RiskXtraJune2019

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RISKXtra
Meet The Security Company: Sodexo
Name
Jane Farrell
Job title
Head of Security for the UK
and Ireland
Time in security business
sector
Over 11 years of security
experience applying expertise
and leadership to develop
Sodexo’s professional
security services as part of an
integrated service offer for
myriad clients. 37 years with
Sodexo in management roles
across hospitality, project
management and FM. Chair of
the International Professional
Security Association (IPSA)
and a Board director of IPSA
since 2015
Location of the business
Sodexo’s UK head office is
based at Southampton Row in
central London. The Ireland
head office resides in Dublin
Areas of expertise
Security guarding, electronic
security, Control Room
services, service maintenance
and fire detection/fire safety
Accreditations
NSI Gold, SIA Approved
Contractor, ACS Pacesetters,
Licensed by the Private
Security Authority (Ireland),
Qualsec Platinum, NOCN
Approved Training Centre,
IQ Approved Training Centre,
ISO 27001
to prefer a physical security presence. To help
these clients overcome their concerns, we need
to have strong Case Studies which demonstrate
the benefits of these systems including the
savings and efficiencies that have been made
along with the standard of service delivered.
Risk Xtra: When it comes to negotiating
contracts and responding to tender requests,
what aspects are of most value to customers
and how are these changing?
Jane Farrell: Understanding clients’
requirements, values and culture is key as they
are looking for a professional security solution
which suits their approach to providing a safe
place in which their employees can work in an
efficient and effective manner.
Awareness and understanding of current
threats and how adaptable we are to respond
accordingly are high on the list of expectations
along with greater awareness of using cloudbased
security solutions and the next
generation of video management systems and
associated technology.
The development of our team members as
the security professionals of tomorrow is
featuring in more and more conversations,
encompassing the stability of the team,
individual career development and training
programmes as well as our approach in terms
of creating diverse teams.
It’s important that our solutions for providing
security services show innovation through
blending traditional security guarding with
technology and that any solutions we present
emphasise the management of risk with clear
and proven processes in place.
Risk Xtra: How has Government legislation
(eg the National Minimum Wage, the
National Living Wage and changes to holiday
pay) affected your business? Do you believe
such legislation is a good thing?
Jane Farrell: Labour costs have increased.
Higher employment costs impact the bottom
line and erode margins which many companies
cannot afford to do, so invariably the cost to
provide services will increase unless labour
saving technologies are used.
Front line security officers should be paid a
fair wage, especially as we see crime statistics
rise and our teams are increasingly placed in
vulnerable situations. Many security officers
risk their own lives while on duty and should
be paid a decent wage for doing so.
We absolutely need to think about the value
of the assets and the lives that our teams are
protecting and ensure that clients invest in an
appropriate level of security service and
account for the necessary protective equipment
needed to support individuals and property.
Risk Xtra: What are the most important
attributes you look for in your security
officers and staff members in general?
Jane Farrell: Successful security officers have
to be capable of doing a difficult and
demanding job. They need integrity to manage
change and deal with problems effectively. We
aim to attract and recruit people with the
ability, passion and commitment to be effective
officers. We look for people who communicate
well in all situations given that they’re often
going to be the first point of contact.
We expect our teams to be aware of their
own behaviour and how it can determine the
outcome of events. We want our security
officers to be achievers. Individuals who are
able to work on their own to achieve their
objectives and ones that continually look for
personal progression.
We recognise the positive contribution
women are making as security professionals
and we’re taking steps to attract them to the
industry to achieve their full potential. We’re
proud that almost 20% of our workforce is
female and that they’ve demonstrated career
progression within our security teams.
With the right attitude and commitment, a
career in the security industry can be a
satisfying and rewarding experience for many.
Risk Xtra: How can the SIA, the NSI and
industry standards best serve the sector in
addition to the needs of your company’ s
clients and the wider public interest? Will
the planned introduction of business
licensing be a positive step?
Jane Farrell: Both the SIA and the NSI set high
standards for companies to provide a highlevel
security service and maintain standards
for their clients’ premises and people.
The annual audits allow security companies
to improve their standards particularly towards
employee development, but there isn’t much
focus on new innovation which our clients
continually require.
Our clients are aware of both schemes, but
as highlighted by the recent and extensive ACS
Review, it’s arguably the case that the ACS
isn’t being marketed well enough and it’s
sometimes difficult for clients to understand
the value it provides. Support in this area from
both schemes would be beneficial.
Business licensing would be a positive step,
but would need revisiting to reflect how crime
has changed since the idea was first
introduced back in 2014.
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