March 2015 Message from Mick Tabori, Chief Operating Officer A warm welcome to our March newsletter. Thank you for taking the time to read about the latest developments at Interr. It has been a very busy month for us with lots of positive activity across the group. result. Well done to Liboria and the bid team as well as Sarah Anderson and the cleaning operations department that worked so hard to achieve this outstanding result. In other cleaning news, we are also continuing to nurture and grow our relationship with Drake and Morgan following the last month’s good news. March saw the successful Interr’s Concierge team did a great launch of the new J Crew job in supporting James Andrew store in Paris, which we were delighted to be a International at Portman House in part of. Many thanks to those on the Interr London, ensuring continuity of service by team that worked hard to ensure that J.Crew’s deploying a full month ahead of schedule and in security and key holding needs were well taken advance of the security team starting on the 1st care of. of April. A big thank you to Maria and the team for enabling this to happen. The Risk Management and Consultancy side of the business, led by Tony Sheath Sports Direct is further expanding in Poland, (Chief Compliance Officer), are in discussion with with a new store which opened on 9th March Tom’s Kitchen for us to take over the risk at the impressive Millenium Hall shopping management and audits for their restaurants in centre in the city of Rzeszów. London. We very much look forward to working with their team on this exciting project. In other news members of the Interr team joined Roderick Arnold (Global Managing Director) this Sunday in the Vitality North London Half Marathon. I am glad to say that everyone from Interr made it across the finish line. The 17,000 sq ft store – the eighth store to open in Poland - will create 36 new jobs for local people. Well done to Teresa (Interr’s Head of International Operations) and the rest of the security operations team for their hard work coordinating with Sports Direct’s in-country and head office management and our service partners on the ground thereby ensuring that And finally after many unavoidable delays we this too was delivered without breaking a have agreed on the moving date to our new stride. offices in Aldgate, London. We will move in over The close protection team were privileged to the weekend of 11th and 12th of April. I look look after Heidi Klum this weekend, whilst she forward to seeing you over the coming months was in London launching her lingerie line at both at our new Head Office and out in the field during my site visits. Selfridges. The weekend was a big success! Contents Special Interest Articles Welcome to March’s Newsletter CSR update by Liboria Cannatella, Commercial Director Message from Yolande Frederick, Retail Director Employees of the Month Top Scores Message from Tony Sheath, Chief Compliance Officer Message from Deborah Sheath, Director of Risk, Interr Group Message from Darren Leigh, Client Director Message from Sarah Pucenot, HR Director Message from Chris Dean, Chief Financial Officer Stop Press Head Office Move Contact Details Unit 506 New Loom House 101 Back Church Lane London E1 1LU Telephone: 020 7837 2012 Fax: 020 7837 1221 Email: [email protected] Web Site: www.interr.com On a cleaning front we successfully retendered for the Novus portfolio, managing to also Wishing you and your families a very Happy secure the cleaning for three more venues as a Easter. Mission Statement To develop and supply outstanding and innovative solutions to diverse customers through dedication and a companywide commitment to excellence. 1 2 3 4 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 Corporate Social Responsibility update by Liboria Cannatella, Commercial Director “A successful team beats with one heart”..... So was the post marathon muscle pain worth it? Following my announcement in last month’s newsletter that team Interr, led by Roderick Arnold, Global MD would be running the London Half Marathon, I am pleased to confirm that the team in bright T Shirts, not only participated but also achieved an incredible feat in support of our charity, KidsOut. As the official race ambassador, Mo Farah started the race at 0930 hours on Sunday the 15th March 15, with team Interr joining thousands of runners who took to the streets of London, running ‘Stadium to Stadium’ from Saracens’ Allianz Park through the grounds of Wembley Stadium and back to Allianz Park for a celebratory stadium finish! Without a doubt running the Half Marathon is a remarkable achievement and although both Roderick and Maria confessed that it was perhaps one of the most difficult experiences of their lives at the time and one they may not readily repeat, the money raised for the charity has certainly alleviated the pain and has meant that it was all worth it! It gives me great pleasure in announcing that team Interr raised a remarkable grand total of £665 between them. The team were not discouraged despite the inclement weather and a lack of pre-marathon training, ‘clocking up’ some very respectable finishing times! Russ Norval took the early lead finishing in 1 hour and 53 minutes, with Anna, Maria Tom’s daughter, finishing in 2 hours and 24 minutes. Roderick and Maria finished closely behind them proving that sheer determination and doggedness are key when faced with such a physically demanding challenge! You can still donate by visiting: https://www.justgiving.com/Roderick-Arnold -2- Message from Retail Director, Yolande Frederick “Getting To Know You” This month I would like to introduce you to the third member of our team. Oweiebi Soroh, Retail Operations Supervisor joined us in December 2014. At such a busy time in our Calendar it was advantageous that Oweiebi returned to Interr. He first joined us in 2011 as an Officer within Retail his experience ranges from covering Operations and brands such as Victoria’s Secret, Liberty, Jack Willis and Smyths. His level of experience in the field did not stop there, he then moved into the Cooperate sector covering Intercontinental Park Lane. Oweiebi also had a stint in Licenced Leisure at sites such as The Yard Bar, O Bar and HMS President. I am sure you will agree that this level of experience goes a long way. I often hear Oweiebi conversing with you using words such as "I know, I understand" and he most certainly does. Now that you are getting a feel for who Oweiebi is, I guess I should not stop at his experience with Interr. He is not just a pretty face, he is pretty clever also, and holds a BSc in Applied Accounting, is an Affiliate member of Association of Certified Chartered Accountants and holds an MBA in Financial Management. Wow! Along with his many talents he also has in depth knowledge of business research, corporate appraisal and business risk assessment. This is topped off with a drive to deliver great customer service and his ability and experience in conflict resolution greatly assist in his current role. All very serious stuff, so what about down time, what does the man do to relax? Well, he loves playing pool, can be seen in the summer on a tennis court and can talk about the latest video games on the market with anyone who cares to. The Retail sites that Oweiebi covers are: Smyths Toys Uniqlo Monsoon and Accessorize J. Crew Rag & Bone Kiko John Varvatos Jigsaw Reiss The White company Emilio Pucci -3- Vacancies We are currently recruiting for the following positions: RETAIL LOSS PREVENTION OFFICERS RECEPTIONISTS CORPORATE & HOTEL SECURITY OFFICERS Employee of the Month in Security Operations Congratulations Austine Yesufu We are delighted to award the Employee of the Month to Austine Yesufu. Austine has been with Interr for over seven years and is a worthy winner in many ways. COVERT OFFICERS LICENCED LEISURE DOOR SUPERVISORS OPERATIONS MANAGERS SCHEDULERS CLEANING SUPERVISORS CLEANERS If you know anyone that is / will be looking for a full time or part time security or cleaning position who you feel is a good fit for Interr and has the relevant knowledge and experience, please ask them to send their CV to: [email protected] He has worked in various Retail and Corporate sites with his most recent two posts being Ted Baker Bluewater as well as the Head Office. Despite working in two locations and starting his day at 5am, Austine has an exemplary record having never been late nor absent for either of his roles. The feedback from our client is very complementary stating that this officer sets a standard of professionalism that many would do well to follow. Well done Austine! We are all very impressed with the service you deliver. Thank you for your hard work. Employee of the Month in Cleaning Operations Congratulations Irma Caceras This months cleaning division Employee of the Month is IRMA CACERAS. Irma works with a number of our clients including Troxy, Leslie Franks, Sports Direct and John Varvartos and we always get great feedback about her attention to detail and her lovely happy personality. It is a treat to have Irma on our team and this month Irma, we thank you! You are a well deserved Employee of the Month, enjoy spending your vouchers. or in writing apply to our HR department Top Scores Employee of the Month Recommendations If you are a member of staff, a client, customer, consumer or a wider stakeholder we would love to hear from you. We value your opinion and if you think that a member of the Interr team deserves to win Employee of the Month please send an email with the name of the employee, the reason for your nomination to: These are the scores given by our clients for the security teams of each location. Feedback is collected from our clients each month based on performance, time keeping, reporting and communication skills. Well done to this month’s top scorers at the following locations: March’s Top Scores: Retail Sites: Corporate Sites: WFM Piccadilly Ted Baker Regent Street Ted Baker Westfield Uniqlo Regent Stratford Pure Student Living - Bankside [email protected] -4- Message from Tony Sheath, Chief Compliance Officer Health & Safety Myths We've said it all before, but there are still too many reports that health and safety professionals are responsible for all sorts of bans – conker games in school, cheese-rolling events, knitting in hospitals and even toothpicks! In reality health and safety law has banned very little outright, apart from a few high-risk exceptions like asbestos, which kills around 4000 people a year. Too often health and safety is used as a convenient excuse, but it's time to challenge this and remind people to focus on the real risks – those that are still causing people to be killed, injured or made ill at work. Here, I’m just going to have a look at some common health and safety myths, and encourage you to think of the common sense approach, which minimises the risk, but still allows normal daily life to go ahead. Challenge the myths, tackle real risks! Myth: Risk assessment is too complicated for me to do! the spillage using a sign, then mop up as soon as possible using a dry mopping technique, so as not to leave a wet floor). Myth: There's nothing you can do about slips and trips and they don't really hurt anyone anyway Really? Most slips and trips are preventable and many happen when spills aren't cleared up or clutter tidied away. Last year, there were four fatalities and more than 10 000 employees were seriously injured when they had a slip or trip at work. This results in broken bones and time off work, costing the economy around £800 million per year. Simple mistakes can shatter lives … your actions could help stop them from happening. Don't take things for granted, cut corners or wait for someone else to do it. Clear up! Actually, it’s not that difficult. Carrying out a risk assessment should be straightforward. It's about focusing on real risks and hazards that cause real harm and, more importantly, taking action to control them. Myth: It's ok to get a general handyman to work on gas appliances Last month’s newsletter contained an article describing how to carry out a simple risk assessment. Incorrectly fitted or badly repaired gas appliances can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, gas leaks, fires and explosions. By using a Gas Safe engineer, you can make sure that they're qualified to do the work safely - just check the back of their ID card! It isn’t rocket science: you just need to identify the hazard (e.g. slipping on a spillage), quantify the risk (e.g. what’s the chance of someone slipping), work out who might be harmed (e.g. staff, member of the public), and then look at what you could do to minimise any risk (warn people of -5- I’m hoping no-one really thinks this is true. Anyone who is employed to work on gas appliances must be listed on the Gas Safe Register. If the person you're using isn't registered then they might not be safe and they are also breaking the law. Message from Tony Sheath, Chief Compliance Officer Myth: Health and safety laws mean concert-goers have to wear earplugs No, audiences don't have to wear earplugs! Going to noisy concerts or venues is their choice. The laws are there to protect people who have to work in there. Staff are at more risk of suffering hearing damage because they regularly work in high levels of noise. That is why employers should make sure they provide protection – this could be as simple as moving staff away from the noisiest areas, or providing suitable earplugs. Myth: Even Mr Punch needs a written risk assessment Is this health and safety gone mad? A Punch and Judy man received a standard letter from an event organiser asking him to submit a health and safety risk assessment. However when he questioned the need for it, they 'backed-off' and no paperwork was required. It sounds like wires got crossed somewhere and perhaps the standard letter was sent in error. The law is clear: if there is genuinely no significant risk, nothing needs to be written down. If a written assessment is needed - keep it fit for purpose, and crucially: act on it. Paperwork without action does no one any good. Myth: HSE has banned stepladders Hearing loss is preventable, so it's important to protect people to help them enjoy long and successful careers. The laws are there to control real risks to workers – not to take the fun out of going out for the night. Myth: People don't have to take any responsibility for their own health and safety Yes they do! Employers have a duty to protect workers and the public from dangers caused by their work. But health and safety isn't entirely someone else's responsibility. We all have a duty to keep ourselves safe, by co-operating with safety measures and not putting ourselves or others in danger. This is just common sense - something we all use every day. It's important that we aren't put at risk by other people's actions, but if we ignore our own responsibilities, real risks can get missed. Playing the blame game doesn't keep people safe - better to rely on common sense and co-operation. -6- No-one has banned stepladders or ladders! Despite this, the allegation is regularly repeated and some firms have fallen for the myth and acted upon it. For straightforward, short duration work stepladders and ladders can be a good option, but you wouldn't want to be wobbling about on them doing complex tasks for long periods. A large number of workers are seriously injured or killed using ladders and stepladders each year. So, it’s all actually just about common sense. When things are actually risky, then you need to make sure you have a safe process in place, but don’t make rules for the sake of it, and don’t us safety as an excuse for not doing things. If you need any help with risk assessments or have any other safety query, please contact [email protected]. Health and safety is about saving lives, not stopping them…….. Message from Deborah Sheath CMIOSH, Director of Risk, Interr Group In Court Westfield in court over worker’s fall The owners of the Westfield shopping centres have been fined after a worker suffered a fractured shoulder in a fall during construction of a roof extension at White City mall. On the night of the incident, the worker and a colleague had been finishing work in preparation for the Christmas break, Mr Mason stepped back and fell through an unprotected gap in the roof flooring, landing on the roof deck two metres below. He sustained a dislocated and fractured right shoulder and was unable to work for six months. The court heard that the worker’s fall could have been easily avoided had edge protection been placed around the gap, as is the accepted practice to protect workers operating at height. Westfield Shoppingtowns Ltd, of MidCity Place, High Holborn, London, was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £1,247 in costs after admitting a breach of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was well aware of the potential for the creation of risks of fall from height. As the principal contractor, it should have ensured that steps were taken to mitigate those risks whenever and wherever they arose. Falls from height is the biggest cause of fatalities in the workplace, and the second biggest cause of serious injuries. All work at height and roof work must be properly planned and the correct equipment provided. Company sentenced for Tower Bridge lift fall A lift company has been ordered to pay £100,000 in fines and costs after terrified tourists were left with broken legs and ankles when a Tower Bridge lift fell several metres into a service pit because a vital mechanism failed. Four people sustained bone fractures in the incident at the popular London landmark on 11 May 2009. A further six were treated for shock as walking wounded. The lift car they were travelling in was ascending to the Tower Bridge Exhibition when it suddenly fell down the shaft from a distance of approximately three metres. The company responsible for maintaining and servicing the lift, Temple Lifts Ltd, was sentenced following a complex technical investigation. It identified failures linked to the maintenance of two refurbished lifts at Tower Bridge. The investigation concluded that the uncontrolled fall could have been avoided had more in-depth analysis occurred, and that the fact this had not happened was indicative of wider failings. Temple Lifts Ltd, of Baring Lane, London, SE12, was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £50,000 in costs after pleading guilty to two charges covered by Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. -7- This was a truly disturbing incident that affected a number of people and that could have resulted in even greater injuries. It is a reminder that it is vital that lifts are properly maintained, and that urgent action is taken if any possible issues or concerns are identified. Croydon firm’s safety failings led to worker’s multiple injuries A Surrey-based cleaning firm has been prosecuted for safety failings after an employee suffered life-changing injuries when he plunged six metres through a fragile rooflight. The 36-year-old, was one of a small team sent by Cleansafe Services (UK) Ltd, of Croydon, to carry out a contract-clean of 24 acrylic rooflights at a car rental premises in Eastbourne. The worker had inspected a cleaned light from ground level and had just returned to the roof when he inadvertently stepped on to one of the rooflights. The acrylic gave way, sending him falling through to the concrete floor below. He sustained a complex skull fracture and brain damage, multiple arm and wrist fractures and broke several ribs. He has lost his sense of smell and taste, has impaired sight in one eye and is totally deaf in one ear. He was in hospital for nearly two months, part of the time in an induced coma, and is unable to work. The investigation revealed that the safety precautions taken by the company were ‘grossly inadequate’. The injured man and a colleague had taken only six scaffold boards to stand on while jet-washing the rooflights. However Cleansafe could have hired a mobile working platform that had an extended reach – making it unnecessary to even go on the roof; or used proper crawling boards with handrails and netting inside the building. Cleansafe Services (UK) Ltd of Progress Way Business Park, Croydon, Surrey, was fined a total of £60,000 and ordered to pay £5,741 in costs after pleading guilty to three breaches of the Work at Height Regulations. Cleansafe Services is a commercial company operating throughout the country but had no experience of working on fragile roofs. The risk assessment was not fit for the purpose and the result was the limited safety measures it took to protect the workforce were grossly inadequate. It is unacceptable for firms to put their employees at needless risk. There are several people killed each year and many more badly injured falling through fragile roofs. Work should be planned so no one needs to get onto the roof. Where it is necessary, safeguards such as edge protection, safety nets and roof stagings must be used. Message from Client Director, Darren Leigh An undercover report by the BBC recently came out about the UK security industry, focussing on the training and licencing of security officers. From the report: “Thousands of licensed security guards could be working in the UK fraudulently after buying qualifications for cash, a BBC investigation has found”. Jobseekers must sit mandatory exams to get a Security Industry Authority card. But undercover researchers found colleges happy to sit or forge exams for untrained students for a fee. With a fraudulently obtained SIA licence, a researcher got a job offer at a power station and an interview to guard Canary Wharf. Industry insiders had told the BBC large numbers of colleges were willing to help students cheat security exams. Once on this site you can find all the relevant guidance and recommendations on training by clicking on the Training tab at the top of the page. Interr also goes above and beyond to ensure all of our officers and service partners are legitimate and fully licensed. We do this by holding SIA ACS accreditation and only working with partners who also hold the ACS accreditation. Although all of our security officers hold valid licences, we also vet and screen all of our staff to British Standard 7858. We carry out extensive due diligence on potential service partners. In addition to this all our service partners must have approval for each officer deployed and our HR team run bi-weekly checks on all deployed officers whether they be our own officers or those working for our service partners. Although we work to these stringent controls and checks, it is evident that not all security companies do, which reflects badly for the industry. Working with likeminded companies and staff, we are very confident that soon all security companies in the UK will work to the highest levels restoring the image of the security industry. One former SIA employee, speaking anonymously, said a high number of colleges were breaking the rules. He went on: "Thousands of people [are] working in the industry illegally, having obtained accreditation illegally." The BBC sent an undercover reporter posing as a student to Ashley Commerce College, in Ilford, east London. The college offered to "fast track" the researcher to becoming a qualified bodyguard - which the SIA says should take 140 hours of training”. There are, without a doubt, training centres and security companies that attempt to cut corners. At Interr, we pride ourselves on our training and development programs and if we are not able to self deliver the training, we only use accredited and SIA approved training companies. We would recommend that any company or officer looking to get an SIA Licence, only use one of these SIA approved training companies, a list of which can be found on the SIA website www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk. -8- We would encourage anyone to report any concerns of improper practice in regard to licencing in the security industry to us (Interr management) or directly to the SIA via their website www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk and click on Report Illegal Activity on their home page or call Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. m t m ctor, Sa Pucenot Shared Parental Leave Shared parental leave was implemented for all employees from 5th April 2015. What is shared parental leave? Shared Parental Leave enables eligible mothers, fathers, partners and adopters to choose how to share time off work after their child is born or placed for adoption. This could involve returning to work for part of the time and then resuming leave at a later date. Am I Eligible for Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and Shared Parental Pay (ShPP)? To be eligible for SPL or ShPP you must: care for child with either your husband, wife, civil partner or joint adopter. be the child’s other parent. have been employed continuously for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the due date (or by the date you are matched with your adopted child). What will I be entitled to? You will be entitled to: Sharing the 52 weeks of leave. Taking up to 39 weeks of pay or Maternity Allowance as ShPP. How does the leave work? You or your partner can only start Shared Parental Leave (SPL) once the child has been born or adopted. The mother or adopter must have ended any maternity or adoption leave by returning to work or the mother or adopter must have given their 8 weeks notice to end their maternity or adoption leave and pay. You can then start SPL. Please be aware a mother cannot return to work before the end of the compulsory 2 weeks of maternity leave following the birth. You have the right to book a maximum of 3 separate blocks of leave, although your employer can agree to more. How much notice do I need to give? You must give at least 8 weeks’ notice of any leave you wish to take. If the child is born more than 8 weeks early, this notice period can be shorter. Who should contact for advise on SPL / ShPP? You should contact the Interr HR team who will advise you on the steps you need to take and documentation you will need to provide. You can contact the HR team on 020 7837 2012, option 1. Recommend a Friend Scheme Recommend a Friend Scheme If you recommend a friend and they stay with the company for longer than 3 months you will receive £50 as our way of saying thank you. Please contact the HR department for more information. Also please let HR know as soon as possible if any of your colleagues, friends or team members can be developed within the business to a leader or supervisory role. -9- Contact Details Unit 506 New Loom House 101 Back Church Lane London E1 1LU Message from Chris Dean, Chief Financial Officer Budget summary Please see below the key points for the March 18th Budget which we feel may be of interest to you: State of the economy Fax: 020 7837 2012 Telephone: 020 7837 1221 Select from the following options: At Interr we have increased our UK employee numbers from 350 to 500 in the last 12 months, testament to an improving economy. As we continue to grow our business please look out for new positions and feel free to recommend your friends to join Interr. Personal taxation The tax-free personal allowance to rise from £10,600 in 2015-6 to £10,800 in 2016-7 and £11,000 in 2017-8 This means from 5th April 2015 you will pay no tax on the first £10,600 you earn, giving most employees an extra £120 a year. Savings 1. HR & Recruitment Record employment in the UK, with jobless rate to fall to 5.3% this year First £1,000 interest on savings income to be tax-free for basic rate taxpayers 2. Payroll With interest rates on savings so low this may not mean a lot to you financially, but it should mean any interest you earn is now free of tax. 3. Security Operations New "Help to Buy" ISA for first-time buyers will allow government to top up by £50 every £200 saved for a deposit Option 1—Retail and Residential If you are saving up for a new home, which is becoming increasingly difficult, this could be a great way of reaching your targeted deposit a lot quicker. Option 2—Corporate and Hospitality If you have read or heard about anything else in the budget that you do not understand or would like more information on please feel free to contact the office and we will try and help you. 4. Reception & Concierge 5. Risk Management 6. Cleaning Operations 7. Accounts Email: [email protected] Web Site: www.interr.com Payroll Cut Off Dates Pay day will continue to be 1st of each month with pay period 11th of the month to 10th of the following month. For example: Pay Period Pay Day 11th February 15 - 10th March 15 - Paid Wednesday 1st April 15 11th March 15 - 10th April 15 - Paid Friday 1st May 15 11th April 15 - 10th May 15 - Paid Monday 1st June 15 Where the pay date falls on a weekend or a bank holiday the pay day will be on the next working day. Should you have any questions about your breakdown, wage slip or payment, you should call the office or make an appointment with Payroll and they will be happy to help you. -12- Remember to ‘Like’ us on Facebook and to send us a ’Tweet’ on Twitter. STOP PRESS! It’s all change at Interr Head Office On the weekend of 11th and 12th April Interr upped sticks and moved from Kentish Town into The City. We now have purpose built offices overlooking Canary Wharf and across to The City and our staff love them! This move brings us closer to our clients, improves our already enviable response times and put us right in the heart of the action. As a special thank you to everyone all staff were left a goody bag on their desks welcoming them to their new home on Monday 13th April and our Chairman supplied champagne and a tasty buffet to mark the occasion. We are still unpacking some crates but the smiles and laughter in the office is a joy to behold as everyone gets stuck in. Here are a few photos of the launch day, I’m sure there will be more to follow!! If you haven’t yet been into the Interr Centre of Excellence then please do feel free to pop in anytime - the complimentary teas, coffees and hot chocolates are waiting for you and we’d love to show you around! -11 We have moved ! Come visit us in our new location: New Loom House 101 Back Church Lane London E1 1LU T:+44 (0) 207 837 2012 F: 020 7837 1221 Web: www.interr.com Email: [email protected] Coming to the office by train: The nearest train station is Fenchurch Street station. Fenchurch Street is approximately a 10 minute walk away from the office. Shadwell Station is approximately 10 minute walk from the office. Coming to the office by tube: The District and Hammersmith & City line will take you directly to Aldgate East tube station and it is approximately 8/10 minute walk. DLR goes directly to Shadwell station which is a 10 minute walk from the office. Coming to the office by bus: Bus 25 and 205 stop on Whitechapel High Street a few minutes’ walk away from the office. -12-
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