Security Matters Podcast – Episode 13 now live to view

Our special guests on Episode 13 of the Security Matters Podcast are Mike Bluestone MA CSyP FSyI (director of Corps Consult, the security consulting, investigations and specialist training division of Corps Security) and Jeremy Hockham, managing director at Norbain (the security and IP connectivity systems distribution company).

The appropriate protection and security of both physical and Intellectual Property and assets is vital to the survival of any organisation. As an integral part of its Corps Consult division, security guarding business Corps Security offers a diverse range of specialist security consulting and advisory services. These include strategic security reviews, security surveys and security audits, the development of corporate security policy and strategy documents and risk and threat assessments.

In addition, Corps Consult focuses its attentions on VIP and executive security (both here in the UK and overseas), corporate emergency and contingency planning and physical penetration testing designed to test the efficacy and robustness of physical security measures.

Having an effective security solution in place is wholly dependent on being aware of any risks and threats. They might not always be apparent, which is precisely why it pays to have a detailed security survey carried out by a qualified security professional who can then make any appropriate recommendations and configure a suitable strategy.

Just as importantly, regular reviews of existing security programmes and measures are necessary to maintain adequate safeguards against any risks and threats. A security strategy that was relevant five years ago might not be so today, while ongoing threats from terrorism, criminality and single issue extremists are just a few of the compelling reasons to have corporate contingency and business continuity plans firmly in place and reviewed on a regular basis.

Impact of the COVID-19 crisis

A former chair and current vice-president of The Security Institute, Mike Bluestone has worked at Corps Security since April 2010 and at a senior level in the private security world for the last 25 years. He’s a Chartered Security Professional and gained a Master of Arts degree in Security Management from Loughborough University in 1999.

Also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, Mike won The Security Institute’s highly prestigious George van Schalkwyk Award in 2013 for his “outstanding contribution to the cause of security professionalism”. Indeed, in that same year, Mike was also honoured by the Association of Security Consultants when he won the Imbert Prize for his work in the field of security consulting. He had been a runner-up for this award just two years previously.

On Episode 13 of the Security Matters Podcast, and given the sheer scale of the COVID-19 crisis, Mike assesses the impact of the pandemic on the UK’s security guarding sector. When it comes to diversity and equality in the UK’s private security sector, Mike also offers his considered opinions on what needs to be done going forward.

Back in 2010, Mike led The Security Institute’s team that, in conjunction with The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals, developed and successfully launched the Register of Chartered Security Professionals. Does he believe the Register has gained enough traction in the intervening period, though? Listen to Episode 13 of the Security Matters Podcast and find out.

The police service is, of course, facing an enormous and wide-ranging set of challenges at the present time. Can – and, indeed, should – the private security sector be playing an enhanced role in supporting the police and law enforcement and, if so, how? This question is addressed in some detail by Mike, who also assesses what changes will be visible in the sector going forward.

Video surveillance and monitoring

Our second guest on Episode 13 of the Security Matters Podcast is, as previously stated, Jeremy Hockham, the managing director at security solutions distributor Norbain.

As a business, Norbain distributes IP, CCTV, access control and intruder detection solutions. Constant product research and evaluation guarantees that Norbain’s product range remains both comprehensive and advanced. All variants of IP and analogue security systems are available, from stand-alone units right through to fully integrated network solutions.

In fact, Norbain boasts upwards of £10 million’ worth of stock holding when it comes to industry-leading brands, together with a guaranteed 98% availability of catalogue lines. Further, a number of brands have opted to work with Norbain on an entirely exclusive basis.

To its great credit, Norbain continually evaluates the latest innovations and technologies. The company’s product management teams work in tandem with new and existing suppliers to ensure that the most up-to-date innovations are always available for customers.

For his part, Jeremy joined Norbain back in 2015 with plenty of international industry experience having served as president of Bosch Security in the US and as managing director of Bosch Security here in the UK. He’s also a former managing director of Honeywell Security, as well as being a former Board member at Skills for Security.

Obviously, 2020 has proven to be a somewhat strange year due to the extensive and ongoing impact of COVID-19. Focusing on the security business sector, Jeremy offers his thoughts on the current ‘State of the Nation’.

Interestingly, he also turns his attentions towards the role of the distributor at present and evaluates the ways in which he believes this role will develop as time progresses.

The business has recently launched a new venture entitled ‘Norbain TV’. In addition to explaining the philosophy behind this move, Jeremy also discusses the company’s successful ‘Solutions for the New Normal’ campaign before offering an outlook on the future for the security sector per se.

Listen to the Security Matters Podcast

You can listen to the Security Matters Podcast – kindly sponsored by The Security Event, which runs at the NEC in Birmingham from 27-29 April 2021 – for free on iTunes or Spotify. To download the Security Matters Podcast on iTunes or Spotify, all you need to do is enter the term ‘Security Matters’ into your chosen platform’s search box.

Alternatively, you can listen to the Security Matters Podcast online at https://securitymatters.podbean.com/ or via the dedicated Security Matters YouTube channel by clicking here.

*If there are any particular topics or themes you would like us to cover on future editions of the Security Matters Podcast (which are live to view every fortnight on Wednesdays) please do contact us. You can do so on Twitter by using the hashtag #SecurityPod or simply send an e-mail direct to bsims@westernbusiness.media

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