Sodexo announces further strengthening of security credentials at annual conference

Held this year at Goodison Park in Liverpool, Sodexo announced that it has secured the Private Security Authority (PSA) licence, enabling the company to self-deliver its security services in Ireland. This comes in addition to the Security Industry Authority (SIA) license it holds in England, Scotland and Wales since May of 2008 and the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 license obtained in March 2009.

The PSA awarded the licence to Sodexo after it demonstrated its competency in relation to the I.S.999:2004 standard. The Standard provides a specification for those aspects related to guarding security services of a company providing static and/or mobile guarding security services, with a view to enhancing the quality of such services and thus improving the protection of items in their trust.

Sodexo also launched its new 'Secure' development programme at the conference - an initiative devised to map a career plan for the company's security officers and managers, enabling them to progress through the ranks and build a career beyond their sole security remit.

As part of the programme, Sodexo has developed a number of innovative bespoke training materials created to enhance the initial skills base of its security staff and test and embed the SIA licence training requirements.

Building on their success, Sodexo underwent independent inspection and was accepted into the membership of the International Professional Security Association (IPSA), further establishing its credentials as a professional specialist security provider.

Finally, Sodexo used the conference to recognise good practice amongst its workforce by presenting awards to its best performing security officers. Twenty-three Sodexo security officers have received either a Silver Fox tie-pin or statuette or a Secure Award for their efforts over the course of the last year.

Silver Fox tie-pins and statuettes are awarded by The Security Watchdog to security officers who have passed various rigorous audits. Sodexo officers were tested on numerous elements, such as their ability to identify intruders on a particular site, right the way through to complying with the stringent policies and procedures that are set as part of its industry-leading standards.

The conference was attended by Aidan Connolly, Sodexo chief executive, Sodexo staff and clients, and a host of key figures from the security industry as a whole. These included: Andrew Shepherd, assistant director Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) for the SIA; Patrick Somerville, joint chairman of the Security Industry Council; Susie Thompson, group managing director of The Security Watchdog; David Greer, chief executive, Skills for Security and Terry O'Neil, chairman of The Security Watchdog.

O'Neil said: "I would like to congratulate Sodexo on what was a quite outstanding conference. The training collateral that Sodexo has prepared is the best that I have seen in more than 25 years in the industry. I have absolutely no doubt that Sodexo Secure is the coming force in the UK manned guarding industry".

Kathy Ridgard, central operations director, Sodexo corporate services, said: "Over the past ten months we have focused on listening to the needs of our clients and created imaginative bespoke delivery solutions ideally suited to their organisational cultures and environments. We have successfully mobilised 30 contracts and developed the offer infrastructure that we believe will underpin our continued organic growth and further develop our reputation and credibility within the private security industry, all in all a great year".