SSAIB News

Following the enforced lockdown restrictions introduced to help combat the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, SSAIB took the decision to continue to offer certification by embracing new technology and migrating over to remote auditing.

With the remote audit process now having been in place for two months, SSAIB spoke with Heather Martin – operations manager of SSAIB-registered firm Southern Fire Alarms Ltd - to discuss their own remote audit conducted during the height of lockdown last month.

The West Sussex-based company – who have been SSAIB-registered to install fire alarms since April 2008 – were due to have their annual BAFE SP203-1 on April 22, but saw this changed to a remote audit when it was clear that it was no longer possible for auditor Stephen Jenkins to conduct a visit in person on that date.

Despite some initial apprehension about this new development - after initially wanting to postpone the audit following lockdown - Heather revealed that she is now pleased they were able to go ahead with it when they did.

Heather commented: “I was very apprehensive beforehand and thought it would be easier to just extend it for six months - as an audit was the last thing we wanted to be doing with the other business changes we were needing to implement. However – in hindsight – I’m so glad we have done it.

“By doing it now, it means that we can carry on for another 12 months and we’re not trying to scramble with everyone else to get in for an audit in six months’ time – as I’m sure there’d be much more of a backlog had SSAIB not switched to remote audits.

With regards to the audit process itself, Heather commented: “The system that SSAIB have put in place was easy to navigate and the guidance document was clear in relation to the evidence that required uploading.

“On the day of the audit, our auditor Stephen called promptly to explain how he would work through the documents. He then called again the following day to summarise his findings.

“The actual remote audit was less time-consuming than normal, to be honest. I had already uploaded everything that we needed to beforehand, so Stephen called promptly at the start of the day to explain how he would work through the documents.

“Therefore, in that sense, I actually gained quite a lot of the time that would have otherwise been spent on a normal audit.

Being ushered into a remote audit isn’t the only change that SFA – who recently celebrated their 20th anniversary – have had to make due to the continuing battle to contain the coronavirus. However, Heather believes that the company’s “loyal core of key personnel” is their secret weapon to help them negotiate the difficult time we all find ourselves in at present.

Heather added: “We’ve had to make quite significant changes to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, we have had to furlough some of our engineers and maintain a skeleton staff in the office. With social distancing, everything has had to be kept at a minimum so we’ve got people working from home as well.”

“In some respects, we’re very lucky that we have a low turnover of staff – as it means we have a loyal core of key personnel that have been able to carry on and ensure everything runs as smoothly as it can during this time.

"Without that commitment of those key staff members, we simply would not have got through this. It’s not been easy, but we’re working together – as it’s a balance between safety for all of our staff and ensuring the survival of the company.”

“We are still carrying out servicing, emergency breakdowns and critical works. We’re just having to adapt, day-to-day and customer-to-customer, to decide whether we can go in and carry out works.

Despite the impact that COVID-19 has had on the Bognor Regis-based installation company – who also added Security Systems to their SSAIB scope of certification in October 2017 – Heather insisted that SFA’s certification with SSAIB was still of the upmost importance and that it was necessary for themselves and the wider industry to remain as a third-party certified organisation.

Heather said: “I think it’s really important to ensure that we continue our certification with SSAIB during this time – as there is going to be an end to this at some stage and that’ll bring a lot  of work, some of which will be tendered. If we don’t have the certification when that end date arrives then we’ll miss out, it’s as simple as that.

“I also think it’s important for the industry as a whole that we have accreditation and that standards are maintained– especially in the current climate.

“Of course, other companies might not be in the fortunate situation we are with being able to continue with their certification at this time. However, I’d say those companies who are able to carry on like ourselves will reap the rewards of doing so when everything starts picking up again.”

The whole world is still waiting to see how long this pandemic will last, the overall effect it will have on us all, our everyday lives and the various economies around the globe, but Heather – who has worked within the industry for over two decades - revealed that her own post-lockdown plans are a lot more down-to-earth and personal.

When asked about the first thing she would do after all of the restrictions have been lifted, Heather replied: “Go on holiday! Somewhere with sunshine ideally.

“I’m a planner and always have things arranged months in advance. Nothing is going ahead at the moment, so everything is getting struck out in the diary and it seems to be never-ending at present.

“It would be nice to be able to add a holiday in there as an end-point, to give us something to look forward to. Of course, it will also be great to see friends and family again and I’m especially looking forward to being able to give people a hug again – especially my mum and dad.”

Are you a security company with ambitions to grow your business? Do you want to take advantage of the increase in demand for security services in these challenging times?

Perhaps you have been contacted by bigger companies looking to use you to supply additional staff to them and they have asked whether you are certificated to industry standards such as the SIA’s Approved Contractor Scheme, ISO9001, British Standards codes of practice etc.

SSAIB wants to know your views on the role of security and quality standards in helping you get where you want to be. Have your customers asked whether you are certificated? Is not having certain certifications holding you back from competing or winning specific contracts?

Are you interested in gaining certification for ACS or ISO9001, but you are unsure what the process involves? Or maybe you are concerned about the cost or effort of doing so?

Kind-hearted SSAIB-registered firm D&G Security Systems Ltd have been commended for donating CCTV cameras to a frontline nurse whose home was the target of cold-hearted thieves.

Stourport-based husband and wife duo Darren and Beverley Griffiths felt compelled to help intensive care nurse Sarah Banks, after hearing that she had been the victim of an overnight break-in last month.

They heard about how thieves had taken off with the 32-year-old’s car, handbag and glasses while she slept in her Bromsgrove home last month.

To make matters worse, the burglary – which Police chiefs have branded “disgraceful and selfish” – prevented Sarah from treated those in need during the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, due to being unable to work without her glasses.

Speaking to the Kidderminster Shuttle, D&G Security Systems’ Beverley said: “When we heard about what happened, we were really shocked and wanted to offer our help. It's really upsetting that, during this hard time, somebody would do a thing like that.

"Sarah said she hadn't been able to sleep since the robbery, so we wanted to help give her back her peace of mind.”

After being put in touch with Sarah following their response to a TV report, the Worcestershire firm – who have been SSAIB certified for Security Systems since April 2015 - fitted more than £1000 worth of security equipment free of charge. Director Darren (pictured) installed CCTV cameras in Sarah’s home and also got in touch with Pyronix, who donated a home alarm system for free.

In an interview with the Bromsgrove Advertiser following the burglary, Sarah revealed how she had been heartened by the actions of strangers and their offers to help her.

Beverley added: “She is absolutely overwhelmed and can't believe people's generosity.

"It's nice to do something good for somebody who is doing so much good for us.”

SSAIB chief executive Alex Carmichael has been unveiled as the first guest on Security Matters magazine’s brand-new industry podcast.

Talking with Security Matters editor Brian Sims, the SSAIB CEO discusses how the SSAIB is managing its ongoing business projects while operating under the Government-imposed COVID-19 lockdown scenario.

Alex also highlights the importance of third party certification and touches on the hugely important drive for 'key worker' status for security personnel orchestrated by SSAIB and other sector bodies.

Anyone wanting to listen to the Security Matters Podcast online can do so at https://securitymatters.podbean.com.

SSAIB are saddened to hear of the untimely passing of SSAIB-registered Crosby Intruder Alarms owner Roy Williams – after he sadly lost his fight against COVID-19 on Friday April 17.

Roy had been instrumental in the setting up of Crosby Intruder Alarms in 1984, with the project initially running alongside his full-time employment until he decided to grow the business up alongside wife Ann. The pair continued to develop the company – which has enjoyed nearly three decades of third-party certification – until 2009, when son Gareth was brought in tell help them get to where they are today.

A real asset to the security industry, the 63-year-old also taught at North West Training Council for over 20 years – in addition to passing on his knowledge at both Skills for Security and Tavcom Training as well.

SSAIB chief executive Alex Carmichael said: “Everyone at SSAIB is saddened to hear that Roy Williams has passed away, unfortunately taken by the vile coronavirus.

“Roy was a strong advocate of standards and quality within the alarms industry and worked tirelessly with other likeminded SMEs, to ensure that the security alarm standards provided a common playing field for all.

“Roy was passionate about training and the upskilling of the security alarms industry and, through this passion, he trained many engineers over his lifetime. Many of these engineers now hold senior positions within the industry, which is a fantastic legacy for Roy to leave behind.”

SSAIB chairman Geoff Tate added: “Roy was one of the original firms from Merseyside to become approved by AISC and - subsequently - SSAIB, when the two bodies merged. Roy strongly believed in third-party certification for all security alarm firms, to set a level for any firm who wished to work in the security sector.

“Roy believed the security industry and its clients would be best served if installers were certificated, by UKAS-accredited certification bodies, and systems installed to British/European standards by trained and qualified engineers.

“Everyone at SSAIB will miss Roy and his drive to improve the security alarms industry we all work in.”

With Crosby Intruder Alarms being based in Liverpool, both field operations manager David Roscoe and security systems scheme manager Frank Smith audited the company during their stints as North West auditor for SSAIB and the pair – who have audited 11 of the last 12 audits that Crosby have had between them – couldn’t hide how much of a pleasure it was to deal with Roy and his family.

Dave revealed: “I commenced my time in the security industry in 1984, which I believe is the same year that Roy started Crosby Intruder Alarms.

“I joined the SSAIB back in 2008 and one of the first audits I undertook was at Crosby. It’s fair to say that not all companies welcome our audit, but Roy and his family always have and I can honestly say it was a pleasure to go to work whenever I visited Crosby Intruder Alarms.”

Security Systems scheme manager Frank Smith added: “I was so shocked and saddened to hear that Roy had sadly passed away.

“During my time at SSAIB, I have conducted several audits at the company and always looked forward to meeting Roy, who was a well-known and respected figure in the industry. This was especially the case in Liverpool and the surrounding areas, where you’d frequently meet someone who had been one of his students.”

Everyone at SSAIB would like to send our thoughts and condolences to all of Roy's family, friends and his colleagues at Crosby Intruder Alarms.