these types of challenges with professionalism, courtesy, and sometimes courage. If you’re thinking of employing security guards, as many organisations currently are, there are several things to be aware of before awarding a contract.

Firstly, it’s essential to use a firm that is an approved contractor under the Security Industry Authority (SIA) scheme. This ensures that staff are trained and approved. Better still, look for ISO 9001 and 14001 certificates, which are further proof of quality assurance and a customer-focused approach.

Try to find a company with a broad portfolio of clients in industry, commerce, health, public sector, leisure and energy. This kind of provider will be used to dealing with diverse demands, and is more likely to understand the particular culture and requirements of your organisation and customers.

In this respect, a security firm that has clear equality and diversity policies is likely to provide a more professional service. This aspect of the service is particularly important for public sector and similar organisations. In these environments, procurement regulations require them to seek assurance that their contractor has sound diversity policies and procedures, before awarding a contract.
Finally, avoid companies who use contractors or temporary staff to cover security. You should be secure in the knowledge that the people who are protecting your employees, your property, the public and your peace of mind, have all been properly vetted and are on the payroll.

Armed with this list of requirements, you should be able to engage a professional, customer-focused supplier. And if they have the kind of staff who don’t mind retrieving ducklings in their lunch hour, then so much the better.

Security builds reassurance in fearful times

Security Guards UK. In comments reported by the BBC, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, mentioned the “sense of fear” created in Britain by recent terrorist attacks abroad. He said that he understood that each fresh outrage, and particularly those in Europe which is so close to us, increased the public’s fearfulness that Britain would be the next country to suffer mindless murder and cruelty. He has also said previously that in terms of the likelihood of an attack, it’s a case of “when, not if”.

In this environment, businesses don’t just need to keep people safe, they also need to be seen to be keeping them safe. Visible and obvious security in the form of SIA licensed security gaurds is an antidote to public fearfulness. Sophisticated surveillance systems that the public cannot see, have their place. But right now, there’s also a need for the reassurance that can only be provided by a uniformed security presence that is highly visible throughout a public space, whether it’s a shopping mall, an entertainment complex, a sports stadium or a restaurant.

And visible security isn’t simply for show. The more security guards there are, the more problematic it becomes for terrorists to operate. Well trained SIA licensed security guards from Vistech Services represent extra pairs of eyes and ears, alert to danger, aware of what to look for, and constantly scanning the environment for threats. Because the threat is ever changing, advice as to what to look for and how to deal with it also changes. Staff from a top-tier security firm will be regularly briefed and updated on how the threat is changing. They’ll also have a full support infrastructure backing them up, which allows them to escalate any concerns rapidly and effectively.

In addition, a professional SIA Approved Contractor which Vistech Services is, will be able to liaise immediately with the police or emergency services. All the way up the command chain, our staff are well trained in handling unusual or challenging situations. Much of what is done to keep the public safe is unseen, taking place in monitoring rooms, and via intelligence. The smartly uniformed security guard is a way of signalling clearly to the public, that their safety is paramount.

Security Companies - Increasing use of private security firms by communities

Security Companies. Police can now delegate powers to security firms to tackle anti-social behaviour and assist in maintaining community safety. To some extent they do this already, in that foot patrols and spot checks can be used to keep areas safe and prevent vandalism. But this role looks almost certain to expand.

Frinton-on-Sea may find itself the pattern for developments across the UK. The town was in the unenviable position of having no police station and relying upon one nearby. They it found out that this too, was due to close. The nearest police station was now eight miles away. True, Frinton does have a few PCSOs, but they have to travel around by bus or cycle.

Many of the residents decided to pay £100 a year to a private security firm which runs vehicle patrols at night, and provides an emergency phone line. The Guardian reported that the Essex police and crime commissioner are concerned about the development of a two-tier system, such as we see in other countries. With shrinking police budgets, we may indeed be moving towards a situation where those who can afford it, and want the peace of mind, will employ active security patrols. Those who don’t want it, or do but can’t afford it, will have to rely upon an increasingly remote police presence.

There are similar developments in the security industry, in which an elite tier of security firms have increasing accreditation for various activities, including working with community stakeholders. These firms will develop increasingly close partnerships with private and public sector providers. The fly-by-night, casual labour security firms are already unable to compete with the management control and quality assurance that are provided by the top tier, and the future for these “bottom feeders” is not looking particularly bright.

One of the key concerns of residents is anti-social behaviour. They sometimes hesitate to call the police, not knowing whether the nuisance activity is serious enough. In Frinton’s case of course, there are no police. Many communities may, like Frinton, find the idea of a dedicated security patrol an increasingly attractive proposition.

From mobile patrols in Middlesbrough to construction sites across Teesside, Vistech is a national company which is proud of its Teesside heritage

Teesside Security Company. The company started in Teesside and due to the hard work and determination that are part of the character of the area, has gone on to national success. Construction firms in Teesside were among the first to recognise that a high-performing security service could deliver a trouble-free construction site. We work with firms to deliver a wide range of services, including site patrols, 24/7 manned security facilities, and wireless alarms.

On sites where valuable materials are being delivered or picked up, it’s important that both vehicles and people are tracked, and many firms choose to establish a gatehouse for the duration of the build. This can be especially important once the project is nearly finished, and valuable fixtures and fittings are in place. Where there is a particular risk, stop and search on a company’s premises or site may be necessary, and we can provide this. It’s often more acceptable if this is carried out by a third party, since managers and supervisors are often reluctant to carry out this activity.

Theft of vehicles and heavy equipment, including farm equipment, is becoming an increasing problem, in Teesside no less than in other parts of the country. We can help you implement tracking technology which may help you reduce your insurance premiums on plant and vehicles. In the event that a vehicle is taken we can supply detailed information on vehicle movements.

We’re often called upon to provide a rapid response to a particular problem, and we can supply security infrastructure such as emergency lighting and security fencing as required. Hazards are a part of industrial and commercial life, and we’ve been working with our partners in Teesside firms to help drive down accidents and health and safety “near misses”. Our security staff can act as first aid appointed persons, and as the fire safety appointed person in a range of contexts and sectors.

Vistech has its roots in Teesside – but its reach is national and growing all the time. It’s another Teesside success story.