Whether you want outdoor lighting for security or ambiance, taking power or electricity outdoors can be a potentially dangerous job. Outdoor lighting can provide a beautiful ambient setting in the evenings or can take on a firmer role by providing light to dark areas for safety and security purposes. Outdoor
In issuing its report “Under Construction: Building the future of the sector in Scotland”, Holyrood’s Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee said that it wanted to understand the industry’s challenges “to ensure it realises its full potential”. It was a valuable exercise, since the construction business touches every part of
Clivet is a company pioneer in the use of new technologies and attentive to environmental issues: in line with this philosophy, they have designed ELFOEnergy Edge Evo (WSAN-YMi), the new range of full DC inverter packaged air cooled heat pumps, equipped with the innovative and ecological R32 refrigerant with GWP
There are many details that need to be considered when setting up a home office. The room itself is very important, as are the desk and chair. Other utility items that help you do your job are next in line for consideration. Another important factor for a functional home office
Leading mechanical and electrical building services specialist J S Wright is to fit out the first phase of the Paradise Birmingham development. The company, which has its headquarters in Birmingham and an office in London, has been awarded a contract exceeding £4m by BAM Construction for the M&E infrastructure, basement
Willmott Dixon has selected REL Building Services to deliver the M&E package for a new £12m facility at the University of Hertfordshire. Part-funded by the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the three-storey ‘Business Hub’ is due to be completed in 2020. Designed by Bond Bryan, it will bring business incubator,
When it comes to thinking about adding new or updating existing heating and plumbing systems, we realise it requires a lot of thought as often these can use a substantial amount of your home renovations budget. Choosing the right heating system is crucial to creating a comfortable and efficient home
From humble beginnings TLJ security systems have come a long way in the 10 years since the business was incorporated, with the team having built a solid and diverse customer base across the construction industry. In excess of 1,000 builders, contractors, architectural practices, facilities managers, hotels, student accommodation and residential
Mechanical and electrical building services provider J S Wright has secured a £5m contract for the biggest phase of a £64m estate regeneration in London. The company, which has its head office in Birmingham and offices in Bristol and London, will design and build the mechanical services for no less
No matter what your company might be or where your residence is, there are very few people who don’t make use of a security company. It could be to stop shrinkage and shoplifting, it could be at a bank to keep robbers out, maybe it is bouncers at a club
Whether you want outdoor lighting for security or ambiance, taking power or electricity outdoors can be a potentially dangerous job. Outdoor lighting can provide a beautiful ambient setting in the evenings or can take on a firmer role by providing light to dark areas for safety and security purposes. Outdoor lighting is a necessity at all access points indoors from the outside, up steps or in dark parking areas. Your doorways and footpaths should always be well lit, in order to walk to and from your home or parking area safely. Using A Registered Electrician Initially, you will want to hire a qualified and registered professional to install the outdoor lighting safely and efficiently. You’ll be able to find a local electrician no matter where you’re located, just make sure they’re a trusted company. A good example to take a look at is these Electricians in Perth who are both properly accredited and knowledgeable to install outdoor lighting for you. Some people may claim to be registered or qualified electricians but in fact, they are not. Always use a reputable and experienced company or electrician when having outdoor power points or lighting installed. The last thing you would want to do is to pay someone to reinstall a system due to poor initial installation by someone who in fact was not qualified to do so. If something had to go wrong with the outdoor lighting and you wanted to claim from your insurer, you may be unsuccessful with your claim if the insurer finds that a registered electrician did not install the system. Do your homework on the electrician you decide to hire before going ahead with any installation. If you are installing outdoor lighting for security reasons, you will need a qualified and knowledgeable electrician to do a proper and secure installation for you. Security and safety outdoor lighting systems require a professional to install them correctly. You may even need a consultation from a security company to pinpoint problematic areas you would like to keep illuminated. Getting comparable quotes from registered electricians is always a good idea if you need to save costs. Check if there are call out fees or any hidden costs before you give the go-ahead to avoid being out of pocket. Never try to install outdoor lighting yourself unless you absolutely know how to. The dangers of installing electrical systems or power outlets outdoors can be a risky job if something goes wrong because you don’t know what you are doing. Rather be safe and call in a professional electrician. Timers And Bulbs Solar lights are at times easy to install and do not need a professional tradesperson to do so but they generally do not last as long as a properly installed system that connects to the mains power. When using an electrical system, insist on energy rated LED bulbs that save electricity and last longer than normal bulbs. Take note of the make and size of these bulbs in case you ever need to replace them. Electricians will always know which wattage of bulb to use for each fitting and circumstance, which is just another reason why you need to use registered electricians. If there are specific hues you prefer (warm or cool white), make sure your electrician knows this beforehand so that you do not waste money on the wrong colour bulbs. Research which tones you prefer or want to achieve in your outdoor lighting plan so that you make the decision based on what you want the outdoor lighting to achieve. Similarly, for security purposes, the size and make of bulbs will depend on the installation fixtures. It is a smart idea to add a timer to your outdoor lighting system. This will not only save on power (as the lights won’t be on all day and night) but will be set to switch on and off when you are not present or forgot to switch them on. Timers are highly recommended if you are using outdoor lighting for security and safety purposes. Maintenance Before the electrician leaves your property, ensure that you have all the information you may need to operate the system properly and safely. Ask questions if you are unclear as to be 100% confident in the using of the system. If you ever need to change bulbs, light fittings or cables and connections, ensure you have switched the power off to the outdoor lights to prevent injury. If your electrician was worth his or her weight in gold, they would have used waterproof fittings, fixtures, and cabling. Water and electricity do not mix well, and it is extremely important to check regularly that your fixtures are not cracked, broken or missing. Ensure all cabling is hidden, insulated and waterproof. Your electrician would have provided you with good quality equipment bought from a reputable supplier or manufacturer which will yield warrantees. If you find any problems or faults with your outdoor lighting system, switch the power to the system off and wait for an electrician to repair the system properly and safely.
In issuing its report “Under Construction: Building the future of the sector in Scotland”, Holyrood’s Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee said that it wanted to understand the industry’s challenges “to ensure it realises its full potential”. It was a valuable exercise, since the construction business touches every part of the economy in Scotland, generating £21.4 billion per year, employing 170,000 people – or 10% of all Scottish jobs – and sustaining 45,000 businesses. When giving our evidence to the committee, we suggested that any programme for improvement should focus on Four Ps: Procurement, Payment, Professionalism and Policing. As well as a requirement for government to take proactive action, there always remains the challenge of effective implementation and review. Procurement At the root of most of the contentious areas in construction is the business model for procurement, where practices and procedures have not fundamentally changed over many years. In usual circumstances, a main contractor, appointed to deliver a contract, proceeds to sub-let the works to myriad sub-contractors who may then further sub-sub-contract. There is very little if any engagement with sub-contractors on issues such as design or risk before the work starts on site and this often leads to a spiral of issues, including challenges over costs for extras, extensions of time etc. etc. This highly fragmented and costly delivery process, driven by the lowest price and the most onerous of contract conditions aimed at wholesale transference of risk, creates a race to the bottom which places an intolerable burden on businesses who often don’t appreciate how exposed they are. Often this race is won by businesses that spend little time and capital in investing in up-skilling their workforce or recruiting and training the workforce of the future. The Scottish Government has made some sterling efforts to address some of the issues, but many others still require to be addressed including: •avoiding the use of multiple schemes of pre-qualification; •requiring contracting authorities to consider if the work could be done by SMEs or SME joint ventures; •encouraging early involvement of key specialist contractors to inform the design and planning process; and •insisting on approval of sub-contract conditions to deter tier 1 contractors from transferring risk along the supply chain. Above all else traditional procurement systems are no longer fit for purpose. We need to be radical and bring in more innovative systems such as insurance-backed alliancing. Research from 10 years ago suggested that every £1 spent on construction created up to £5 in GDP growth. We believe that the economic impact could be far greater if we were able to eradicate the endemic process waste in delivery systems. For example, failure to engage the supply chain early enough to inform design decisions often means that construction costs are increased to reflect changes to designs to make them fit for manufacture. Payment Section 15(5) (d) of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 – a measure widely welcomed – requires contracting authorities with an annual spend of more than £5 million to include strategies for 30-day payment to sub- and sub-subcontractors. However, our surveys show that, in 2016, 45% of reporting authorities were non-compliant. New figures will be available soon, but in order for this objective to be fully realised, the government should now legislate to mandate 30-day payments. Project Bank Accounts are the most effective way of ensuring that cash is disbursed to the supply chain without delay and, we were delighted when Scottish government reduced this to £2 million. We are keen to work with government to see how we can promote the use of PBAs more widely. Professionalism We believe that the Scottish Government should have the courage of convictions over their own Approved Certifier of Construction scheme and mandate that for all directly funded work that only those on the scheme to ensure that only properly qualified people carry out public sector work. In addition, recognising and legislating on our campaign to introduce Protection of Title would raise the bar of the status of electricians who work across Scotland. Policing We must invest more resource in ensuring compliance with regulation and best practice. To this end we have been urging the Scottish Government to create a properly resourced Office of Public Procurement Regulator. The Regulator would have powers to challenge poor practices and, if necessary, impose penalties on regular offenders. We need to move the sector towards the value systems inherent in many other sector supply chains – close collaboration; payment security shared risk and reward; effective communication; and a shared focus on the product. Only then will construction take its rightful place in 21st century business.
Clivet is a company pioneer in the use of new technologies and attentive to environmental issues: in line with this philosophy, they have designed ELFOEnergy Edge Evo (WSAN-YMi), the new range of full DC inverter packaged air cooled heat pumps, equipped with the innovative and ecological R32 refrigerant with GWP (Global Warming Potential) of -70% compared to the R410A refrigerant. The new WSAN-YMi series of air conditioning is among the first on the market to use R32 refrigerant in order to guarantee high performance and low environmental impact. With heating capacity from 5 kW to 16 kW, it is characterized by wide operating limits, very high efficiency in heating, cooling and domestic hot water production. These features make it the most advanced solution for residential and small commercial applications. ELFOEnergy Edge EVO represents the first step of the new hydronic range with R32, which will be completed with ELFOEnergy Sheen EVO and ELFOEnergy Storm EVO, in order to offer high efficiency full inverter technology and R32 ecological refrigerant from 5 up to 94 kW of power capacity. Performance, low noise operation and flexibility ELFOEnergy Edge EVO WSAN-YMi replaces the range of ELFOEnergy Edge WSAN-XMi heat pumps with R410A refrigerant, offering an improvement of the overall proposal in terms of operating efficiency, functionalities, accessories, and initial investment. Performance at the top of the category guarantees class A++ in heating both in low (35°C leaving water) and in medium temperature (55°C leaving water) and SEER values up to 5 in cooling. Applications that require extra low noise find the ideal solution in this product thanks to two additional silenced and super-silenced operating modes. The management of two temperature zones and operation in combination with auxiliary heat sources (such as a gas boiler) make ELFOEnergy EVO suitable for the most different applications and plant requirements.
There are many details that need to be considered when setting up a home office. The room itself is very important, as are the desk and chair. Other utility items that help you do your job are next in line for consideration. Another important factor for a functional home office is the lighting. Unfortunately, many people forget this aspect and often times invest in good lighting way too late. Poor lighting can cause eyestrain and headaches, which often leads to tiredness. Here are some of the best tips that will make your home office lighting enjoyable and keep you in a more productive mood. Every room is different Before you start installing your lighting, you need to evaluate the space. Start by tracking the natural light during the day in order to determine which areas are already getting enough sunlight and which areas need your assistance. The position of the furniture in the room will have a huge impact on your decision as well. Try to keep the areas where you spend the most time well lit. If necessary, don’t hesitate to move some furniture around. If you have especially big windows and/or are simply positioned in a way that you get too much sunlight, you should also consider putting up curtains. The goal is to find the perfect balance of light that will make you feel comfortable. Explore, enjoy, and let your imagination run wild with the amazing style of custom neon lights to your home with the help of Echo Neon Studio. Avoid direct lighting While you need to ensure that the area you work in is well lit, you should try to avoid direct lighting. The goal is to diffuse the light in order to keep it warm, but still bright enough to see. This is by no means an easy task and you should experiment around until you figure out what suits you best. Try moving around a few different light sources until you get the best results. A good way to avoid direct lighting is by opting to use lighting sources like desk lamps that can illuminate your desk without shining it directly into your face. Hire a professional Designing your lighting is just one part of the job. The second part is actually installing it. When it comes to electrical work, it’s always best to have a professional do it. Installing all the cables and lights is much harder than it looks and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Badly installed lighting can also cause electrical fires, which is one more reason to consider a professional. In Australia, such matters are taken seriously and there are very strict laws when it comes to electrical work. A professional electrician in Sydney is therefore always the best solution when it comes to lighting installation. Professionals often end up costing less in the long run as they get the job done faster and with more efficient materials and tools. Natural lighting should be a priority Natural light is very unique and offers a variety of advantages over artificial light sources. Natural light is much warmer and healthier for the body. In order to keep up a positive mood, people need to spend at least some time in the sunlight every day. Natural light is also vital for vitamin D production. Because of that, you should always make use of the natural sunlight available in the home office. The desk should be moved to a position where it’s exposed to natural light as much as possible during the day. Just try to avoid the light hitting a direct angle on your monitor. The best solution is for the light source to be next to your work surface. Consider decorative lighting The light purpose shouldn’t be only as a practical means of making things visible. Light can also be decorative and help set the mood of your home office. Consider installing smaller lighting sources that won’t have a huge impact on the visibility, but instead serve as decoration. There are many decorative lights that can be bought in shops and you should pick a few that best fit your style. Proper lighting plays a vital role in every office, including the one at home. Bad light will not only slow you down, but can also have a negative effect on your health. Use the tips above to experiment with light and figure out which solutions provide you with the optimal working conditions. There are many decorative lights that can be bought in shops and you should pick a few that best fit your style. One of the options that are often considered as a vintage accent point in the workplace is Neon lights, as they will bring a piece of that old business vibe you might need on boring days, another advantage of using them is the LED Neon lights durability. New lighting designs have been adjusted to LED technology, resulting in a remarkable improvement in affordability and energy saving. These are also safe options for use in the house since there is no breakable glass in them.
Leading mechanical and electrical building services specialist J S Wright is to fit out the first phase of the Paradise Birmingham development. The company, which has its headquarters in Birmingham and an office in London, has been awarded a contract exceeding £4m by BAM Construction for the M&E infrastructure, basement and external services for two new Grade A office buildings, One and Two Chamberlain Square. The wide-ranging mechanical works will include installing rainwater and above ground drainage, chilled water plant with distribution to serve neighbouring Birmingham Town Hall, and car park ventilation systems. J S Wright will also install commercial landlord systems including sprinklers, general ventilation services for the plant room and communal areas, and boosted mains cold water plant for distribution including landscape irrigation. All the services will be controlled by a central Building Management System (BMS). The electrical works will involve the installation, testing and commissioning of the mains distribution network, including an uninterruptible power system and commercial landlord switchboards, along with submain distribution cabling and small power distribution. J S Wright will also provide lighting and emergency lighting, access control, CCTV equipment, door security and fire alarms, and car park lighting. Work on site is scheduled for completion at the end of 2019. Phil Leech, Managing Director of J S Wright, said: “We are delighted that our expertise and experience in delivering M&E services to multi-million-pound regeneration projects, primarily in London and the Midlands, has resulted in a commission that will eventually transform our home city of Birmingham.” Established in Birmingham in 1890, J S Wright designs, installs and maintains mechanical and electrical services for the hotel, residential, social housing, student accommodation, leisure and commercial sectors. The company recently launched a new residential maintenance company, Wright Maintenance Ltd, serving homeowners and property managers across London. The company was voted one of the UK’s Top Ten Specialist Contractors to Work For in the 2016 Construction Enquirer Awards and was a finalist in three categories in the 2018 H&V News Awards.
Willmott Dixon has selected REL Building Services to deliver the M&E package for a new £12m facility at the University of Hertfordshire. Part-funded by the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the three-storey ‘Business Hub’ is due to be completed in 2020. Designed by Bond Bryan, it will bring business incubator, social, and teaching facilities all under one roof. REL will be responsible for developing the M&E design to optimise performance, energy efficiency and costs. The installation of the £1.9m solution is expected to take eight months. Toby Buckley, REL’s managing director said: “This exciting educational facility incorporates teaching spaces alongside open plan collaboration spaces that will allow entrepreneurial students to mix with local businesses and hopefully develop successful business relationships. “We will be drawing on our extensive experience of both the education and commercial sectors to design and deliver an M&E package that uses the most effective technology to drive efficiencies and meet all client objectives.” The Business Hub will feature a ground floor social space, an area dedicated to business incubation, providing local entrepreneurs with access to all of the University’s facilities, and a new learning space for students. Hertfordshire LEP has invested £2.5m from the Local Growth Fund towards the construction of the building as part of its strategic priority to support business growth and innovation within the county. REL has a long-established relationship with Willmott Dixon and has worked with the contractor on several major projects, including the award-winning St Albans Museum and Art Gallery.
When it comes to thinking about adding new or updating existing heating and plumbing systems, we realise it requires a lot of thought as often these can use a substantial amount of your home renovations budget. Choosing the right heating system is crucial to creating a comfortable and efficient home and will be different for every property and its owners. Whether you are already homeowners or looking to become first-time buyers we have several heating and plumbing solutions that may be helpful to you. One of the most used rooms in your home is the bathroom and it is important to ensure your renovations are all in working order before even considering the design. We are stripping it back to basics in terms of things to consider for your bathroom. From hot water, leaks, corroded pipes and those consistent water bills we have put together this guide on some fantastic fixes for your bathroom and plumbing: If your hot water is in short supply If your hot water has become sparse and your relaxing showers aren’t what they used to be then you may need to replace your hot water heater. When it comes to choosing you may wish to look at both conventional and tankless models. Conventional one’s can supply multiple appliances at once which may be better suited to your property. New water heaters are more efficient and so your water bill could be considerably lower! Water leaks and corroded pipes Unfortunately, from time to time you may experience a water leak, or if you are buying an old house the pipes will often need replacing. It is important to know the age of your home as pipes should be replaced every 80 to 100 years and much less for PVC drainpipes that only last around 25 years. Replacing your plumbing pipes before they burst can save you thousands in damages. PVC piping is also popular as it costs less and can be installed much more quickly. Alternative options are conventional brass, copper or steel. If you must replace any pipes it also gives you the opportunity to place them in a different area. Plumbing fixtures are boring and outdated This could be your chance to upgrade your plumbing fixtures to newer models or invest in boiler parts such as these glow worm boiler spares for your home. Often this is an easy upgrade as many of them are inexpensive. This job can be a little more fun than other plumbing tasks as there are a variety of colours, materials and designs available when it comes to boiler spares and other fittings. So not only will they look the part, but new fixtures can also be more efficient that your old ones. Water bills draining your wallet Expensive water bills are often related to leaking fixtures. This could be down to several reasons such as, a continuously running toilet. It is important to test everything for any leaks whether they are slow or heavy. If you hear a random flushing noise coming from your toilet, it may be time to replace your fill valve and flapper. If everything has been repaired and your water bill doesn’t seem to be decreasing, then it may be worth while booking a professional to come and inspect. It’s also worth noting that low-flow showerheads and toilets help to reduce water output without sacrificing pressure and can dramatically improve usage compared to older models that may clog. Eco-friendly bathroom plumbing should not be overlooked either as it helps to cut your environmental footprint. Looking to sell your home If you are in a hurry to sell your home, then renovating your bathroom may help with a speedy sale. Investing in your bathroom can bring a huge return if you are going to spend on any home improvement prior to moving out. If you are remodelling your interior, it is also worth investing in quality tiles and upscale fixtures as a shiny new bathroom lets you up your asking price! Let us know if you have any other heating and plumbing tips for your home.
From humble beginnings TLJ security systems have come a long way in the 10 years since the business was incorporated, with the team having built a solid and diverse customer base across the construction industry. In excess of 1,000 builders, contractors, architectural practices, facilities managers, hotels, student accommodation and residential developers have specified TLJ for their access control needs. They install and service tens of thousands of electronic locks every year in the UK. A true British success story, TLJ has been family owned and run since the very beginning. From its base in East Yorkshire the company designs, manufactures, installs and services its own range of electronic locks and access control products. They’re especially proud of their service proposition, enhanced by keeping their installation and aftersales operations fully in-house. Things move quickly in the access control industry, and the past 10 years have seen many changes. This has been reflected in TLJ’s product range: less reliable biometric ‘fingerprint’ locks and older magnetic keycard technologies have been replaced by up-to-date contactless electronic locks and access control readers, all for security. Becoming increasingly popular is TLJ’s Mobile Keys system: replacing physical keys with the end user’s smartphone, opening locks via secure mobile app. This cutting-edge tech is especially popular in student accommodation developments where residents stay for the longer term. However, many leading hotels and ‘collective living’ projects are also adopting this technology as part of a ‘mobile first’ approach for their customers. Looking ahead, TLJ will be expanding their security range with design-led electronic locks tailored for high-end residential developments and, ingeniously, locks suitable for non-standard doors such as those often found in the leisure industry. “I sometimes have to pinch myself to believe that TLJ have been around for 10 years. From our very humble beginnings we’ve grown into a business that all of us here can be truly proud of. Sure, it’s been hard work but overall there have been many more hits than misses. The team has grown and continues to do so, but we’re in no rush to expand our numbers for the sake of it; I firmly believe in quality over quantity when it comes to employing really talented people,” said TLJ Managing Director, Luke Martin. “We’ve punched above our weight and continue to do so, and this is in no small part down to our ethos of managing every stage of the process, from product design to aftersales. We keep everything in-house at TLJ and know that service is king, something which is reflected in the frankly superb feedback we receive from clients. But we’re not resting on our laurels: we know the marketplace is changing and technology moves apace so we’re ‘future proofing’ our product and service offering to better meet our customers’ needs going forward. Here’s to the next 10 years!”
Mechanical and electrical building services provider J S Wright has secured a £5m contract for the biggest phase of a £64m estate regeneration in London. The company, which has its head office in Birmingham and offices in Bristol and London, will design and build the mechanical services for no less than 201 energy efficient affordable apartments within the latest fourth phase of New Union Wharf at Stewart Street on the Isle of Dogs. J S Wright was awarded the contract by developer Hill following its successful completion of the 114-home second and third phases of the new 399-home riverside development that will be managed by housing association L&Q. The design and build deal will involve installing a low-pressure hot water heating system and associated pipework to feed underfloor heating within each apartment, along with a cold-water plantroom and distribution network to deliver boosted cold water as part of the domestic hot and cold-water services. As accredited CIBSE Heat Network Consultants, J S Wright will also install a heat interface unit in each apartment to act as a bridge to deliver instant hot water on demand and hot water to the underfloor heating at low return temperatures. The company will also fit a mechanical ventilation heat recovery system that will use the outgoing air from each property to heat incoming fresh air, dry risers and sprinklers for fire protection, sanitary ware, and above-ground drainage. In addition, the company will provide building management controls including a pre-payment system for billing each apartment’s energy use. J S Wright will start work on site in August 2019 with completion scheduled for December 2021. J S Wright has equipped more than 1,500 new homes across London for Hill over the past three years. Current design and build projects for the developer include the first two phases of 580-home Fish Island Village in Hackney Wick, and Phase 1B of the 1,500-home Blackwall Reach development in Tower Hamlets. Phil Leech, the new Managing Director of J S Wright, said: “We are thrilled to have built up such an excellent partnership with a developer that is renowned for restoring vibrant communities with modern energy efficient housing.” Established in Birmingham in 1890, J S Wright designs, installs and maintains mechanical and electrical services for the hotel, residential, social housing, student accommodation, leisure and commercial sectors. The company recently launched a new residential maintenance company, Wright Maintenance Ltd, serving homeowners and property managers across London. The company was voted one of the UK’s Top Ten Specialist Contractors to Work For in the 2016 Construction Enquirer Awards and was a finalist in three categories in the 2018 H&V News Awards.
No matter what your company might be or where your residence is, there are very few people who don’t make use of a security company. It could be to stop shrinkage and shoplifting, it could be at a bank to keep robbers out, maybe it is bouncers at a club or perhaps it is an armed-response solution at your home. The sad reality of the age that we live in is that crime is rife and that there are plenty of opportunists out there who will act in nefarious ways if they are given half a chance. But while security plays a very important role in our lives, there are probably as many bad partners out there as there are good ones. So, how do you find the right company to service your security needs? Here are a few questions that you should ask and angles that you should investigate, before you commit to a solution from which you cannot escape. Word of mouth Start by just asking around amongst friends and family. If you are looking for a company to protect your valuables or your nearest and dearest, then you need to make sure that they come with an impeccable reputation. So, if your goal is to find security companies in Sydney, engage with people in Sydney who have made use of the services of these outfits. Ask the right questions: what are their strengths? Do you get value for money? What hassles have you had? What are their response times like? You will very quickly be able to form a picture of who is good and who isn’t. Reviews online The online space is a great place to source information. Look at review sites and social media to see what people are saying. It can be quite easy to spot trends on online platforms. If there are repeat complaints about tardy response times, then you know what to expect. The advantage with sourcing information online is that the pool from which you are collecting your data is more diverse than if you are just asking amongst friends. It will be hard to find a business that has no bad reviews, bad reviews are inevitable, so don’t discount everyone who is negatively reviewed. Look rather at positive comments and how the companies themselves react to negative comments. Where are they based You should always try to find a locally based company as they have more to lose if things go wrong. Not in my backyard is an adage that is well used. It goes without saying that a security company will want to ensure that crime and bad things don’t happen near where they are based, so the closer they are based to you, the better. Meet their people Security jobs are quite easy to come by. You don’t necessarily need a plethora of qualifications. As a result, it means that almost anyone can get a gig in a uniform. But you need to meet the people who are going to be responsible for your valuables and make sure that they are a type of person you feel you can trust. Are they likeable or user friendly? If they tick those boxes, then you are good to go with them.
