With threats such as theft, vandalism, and even protest action on the rise, the importance of robust site security has never been more prominent.

Whether you manage a public sector building, retail outlet, office or industrial site, the real cost of inadequate security goes beyond finances – it’s operational, reputational, and potentially irreversible.

Recent events show that even high-security government sites are vulnerable. At RAF Brize Norton, intruders on electric scooters caused over £1 million in damage to military aircraft – a breach that raised serious questions about perimeter security and access control. And local authorities and public institutions are also under pressure – not to mention considerable public backlash – following a series of physical break-ins and data breaches.

When sites are left unsecured overnight or rely on outdated systems, the risk multiplies. Many businesses still rely on staff to open and close sites or respond to alarm calls, which can lead to human error – many major incidents result from a door left unlocked or an unsecured fire exit. Professional open and lock services ensure premises are secured overnight and ready for staff in the morning, with entry points checked and alarms properly set.

Relying on staff for out-of-hours alarm response not only puts them at risk but can also delay action. Alarms are only as effective as the response behind them, and delays can increase the risk of theft, damage, or data loss – and subsequently drive up insurance costs. Using a professional key holding and alarm response service ensures trained officers handle incidents safely and quickly, without putting employees, or your business, in danger.

In addition, mobile patrols deliver randomised site checks overnight, acting as a strong deterrent against opportunistic crime. They’re also a cost-effective solution for securing multiple premises without requiring a full-time guard on site. Unmanned buildings – and particularly remote sites – are prime targets for vandalism, arson, and squatters, and clean-up and legal costs from these incidents far outweigh the price of preventative measures, often by five to ten times. Recent increases in anti-social behaviour around vacant commercial and civic properties only highlight how pressing the need is for proactive deterrents.

Poor security can cost your organisation far more than you’d anticipate. Losses from theft, damage, legal claims, operational downtime, and rejected insurance due to protocol failures can be substantial. Worse still is the risk of legal exposure due to failure to safeguard employees, and the reputational damage – particularly for public-facing or regulated institutions – which can be lasting or even permanent.

At Business Watch Guarding, we believe that site security should be simple, scalable, and responsive. Whether you manage a council building, healthcare facility, school, or construction site – our services are tailored to your needs, hours, and individual risk profile.

The real cost of inadequate security is always greater than investing in the right solution at the right time. Don’t wait for a breach – get in touch today to assess your vulnerabilities and explore a tailored approach to protecting your people, property, and reputation.

For more information about the services available contact a member of the BWG team on security@business-watch.co.uk

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We had the pleasure of partnering with Shrewsbury College recently to provide some valuable work experience placements.

Here, we take a look at the fantastic feedback from Meg Murphy, Work Experience Team Leader for the College, to find out what these opportunities mean for their students…

“We initially knew about BWG as a prospective work placement employer because of an A level student who had approached them directly and secured a placement in July 2022, so with this in mind, I contacted them this year to ask if they could take business and A level students. Elaine very kindly offered 3 placements to vocational business students in March, and they also have an A level student lined up for June.

“Having employers like BWG at the ready enables us to offer placements that students may not have previously considered, broadening their horizons. We’ve even had a few students who impressed their placement employers so much that they were offered full time positions. One of the students placed with BWG, Chelsea Amponsah, found the overall experience to be useful for future endeavours and said:

“Even though it wasn’t related to what I was specifically wanting to gain experience on, I learned other aspects of business that could potentially help me in the future.”

“Placements allow students to learn about different sectors and business functions, gaining broad spectrum experience working within a professional setting relevant to their course. And whilst placements might not always align perfectly with the career path they’re interested in, they do offer valuable experience to include within their CV and/or personal statement, and are key to supporting their future career decisions.

“The sheer amount of career choices young people have these days is great but it can also be overwhelming and often they don’t know where to start. Mirroring the jobs their parents do or roles similar to what they’ve seen on television is the standard student response to choosing a career path. Placements help to open up their world and show them a range of different jobs and opportunities that they may never have known existed otherwise.

“And it works both ways. Businesses benefit from young people with fresh ideas and dynamic ways of thinking, and of course they need a recruitment pipeline for the future – it all starts with work experience. I have also found there is often a disconnect between what employers expect of new recruits versus what young people realistically offer upon entering the world of work, and I think work experience helps to bridge this gap a little and manage expectations.

“We’re very grateful to BWG for taking our students on work experience placements, offering them a valuable step forward in their career progression paths.”

We’re so pleased that we’ve been able to offer students at Shrewsbury College work experience placements with us here at BWG. And we made conscious effort to expose them to a great range of tasks and responsibilities. All three recent students impressed us with how proactively and enthusiastically they set about undertaking what was assigned to them.

We’d encourage all local businesses to consider offering these much needed short or long term work experience placements to the College, it’s such a brilliant way to support our local communities and to prepare the next generation for the world of work. We’re looking forward to hosting the next student in June and to continuing our valuable partnership with Shrewsbury College into the next academic year and beyond.

For more information about the services available contact a member of the BWG team on security@business-watch.co.uk

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