Registrations and Nominations are still open for our Awards Dinner

Registrations and nominations are still open for our Annual Awards Dinner on at Rydges in Queenstown on 14th September 2018.   Come along and enjoy the winter wonderland of Queenstown and help us recognise those in our industry who have shown outstanding service and performance.

Nominations will close on 20th July

Click here to register or nominate someone

 

Media Release – Cityguard Security announces living wage

Cityguard NZ Ltd is the first company in the local security industry to introduce the living wage – increasing its base hourly rate for all employees to $20.20 – more than 28% above the minimum wage and around 20% more than its competitors pay.

Company owner and director Ian Crawford says the traditionally low-skill / low-wage industry is overdue a shake-up, and that introducing the living wage is only part of the programme he is implementing to improve overall working conditions for his people.

 “Over the past four years, we have been very focused on making Cityguard NZ an employer of choice in this industry.  This is another part of the ongoing plan to create a socially-sustainable company with the intention of creating meaningful change in the industry. 

 “We introduced three core values (safety, courtesy and family) and quickly embedded those into everyday decision-making and processes,” says Crawford.  “The trickle-down effect was that shift structures had to change and the number of hours reduce.  My staff now work an average of 40 hours (with a maximum 60 hour/ eight day ‘week’: five days on and three days off) instead of the 60-plus hours which is the industry norm.

 “This allows every one of my workers to rest properly, travel off-peak and spend quality time with their families.  The change in work hours has also meant a number of spouses and partners have been able to take on a job, doubling the income for that family,” he says.

 Crawford says that he has also incentivised training and education through NZQA and increased on their base rate once they achieve the relevant qualifications.

 The results have been impressive.

“We have fewer no-shows and ‘sick days’, staff turnover is down, and individual engagement levels are high.  People feel as though they really belong – like they are part of something bigger than themselves – and that creates an environment that is conducive to staff satisfaction and career sustainability,” says Crawford.

 The New Zealand Security Association CEO Gary Morrison says that Cityguard NZ has achieved something that has been in the ‘too-hard basket’ for the industry for a while.  “The changes that Ian Crawford has made since he took over the company in 2014 are nothing but positive, and the challenge now will be for the rest of the industry to follow suit,” he says.

 

Securing the future: Hills digital transformation set to impress

Hills Ltd is looking boldly into the future – undertaking a major re-engineering of its digital customer experience, announcing new key appointments, revitalising its Auckland trade centre and getting serious on enterprise solutions.

 

Customer-centric transformation

Hills Limited has embarked on a major digital transformation programme in partnership with global professional services leader Cognizant to revitalise the company’s e-commerce capabilities and improve core business processes and customer engagement.

“The digital transformation initiative is integral to our ‘back to growth’ strategy,” said David Lenz, Hills’ Chief Executive Officer.

“The digital experience is critical in our endeavour to transform Hills from a product-centric to…..”

Click here to read more

Article supplied courtesy of Defsec Media.

 

Fortlock Group acquires Comsmart

Adds technology services and consulting to portfolio

Auckland, New Zealand, 28 November 2017 – Fortlock Group today announced the acquisition of Wellington-based technology services company Comsmart, as part of its strategy to broaden its range of business services and solutions.

Patrick Shields, owner and Executive Chairman of Fortlock Group, says that the acquisition adds further momentum to the growth of the group, expanding its market reach and strengthening its professional IT and converged security solutions capabilities.

“We are delighted to bring Comsmart’s skills and capability into the Fortlock Group and to accelerate our plans for continued growth. The acquisition provides effective and immediate access to the skills of the talented team that have been supporting Comsmart’s clients for the past ten years.”

“With a reputation for high-quality service, Comsmart has attracted and retained some of New Zealand’s largest commercial and Government organisations. Bringing the two companies together allows us to combine skills and leverage our abilities to provide a wider range of services to all our customers. Our management team will ensure the transition is smooth and seamless, working with the Comsmart team to ensure that each client’s business carries on without interruption,” says Shields.

Comsmart CEO Andrew Simkin is optimistic about the prospects of the combined companies.

“The Comsmart team is excited about the opportunities that joining with Fortlock represents to our staff and customers. We look forward to offering new and improved services across New Zealand, while continuing to focus on people and outcomes with our trademark can-do attitude,” says Simkin.

Established in 2007, Comsmart delivers business solutions across a wide range of technologies, working with clients from the conceptual development stage right through to the on-going maintenance of business systems. Its offerings include professional services, business analysis, project management and solution architecture through to Helpdesk support, recruitment and contract staff placement. It also provides full hardware, software and cloud solutions including Azure, Amazon Web Services and Apollo (Revera).

The Comsmart acquisition sees the Fortlock Group expand to more than 200 staff in three locations across New Zealand. Shields says the acquisition is a major step forward for Fortlock in executing its long-term growth strategy to move further up the IT services spectrum, by establishing a leading converged physical and digital security business, providing end-to-end security solutions that “will protect its customers valuable assets now and in the future.”

“Comsmart’s solutions and capabilities fit squarely within Fortlock’s strategic plan in respect of the products and services that we want to be able to provide to our customers. This acquisition provides Fortlock with the perfect opportunity to move into IP / network design and integration services, while expanding our cyber security offerings, collaboration technologies and cloud storage offerings,” says Shields.

As a result of the acquisition, Fortlock Group has changed its executive management structure. Fortlock owner and CEO Patrick Shields moves to the role of Executive Chairman, while Jason Cherrington, previously the Managing Director of Fortlock, is now the Group Chief Executive of Fortlock Group.

Cherrington will have overall operational accountability across the Fortlock and Comsmart executive teams, while Shields will focus on Group governance and activities to accelerate growth “both organically and via targeted acquisitions.”

Cherrington has twenty-plus years’ experience in the IT and telco industries. Prior to joining Fortlock, he successfully lead large-scale commercial and digital teams at BT, Skype and CEWE, Europe’s largest digital photo business.

Web:
https://www.fortlock.co.nz/
https://www.comsmart.com/

Gallagher’s high security solution wins top Australian award

Hamilton, New Zealand – Leading New Zealand technology developer, Gallagher, has won Product of the Year at the annual Australian Security Industry Association (ASIAL) awards in Melbourne. The winning product, Gallagher’s innovative Class 5 Intruder Alarms System, is designed for the high security market. Since its release in May this year, the Class 5 Alarms technology has received significant global attention and has been deployed around the world to protect the high-value assets and IP in data-centres, government and military facilities.

“As technology develops at a rapid pace, there is…

Read more here

Professionalising the security industry workforce

Zed, from Auckland’s Ten 7 Security, says “I used to think security was easy money, but I’ve learnt about the responsibility security has. We make it look easy, but there’s a lot on our mind.”

Security workers from Auckland’s Ten 7 Security and Waiheke Documents & Security had an animated discussion with the Skills Highway team. Having undertaken workplace literacy and numeracy training in conjunction with the Level 2 National Certificate in Security, provided by Left Field Consulting, they had a lot to report. Together with being trained and qualified, learning new skills and knowledge was already having an impact for individuals and their workplaces – improving health and safety, resulting in better conditions and job security, and better performance at work.

Read more at SkillsHighway