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Guarding commitment to head office staff: Churchill acquires Churchill Services Group reports the acquisition of AOS Security Ltd, to continue, the Hertfordshirebased contractor says, a strategy of establishing a stronger profile in the security industry. AOS offers manned, mobile, covert and technical security services in the rail, construction, corporate, retail and healthcare sectors, with a focus in the south east. AOS’ clients include Transport for London, Chiltern Railways, RNIB and ZSL London Zoo. Joel Briggs, Group Managing Director at Churchill, says: “A seamless transition for all clients and staff is the number one priority as we look forward to a prosperous and exciting future.” Darren Read, Managing Director at AOS, will take a MD role of Churchill. p Shopping centre contracts A three-year contract with Victoria Place Shopping Centre, pictured, in London’s mainline Victoria Station has gone to ABM UK. The new contract, won as part of a competitive tender, is worth about £2m, and will see the contractor supplying the Savills-managed shopping centre with cleaning and security. Adam Baker, ABM UK’s business development and marketing director, said: “Our vast experience within the retail sector and our understanding of Savills (UK) Limited makes us well-placed to support and develop the team.” l ABM has opened a dedicated office in Belfast, and appointed a country manager. The FM firm was awarded a three-year, £1.1m contract with Bloomfield Shopping Centre and Retail Park in Bangor. Jamie Bill, Bloomfield manager, said: “We place a profound emphasis on creating a flawless and positive shopping experience for our customers, and we believe that ABM’s cleaning and security staff will help us to continually implement this.” p Living Wage option Securitas UK reports accreditation as the 100th Recognised Service Provider, working with the Living Wage Foundation, to offer a real Living Wage option alongside tenders to prospective and current clients. This means the client can choose to set the Living Wage at the point of tender and there is a pathway towards the ‘real Living Wage’. Securitas UK has also committed to pay all its head office staff the Living Wage under an Chiswick extension Blackstone, an investment firm, has awarded Ultimate Security Services a three-year contract extension at Chiswick Park, worth over £1m a year. The guarding firm will continue to provide security and front of house services for the mixed-use business park, off Chiswick High Road in London W4. Ultimate and Chiswick Park Enjoy-Work (CPEW), the property company that manages Chiswick Park, have been working since 2014. Matt Coulson, operations director, CPEW, said: “Ultimate Security have shown real commitment in the previous <strong>12</strong> months and we were happy to extend this contract with the strong strategy that was outlined as part of their pitch, and that is now in place.” p employer agreement. Securitas UK is one of some 3500 employers that support and promote the real Living Wage. The London Living Wage is set at £10.20 an hour; outside of London it’s £8.75 an hour, compared with the Government’s National Living Wage since April of £7.50 an hour. Grainne Kelly, Human Resources and Securitas Operations Centre Director said: “We believe that every member of staff should earn a wage that meets the cost of living, and we are working hard to make this a reality.” p Glasgow add In George Square in Glasgow city centre, SecuriGroup has taken on guarding and reception services at the G1 building for property managers CBRE. The ACS Pacesetters firm says this joins other city centre contracts such as its neighbour 9 George Square, St Vincent Plaza, The Eagle Building. Allan Burnett, SecuriGroup Operations Director, who featured last issue as a speaker at the Security Institute annual conference, said: “Contracts such as the G1 further establishes our credentials as one of the UK’s leading provider of corporate security services. We look forward in continuing to develop our relationship with CBRE.” p WJ’s new region Contractor Wilson James has merged its City of London and Southern business regions. That new southern region will be led by Barry Dawson, who joins from VSG. Reporting to him are Allison Fraser, Mark Jones and Shai Zach who become strategic account directors. p Pictured from left to right: Tracey Hutson, Head of Communications, Securitas UK; Craig Robb, Chief Commercial Officer, Securitas UK; Caroline Reilly, Senior Programme Manager, Living Wage Foundation; Kenneth Larsen, Managing Director, London and East Anglia; and Sarah Hayes, Head of HR, Securitas UK Photo courtest of Securitas UK About the Wage The National Minimum Wage began under Labour in 2005, first set at £5.05, and rose to £6.70 in 2015. Several other security contract firms are accredited to the Living Wage Foundation, as are IKEA and Google. Visit www.livingwage.org.uk. UNHAPPY ‘Being the patience-poor and fickle creatures that we are, unfortunately if a security measure compromises the end user experience it will almost certainly never be fully embraced by the mainstream.’ Richard Parris, CEO, Intercede. www.professionalsecurity.co.uk DECEMBER 2017 PROFESSIONAL SECURITY 21 p21 Guards 27-<strong>12</strong>.indd 1 17/11/2017 19:07