| VSG's Chairman, Bill Muskin (left) and Andrew Drane, Deputy Chief Executive for the SIA cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of VSG's London office |
On Wednesday 11th December, Andrew Drane, Deputy Chief Executive for the Security Industry Association (SIA), was guest of honour and officially opened the office with the cutting of a ribbon. He said: "VSG has always been a great champion for the security industry in terms of supporting regulation and standards. It is a company that I know prides itself on providing a quality service and complete security solutions. I am myself aware of VSG operations that are held in very high regard by the public and the police."
The opening of these prestigious new offices is the latest stage of the company's ambitious growth plans, which have already seen it achieve recognition in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 index as the fastest growing independent company in the UK manned guarding sector. Just eight years after it was founded, the company has a staff of 4,200 and an annual turnover in excess of £100 million.
The new London office complements VSG's headquarters operation in Northampton and its existing support offices in Belfast and Dublin.
"The City of London is home to many high profile organisations, including banks and financial institutions, that place a very high value on security for their staff, clients and associates," said Bill Muskin, Chairman of VSG. "These organisations are, quite rightly, some of the most demanding in the world when it comes to their dealings with security service providers."
| "VSG has always been a great champion for the security industry in terms of supporting regulation and standards," says Andrew Drane, Deputy Chief Excutive for the SIA |
"VSG has always recognised and addressed the need to invest in staff and facilities to meet these demands, and the opening of our new London office will allow us to further enhance our already exceptional services for existing and future clients in the City and throughout the London area. Our declared aim is to ensure safety and business continuity for all of our clients, and the new office will undoubtedly help us to achieve this."
VSG's new High Holborn office will not only house a sophisticated operations room which is linked to its headquarters in Northampton, but also a dedicated training facility. For the company's 700 staff in the London area, this facility will be used to provide the in-depth training that is a key factor to VSG's success.
This goes far beyond the basics, and includes specialised training tailored to the specific risks associated with the environment in which the staff are working. Topics covered typically include counter terrorism and hostile reconnaissance. Special emphasis is also given to close and effective liaison with the police, taking full advantage of initiatives such as Project Griffin.