Wilson and PM Gordon Brown

Wilson and Louise Casey Director General of the Crime and Justice Department
Prime minister Gordon Brown and winners of a Community Crimefighter Award

Here is an image of our Managing Director Wilson Chowdhry's recent visit to both the Home Office and 10 Downing Street where he was presented with a Community Crimefighter certificate signed by the PM Gordon Brown, Home Secretary Alan Johnson, and Director General of the Crime and Justice Department Louise Casey. The 3 of them also arranged a splendid event at both the Home Office and 10 Downing Street and this was Wilson's second visit as he had previously met with the Prime Minister when he was honoured to be invited to a Business Hero reception at 10 Downing Street in September 2009 for his fortitude in Business and growth in a time of recession.

Wilson stated:

"Winning a Community Crime Fighter award was a thrilling experience. My community work has always been a primary function and one that I am both committed to and proud of.

As a Director I have always espoused a strong social function for my business much of which is exemplified in our accreditation to the SIA ACS standard and in particular attainment of a score of +92 in their most recent assessment.

Our high score easily places us in the top 10% of performers within the security firms, that have achieved this sought after ACS certificate. Moreover, we are aware that the proven social and environmental practices we employ have contributed significantly towards this vaunted position. We strive to improve and I am pleased that I have been personally recognised as a Community Crimefighter.

Besides, what else could highlight A.A. Security's strong emphasis for providing elite security services then recognition that a Dircetor of our firm (which is now regarded as one of the extended policing family)- has received an award for fighting crime by the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and the Director General of the Crime and Justice Department...?

Going Green

You may have read about A.A. Security's success with our best "Green Practices" within the Redbridge Yellow Advertiser....if not follow the link.


We have also installed Solar Panels follow this link.



Further to this, we have been nominated for the Environmental Award in the "Security Excellence Awards 2009" held by SMT and are nominated for the ACS Champion Award too. The award ceremony is on the 22nd October and we will keep you informed of the results.

This is a picture of Wilson Chowdhry our Director with Dave Quinton the Chairman of the "Buy with Confidence" Scheme. This is taken just prior to the RNWA meeting of the previous page. We hope this feature will encourage others to join a scheme, that protects local purchasers in your respective local neighbourhoods!

A. A. Security - True Community Crime Fighters!

Inspector Darville and Lisa Cherry (Borough Watch Manager)

Last night our Managing Director Wilson Chowdhry chaired the AGM for the Redbridge Neighbourhood Watch Association at the Jack Carter Pavillion, Barkingside. There are now 298 watches with a purported 40,000 homes under their vigilence in Redbridge (Wilson has personally initiated 15 in Chadwell/Seven Kings and Mayfield). Redbridge has the fastest rate of growth of NHW's in London. These meetings were notoriously long, as constitutional ammendments have previously been argued meticuously. However for the first time in 3 years, we completed the meeting at around 21:30 instead of 23:00, as it seems all watches are now starting to back the new younger look panel.

Last night Wilson was asked to provide a presentation detailing how the group almost debanded but for the hard work of Alex Bailey (secretary) Isla Martin (Joint Treasurer and Green Activist!), Simon Hampshire (Joint Treasurer), Lisa Cherry (Borough Watch Manager), Tippi Maravalla (Area Co-ordinator), Wilson himself and our Honorary President Harmegh Rattan (MBE). Now it seems a new dawn has begun for what once was an ailing group!

Over 60 watches were represented on the night and due to surplus funds in our accounts, we rewarded NH Watches with a box of white paper each, as a gift towards the printing of their regular newsletters.

Co-ordinators were thanked for their efforts and were advised that tangible evidence existed correlating a reduction in crime with the presence of a local NHW. Guest speakers included Phil Walby form the Redbridge ASBO team who advised people of the service and how it could benefit them. Surprisingly few watches new of their existence..? Wilson invited Mr Walby realising few people in the borough new of their existence. He also invited Dave Quinton from the MET Police and Redbridge Council endorsed "Buy with Confidence" scheme. Mr Quinton talked about his website http://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/ that provided Redbridge residents with an opportunity to select contracor's that have been vetted in a stringent process that involves obtaining references, accreditation checks and Criminal Record Bureau checks. He also talked about the "Consumer Advice" and Trading standards service. Both these speakers stayed to answer questions and were thanked for their contribution by visitors.

After its official launch in August 2007 no real progress has been made with the group. Now it would seem, they finally have the support of all the watches. A funding application to the Home office has been submitted and the RNWA hope to receive confirmation that they have secured close to £10,000 for a boroughwide "No to Bogus callers" Campaign and a budget for marketing. If successful we will be the only borough within our neighbours to have success with these Grant scheme. The funding application was produced by Lisa Cherry and Wilson conjunctively.

This is clear evidence of our committment to our local community and is part of our sustainable development philosphy and paradigm.

From left to right Lisa Cherry Borough Watch Commander, 3 NHW Co-ordinators, Harmegh Rattan MBE (Honorary President), Phil Walby Redbridge ASBO Officer, Dave Quinton (Buy with Confidence), Alex Bailey (secretary RNWA), Isla Martin (Joint Treasurer RNWA), Simon Hampshire (Joint Treasurer RNWA), Wilson Chowdhry Chairman RNWA)

There was some fun and games at the end of the evening!

Business Heroes!

After meeting with Gordon Brown PM we were proudly one of only 4 "Business Heroes" to be mentioned in the Daily Telegraph. It would seem our campaigns for change and reform are reaching the right people with position leverage to actually facilitate them! We will continue the our fight for a better industry and improved commercial sector. Click on the image to enlarge!

Finally a video of our Director's trip to 10 Downing Street to visit Prime Minister Gordon Brown

Interview during car journey

Stumbling in his excitement to enter 10 Downing Street - these are unedited and the commentator posed real questions without preparation. Our Director Wilson Chowdhry was hampered in his ability to respond to questions, by a need to watch traffic!

In line with our company Green Policy we used our diesel vehicle that has a CO2 offset for 45,000 miles. Although it was 4X4 it was full to capacity as Wilson's wife Juliet and the Children travelled in the rear (to attend a celebratory meal after the 10 Downing Street event). They also went shopping for 4 large marquees for Redbridge Carnival and would have been very cumbersome to carry on underground rail with a 5 and 1 year old. If you would like to learn more about A.A. Security's Green Practices please click here - not a lot of people know this, but, we were the first organisation in our industry and in Redbridge to install Solar Panels!

This year once again A. A. Security Ltd has now been included in the shortlist for The Security Excellence Awards. the categories that we have been nominated for are as follows:

ACS Champions

Green Initiative.

Last year we wer finalists in the ACS Champions, Customer Service and Security Contractor of the Year Categories. The previous yera we had a record number of shortlistings when we were nominated for Security Contractor of the year, Customer Service, Security Training initiative and Contrcat Security Manager of the Year.

The Winners will be announced on the 22nd of October and we will keep readers informed by a blog post.

Defence of the Realm

I am aware that many of you like to follow my exploits within the trade sector journals within which, I frequently have my articles published. If you follow the link you will see a full length version of themost recent editorial featured in SMT. I had published a segment of this feature in an earlier blog:

Baroness Ruth Henig

When Baroness Ruth Henig was selected for her post as Chairman of the SIA, she duly completed a tour of 50 Companies within the Security Guarding sector, cementing her image of grassroot concern and inward investment. She paid a visit to A.A. Security Ltd at our Head office September 2007 and we did not get a change to publicise the esteemed visit of such an influential and key player for change resolution within our industry. Baroness Henig has remained true to her word and continues to listen to the concerns of the organisations under her remit, having created extensive consultative opportunities for industry and wider stakeholder participation - with her strong focus on facilitating tangible change using her position leverage. A true hero for our industry and long may she continue to enjoy her role....!

On the right is our Operations Manager Muhammad Shoaib and the child in the picture is Hannah Chowdhry my daughter - as you can see she enjoyed Baroness Henig's visit as much as I!

SIA Approved Contractor Forum!

I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the SIA forum held yesterday on Thursday 30th July 2009. At the forum the SIA presented updates on progress with enforcements, potential changes to the training remit that will be phased in for the re-licensing programme in 2011, informed us of Business licensing for the Vehicle Immobilisation industry and delivered their recent in-house security review. I met with Alan Shepherd Director of the ACS standard and Nick Smith Assistant Director Government and Legal (inset picture). To be honest, I felt quit bewildered in the presence of such elevated, revered and esteemed company!

While talking to Andrew Shephard he informed me of ongoing review of the existing Strategy and Standards Group which could be termed a consultative, steering or scrutiny group for the ACS standard. This was an addition to the existing ACS process of engagement that I often clamoured for and remember many discussions with Andrew Shepherd in my ambition to have one set up. A member of the current group has left opening the door for a new entrant and a potential reassessment of membership.

Unfortunately, when the group was formed, even though I put my name forward and was one of only 48 companies to complete the In-house review questionnaire - I was absent when the invitations were distributed. However, I have persisted to stake my claim to a position on the panel in view of the regular insight I share with the industry via my articles in Trade sector Gazettes, commitment to attending SIA led meetings and the fact that I would be the only Asian member of a panel in which the number of Asian companies is significantly increasing. I was left out of the initial scheme due to proportionate representation during its initial phase, perhaps this very requirement will see my inclusion in this potential review...?

Meeting with Nick Smith was both pleasant and revealing. We discussed the differences between the South African and UK Security legislation in which he clarified that although the South African breed of SIA undertake In-house Security licensing, it is much driven by the need for criminality checks in an industry for which the use of guns is the norm. This was a very fair point, he also advised that in my recent article on the In-house review I made a few errors which I feel obliged to amend:

Firstly, the Secretary of State for the Home Office (the Home Secretary) ratified the In-house review and not the Secretary for Work and Pensions.

Secondly, section 7.1 of the RCC sets out the responsibilities on organisations such as the SIA to undertake analysis of the benefit of data requests with explicit consideration to “other sources”. This means that the SIA is required to ensure as far as is reasonably possible that it is not requiring regulated entities to provide information to them which those entities have already provided to other such similar regulatory bodies.

Thirdly section 24(6)b of the RRA places a responsibility on a Minister of the Crown (the Authority) to consult before making an Order in relation to the RCC, or those bodies who are subject to it (the RCC) - however I would like to add, if our Secretary of State Lord Mandellson is expected to undertake such research why should such impetus be overlooked by our Regulatory body the SIA...?

We were all a little tight lipped in the first photo, however, after a few chuckles and a joke or two - all three of us made merry before parting....

A Stake In National Security

A. A. Security now has a proud 3 year tradition of providing security to the Ministry of Defence at their Abingdon Barracks and North Luffenham Barracks. Contracts of this type are amongst the most difficult to secure within the Public Sector as the branch of the MOD responsible for the tender process "Commercial in Confidence" undertake a very stringent investigative analysis of the organisations approaching them for work. The mandatory Finance Audits, Quality Assurance testing and Health and Safety analysis required for most public sector contracts are only part of a process that is elongated by requirement and meticulous in detail. For instance when completing the tender documentation for these contracts in the initial phase and in the second phase the MOD made it compulsory that organisations tendering endorse a commitment to professionally develop all potential employees to be deployed on site to a full NVQ level 2 standard. Some might say this is no real landmark, however this learning stipulation places the MOD in excess of many other commercial and public sector organisations and sets a rather refreshing precedent - something many of you will be aware that I have been championing for our industry in its entirety - an opportunity in the re-licensing of officers has been overlooked/missed by our Industry regulators the SIA!

The contract also required organisations to demonstrate their Environmental, Innovation and Technology and Corporate social responsibility practices. This recognition of the need to reduce the collective Carbon Footprint is an element of the process that should be hailed and the very fact an organisation not conventionally expected to be concerned with miasma - they are taking a lead role is filtering out insouciant companies and cascading a message of responsibility. I can confirm that the SIA have improved their Approved Contractor scheme to incorporate a stronger focus on these items.

Mohammad Nadeem one of our long serving employees has received a gift of £25.00 and a letter of thanks from the Manger of the Human Resources Section at St Albans City and District Council. This was in view of his "outstanding work, superb performance and excellent knowledge" The contract has come to an end however the client has informed us they would certainly use us again and remraked on the exceptional level of service we have provided. We are pleased that an officer from A.A. Security has been appreciated in this way as we know how earnestly and arduously you all commit yourselves to your duties. We would extend our hearty congratulations to Mr Nadeem for this excellent success!

In the picture we have Nadeem in the centre (off duty I should add) and all the St Albans Human Resources Team. Mr Nadeem is now working at our Big Issue Contract.

Buy with confidence!

A. A. Security is pleased to announce that it has recently become a member of Redbridge Trading Standards ‘Buy with Confidence’ Scheme.

The scheme provides residents, consumers and other businesses with a diverse list of companies and individuals involved in all areas of home repair, security, maintenance and improvement that have been vetted and approved by their local trading standards office.

Accredited businesses have all been checked for trustworthiness and compliance with consumer protection laws. Trading Standards Officers visit & vet every applicant and must meet a specified criteria before are they accepted.

The Buy With Confidence Scheme was launched in 1999 by Hampshire County Council and has been so successful that it has grown to include many other Trading Standards Services across the country with over 150 trade categories. In Redbridge, the trading standards service is part of the award winning Bogus Callers Partnership which includes partners in the Fire Brigade, Metropolitan Police, Neighbourhood Watch, Home Improvement Agency and others helping residents avoid rogue traders and bogus callers.

The message is that if you are looking to employ a trade or service, an approved ‘Buy with Confidence member is a good place to start. www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk

Top Dog! (excuse the pun!)

Here is a picture of me with Steve Hill a Director of and Company secretary for the National Association of Security Dog Users. A.A. Security was the first Asian owned business to gain membership to NASDU and is proud of its 7 year relationship with them. The picture was taken at the South Quay Plaza - so the view of the Millennium Dome is real and seen from the 11th floor! Steve and I were attending the "Sector Competency Group" meeting being held by "Skills for Security" - the topic of discussion for today's meeting included agreeing our recommendations for core training units that will be utilised for future Security Officer training courses. During my discussions with Steve he has asked me to write an article for his forthcoming newsletter. I hope to read the Security Dog Act 1979 and to stimulate a debate on potential improvements post-indepth analysis. At this juncture let me state how immensly refreshing and stimulating conversing with Steve was...he is a true professional. Moreover if all organisations worked with the diligence and care of NASDU, our industry would be a more thriving and elite industry. More details on Nasdu can be found at http://www.nasdu.co.uk/.

A.A. Security is proud to announce that we are launching our new fully accredited Wheel Clamping Service. Our first ever client is none other than Brent Council for whom we will be providing services to their to extremely large car parks that are often abused by visitors to Wembley Stadium. This is a very prestigious contract and an indication of the value and trust that this London Borough places on the service we provide. Whether you are a large corporate organisation or small residential group we promise to undertake our service provision with equal diligence and the expertise and care that have made us the most accredited and awarded firm within the sector. We also provide a range of traffic control and management services that will be in use at this years Redbridge Carnival and would benefit any organisation. Please make contact should you require more information.

Blue Badge Protection Devices

A. A. Security Ltd is a Met Police distribution centre for Tamper Proof Screws (to reduce Licence plate theft), Blue Badge Protection devices and UV Pens to label high value possession to increase traceability of items after any crime haul. We still have 1 blue badge protection device, some tamper proof Screws and UV Pens (used to highlight your postcode and house number). If you would like any of these do please make contact. This work is part of our partnership programme with the Local Police and highlights are determined and pragmatic approcah to corporate social responsibility. The lady in the picture was provided one at one of the many new Neighbourhood watches that our Director has started in Redbridge. Wilson Chowdhry is now the elected chairman of the Redbridge Neighbourhood Watch Association - an overarching support, guidance and information exchance cetre for all Redbridge Neighbourhood Watches. Learn more at www.RNWA.net

Pioneering Matrix IAG Accreditation Holders - Unique in Industry

The matrix Standard is the unique quality framework for the effective delivery of information, advice and/or guidance on learning and work. The Matrix Standard is useful for organisations that deliver information, advice and/or guidance to external clients as part of their business and also for employers who are committed to developing their people. read more here.

A. A. Security Ltd was a pioneer for the security industry in view of our attainement of the standard and we still stand unique as a security service provider holding the prestigious accreditation. Our in depth initial assessment of employees and stakeholders, regular audits, production of an annual business plan and the most comprehensive training and development programme within the sector and coaching and mentoring sessions as part of a more developed appraisal mechanism - enabled us to become Matrix IAG holders. Today our director Wilson Chowdhry attended a training session for potential applicants to their forthcoming "Excellence Awards". We hope the fact that we have used their framework to improve our organisation further, are pioneers and achieved the standard after only a two week set-up period with no improvement needs - will enable us to become our industry's first winner. Watch this space.....

In the picture you will see our Director Wilson Chowdhry with the charming Kathy Leahy Chief Executive for the Matrix IAG Standard.

Docklands Business Club Awards

Well another year in which we did not win an award at this fantastic event, however being nominated for 50% of the entire awards and attaining Highly Commended Status (second place) in all four of our categories, proved we are still up there with the best of the wider commercial organisations. Besides, we were beaten by huge, well established organisations such as London City Airport and the University of East London so all in all it was a very good evening.

The categories we were Highly Commended for included:

• Green Business
• Training and Development
• Customer Focus
• Business of the Year

Our thanks again to the organising committee.

National Training Award Winners!

Here is a picture of our Directors with Colin Jackson ex-Olympic hurdler celebrating our attainment of a National Training Award in 2006 - still unique for a security sector company in the UK. This award is run by the department of Employment through UK skills and is clear evidence of our drive for People Development. We hope to secure another NTA in the near future!

Success breeds success!

We are pleased to announce that this month we secured Altius Accreditation. They utilise a very thorough, in-depth analysis of corporate standards, Health and Safety, Environmental and Corporate Social Responsibility, Customer Focus and Training protocols and practices. The analysis includes obtaining tangible evidence to support any claims. This accreditation has enabled us to extend a 4 year contract with SGP Property Services and with the Arcadia Group.

This will add to our wealth of other accolades including the following Awards and Accreditations:

Awards:

• Highly Commended in the Security excellence Awards 2008 "Customer Care Initiative of the Year"


• Highly Commended in the Security Excellence Awards 2008 "ACS Champion 2008"


• Highly Commended in the Secuirty Excellence Awards 2008 "Security Contractor of the Year"


• Highly Commended in the Docklands Business Club and East London Chamber of Commerce 2008 Business Awards “Dedication to Staff Development Category”


• Highly Commended in the Docklands Business Club and East London Chamber of Commerce Business Awards “ Customer Focus Category”


• Highly Commended in the Docklands Business Club and East London Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.


• Winner of “Business of the Year” category in the East London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Awards 2007.


• Winner of Business support of the year category in the East London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Awards 2007


• Winner of the “Service” category in the Human Capital Award 2007


• Winner of the “Diversity in Business” in the Archant Award 2007


• Winner of “Skills for Security” Best Training Professional 2006


• Winner of a National Award at the National Training Awards 2006 (unique the Security industry!) run by the Department of Employment


• Winner of the Training and Development category in the Docklands Business Club and London Chambers Awards 2006


• Highly commended for corporate work in the community at the DBC and LC Awards 2006


• Highly commended in the individuals category at the National Training Awards 2005


• Finalist in the entrepreneur of the year awards in the Parcel force National awards 2005.


• Winner of the businessman of the year category in the Thames Gateway Awards 2005.


• Winner of the Businessman of the year awards in the East London Chambers of Commerce Business Leaders Awards 2005.


• Finalist in the Shell Live Wire awards 2005


• Highly commended in the Businessman of the year category at the East London And Essex Business awards 2004.


• Highly Commended for Training and Development in the East London and Essex Business awards 2004.


• Highly commended for Business of the year in the ELEB awards 2004


• Certificate of merit in the Growth category at the ELEB awards 2004


• Certificate of merit for the young entrepreneur category at the ELEB awards 2004
  Finalist for customer service at the ELEB awards 2004


• Highly commended in the Business Excellence Category within the "Moving Forward with People award 2002, hosted by the Learning and Skills council and Investors in People.
  
  Accreditations:
  


• BS EN ISO 14001: 2004


• BS EN ISO 9001: 2008 UKAS Approved
  BS 7499: 2007 UKAS Approved


• BS 7858: 2008 UKAS Approved


• SIA ACS Scheme (amongst elite 10% performers as per SIA Benchmarking)


• Customer First (unique in security sector)


• British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers


• National Association of Security Dog Users


• Brittania National Safe Contractor


• Investors in People


• Skills for Security Accreditation of our City and Guilds Training and examination Centre


• NOCN accrediutation for training and examination centre


• NSI Gold Award


• Positive about Disability Logo from Jobcentre plus ( first in entire commercial sector)


• Leadership and Management from Investors in People (Unique within security Sector


• Link-Up Qualification Scheme (Achilles)


• Investors in People


• Institute of Leadership and Management Approved Training centre


• City and Guilds approved training centre


• HSE approved First Aid Training Centre


• Construction Line Accreditation


• Matrix IAG


• Constructionline

And of course Altius Accreditation!

Strength To Strength!

A. A. Security is proud of it's image of elite service provision much bolstered by the plethora of awards and accreditations it has attained. This year we are pleased to announce that we are shortlisted for 4 awards in the Docklands Business Club and East London Chambers Awards 2009.

The categories we are shortlisted for include:

• Business of the Year
• Green Business
• Staff Training and Development
• Customer Focus

Last year we were nominated for 3 awards and attained 3 Highly Commended awards - this was the first time we had not won an award outright in the 3 years (at the time) that we had applied for them. We previously won an award in 2006 for Excellence in Staff Training and 2 awards in 2007 for "Business support for the Local Community" and "Business of the Year" . We hope this will be a bumper year again for us and believe we still have the record of 5 nominations in a year from the 2007 awards.

You can learn more about the Docklands Business Club by following this link.

You can learn more about the East London Chambers by following this link.

You can learn more about these collaborative awards follow this link.

Our Director Meets Prime Minister

Wilson Chowdhry Director of A.A. Security has been invited to meet with the Prime Minister Gordon Brown at an event to be held at 10 Downing Street on the 22nd June. Not many details have been provided yet, however, we believe it will be a conference on what measures this country will need to take to tackle the existing economic situation. The title of the event is "Building Britains Future". Wilson intends to ensure that he highlights the concerns facing our industry such as; the lack of enforcement and need to root out rogue traders, the need for Government to start enforcing against complicit clients who conscientiously or inadvertently (due to lack of research) hire the services of illegal traders utilising unlicensed security officers and to ask for a reform of the Private Security Act 2001 to introduce mandatory licensing of in-house Security Officers. We will keep you posted on any outcomes post-event.

Wilson said:

"It is a great privilege to have been invited to this event at 10 Downing Street, whatever people think of the government, an invitation from a Prime Minister is one of the highest possible honours. I will represent my industry with pride, knowing full well that my company is amongst the most accredited and awarded firms in the sector and that there are highly professional organisations like ours, have done much to improve the tarnished image of our industry. It is therefore with a clean conscious that I ask for a review of the Private Security Act 2001 to ensure that stiffer competition and focus on best value and practice will ensure that the lower scale performers are removed from a sector that has seen a new lease of life since the introduction of the SIA. If we are to move forward as an entity the Security industry must see new powers given to and and enhancement of the service provided by the SIA. It is only through better direction from above (position leverage) that we can facilitate the necessary change to ensure continued reliance by commercial organisations on professional security Providers."