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Category Archive: Consulting

1. Security by Design- IFSEC Insider

   29th September 2023 8:26 pm Leave a Comment

   Early engagement: Why the Security Overlay to RIBA Plan of Work is a ‘game changer’ for security industry

   Simon Whitehouse, Managing Director at SGW Consulting, covers the new security overlay from The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Simon explains why the overlay, designed to integrate security into the building design process, is a ‘game-changer’ for the security industry and what its impact may be on the wider consultancy and built environment landscape.

   Fundamentally changing attitudes to security in design

   Security has often been an afterthought tacked onto the end of the building design process just before completion, leading to ineffective, overly complex, and often visually unappealing security measures.

   Security consultants have regularly been appointed too late in the architectural design process to have any ability to influence plot selection, access and circulation, critical asset placement and the architectural intended use of space. The new Security Overlay aims to guide the design team in taking an alternative and suitably informed approach.

   The guidance provides a blueprint for undertaking rigorous security risk assessments before the design brief has even been drafted. This allows the identified risks to inform design decisions from the beginning of the process proactively.

   For clients, this fundamental shift brings significant advantages. Integrating security considerations early on helps get safety and security outcomes perfectly aligned with their organisational goals, risk appetite, security posture and operational needs without requiring expensive retrofits later.

   As an embedded member of a new build or refurbishment project’s design team, a security consultant is crucial in defining security requirements for different project phases:

   • The base build phase involves designing the fundamental structure and systems of the building. During this phase, a security consultant focuses on establishing the foundational security measures to support the building’s overall security strategy.
   • The shell and core phase involves designing the building’s structural elements, façade, and core systems. The security consultant ensures the building’s basic security features are integrated into these elements.
   • The fit-out phase involves designing the interior spaces of the building, including partitions, finishes, and furniture. The security consultant ensures that the interior design supports previously established security measures.

   Click to read the full article.

2. LPS-1175 Team Training

   15th September 2023 6:42 pm Leave a Comment

   SGWs Consulting Team Completes LPS-1175 Training

   We are thrilled to share a few behind-the-scenes photos of the SGW team as we embarked on a day of intensive LPS-1175 training at our Edwinstowe House headquarters.

   At SGW, we believe in continuous improvement, and our commitment to investing in Continued Professional Development (CPD) is unwavering. As a security consultancy specialising in the built environment, we are proud to have invited Richard Flint MSyl, Technical and Commercial Lead for Physical Security at BRE, to conduct the LPS 1175 – Issue 8 training for our team.

   Why is this training important?

   SGW understand that preparation is key in an evolving landscape of security challenges. LPS 1175 – Issue 8 sets the benchmark for loss prevention standards, offering essential insights on the effects of delays to physical security treatments.

   

   A few behind-the-scenes photos of the SGW team as we embarked on a day of intensive LPS-1175 issue 8 training, delivered by BRE’s Richard Flint, Technical and Commercial Lead for Physical Security at our UK office.

   LPS 1175 Part 8.1 is a British standard that specifically deals with the testing and classifying of security doors, shutters, and grilles intended to protect against unauthorized forced entry. This standard is used to assess the resistance of these products to various methods of attack, including physical attacks like drilling, cutting, and prying, as well as the use of tools and techniques commonly employed by burglars and intruders.

   To follow a risk-based protective countermeasures approach on their projects, physical security consultants can use LPS 1175 Part 8.1 in the following ways:

   1. Risk Assessment: Consultants begin by conducting a comprehensive risk assessment for the specific project. This assessment involves identifying potential threats, vulnerabilities, and assets that need protection. It considers factors such as location, building layout, the value of assets, and the threat profile.
   2. Classification Levels: LPS 1175 Part 8.1 provides different security classification levels, ranging from SR1 (lower security) to SR6 (highest security). Consultants can use these classification levels to determine the appropriate level of security required based on the identified risks. For example, a high-value jewellery store may require a higher SR level than a standard commercial building.
   3. Product Selection: Based on the determined security classification level, consultants can recommend security doors, shutters, or grilles that meet or exceed the required resistance level specified in LPS 1175 Part 8.1. Manufacturers often provide products with LPS 1175 certification, making it easier for consultants to select suitable options.
   4. Specification and Design: Consultants work with architects, engineers, and security experts to integrate the chosen security products into the overall building design. This includes specifying the appropriate product types, installation methods, and any additional security features needed to achieve the desired protection level.
   5. Compliance Verification: Consultants ensure that the selected security products meet the requirements of LPS 1175 Part 8.1 by verifying that they have been tested and certified to the appropriate security classification level. This step involves reviewing product documentation and certification from manufacturers.
   6. Integration with Other Measures: A risk-based protective countermeasures approach often involves a combination of security measures, including access control systems, surveillance cameras, and security personnel. Consultants ensure that the physical security measures recommended in accordance with LPS 1175 Part 8.1 are integrated effectively with these other measures to create a holistic security strategy.
   7. Periodic Review: As security threats evolve, physical security consultants should periodically review and update the protective measures in place. This includes assessing whether the existing security products still meet the required protection levels and making adjustments as necessary.

   

   LPS 1175 Part 8.1 is a British standard that specifically deals with the testing and classification of security doors, shutters, and grilles intended to provide protection against unauthorized forced entry.

   In summary, LPS 1175 Part 8.1 is a valuable tool for physical security consultants to assess and specify the appropriate security measures for their projects. By conducting a thorough risk assessment and using the classification levels provided by the standard, consultants can tailor their recommendations to the specific security needs of a given site, helping clients implement effective protective countermeasures.

   Simon Whitehouse, Managing Director at SGW, said, “As we navigate the complexities of modern security threats, this training equips us with the latest knowledge and techniques to protect your interests better”.

   Planning Today, Protecting Tomorrow: This isn’t just a tagline; it’s a guiding principle that underscores our dedication to staying at the forefront of physical security expertise!

3. City of London Corporation Appointment

   25th July 2021 11:26 pm Leave a Comment

   SGW Consulting Group are delighted to announce the City of London Corporation Appointment, for our risk consulting team to undertake a Security Review of its eleven social housing estate locations.

   The City of London Corporation is a social landlord with 2,793 homes within 11 housing estates across the City of London and six London boroughs. The City of London has approached SGW to provide Security Reviews across its Social Housing Estates at Avondale Square Estate, Dron House, Golden Lane Estate, Holloway Estate, Horace Jones House, Middlesex Street Estate, Southwark Estates, Sydenham Hill Estate, William Blake Estate, Windsor House and Your Way Estate.

   Each estate Security Review completed by SGW will incorporate a Security Threat and Risk Assessment, which intends to identify, recommend, and prioritise treatment strategies for operational Security risks to the complex, its location, and its stakeholders, by identifying threats and vulnerabilities (existing and/or proposed control measures) and considers the impact on operating objectives.

   Throughout this assignment, SGW will engage and collaborate with The City of London Corporation stakeholders in applying Risk Assessment methodology, Risk Assessment Process, and a Risk Register.

   SGW will build upon this process, applying ISO 31000, to ensure that the final report, which includes identification, evaluation, and analysis of Risk and a prioritisation risk matrix of areas and departments, is applicable for the client’s needs and can be used as a benchmark to apply additional security resources.

   As part of the final Security Threat and Risk Assessment report, SGW will also apply a RAG (Red, Amber, Green) prioritisation for the eleven housing estates. This will be achieved through the application of SGW’s Comparative Risk Assessment Model (CRAM).

   CRAM is a decision-making tool used to systematically measure, compare, and rank areas of risk. Its use is not confined to any single sector; moreover, it has utility in all areas of the security domain and across all sectors. Its principal benefits are;

   – An objective approach to Security Risk Management

   – A rationalised basis for Security Planning

   – Prioritisation of resources and mitigation as required through a comparative process

   – Bespoke to the scale and complexity of the project or individual estate

   – A consistent approach to the evaluation of risks across multiple sites or multiple locations across one site

   Commenting on the City of London Corporation Appointment, SGW’s Managing Director, Simon Whitehouse said; ‘Throughout SGW’s history, we have a strong track record supporting Social Housing & Arm’s Length Management Organisations to make their housing estates a safer place to live in for their tenants and work in by their staff’. 

   The City of London Corporation Appointment will ensure each estate is reviewed by highly qualified and experienced security professionals, who will adopt a software-based ISO 31000:2018 compliant Security Threat and Risk Assessment will provide our client with a dynamic and easy to audit assessment dashboard, which will summarise current and residual risk profiles for each housing estate, outstanding recommendations and risk mitigation prioritisation, with the ultimate aim to facilitate our client to make informed security improvement decisions.

   For further information on SGW’s work in The Social Housing Sector, please visit our dedicated Social Housing Sector website page.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

4. Current Vacancies 2020

   7th November 2020 1:23 am Leave a Comment

   SGW is pleased to signpost our current vacancies. We are looking for exceptional individuals who share our ethos, to join our team, in the following roles: –

   

   SGW provides a wide portfolio of professional consulting services relating to the safety & security of the built environment. Our projects are diverse and spread across a number of vertical market sectors internationally.

   Due to continued expansion, SGW now wishes to appoint individuals into the following roles;

   • Security Consultant / Senior Design Engineer

   • Graduate Trainee Security Design Engineer

   Each role can be home-based or based at our Nottingham UK office. Each role will necessitate travel to customer sites in the UK and internationally to conduct site security surveys and participate in design team co-ordination meetings and stakeholder workshops.

   Each position will focus on the conceptual and detailed design of complex and often sophisticated security, building management and fire systems, including access control, CCTV, intruder detection, physical security measures, fire alarms, life safety systems and integrated building management systems.

   The desired candidates should have a technical degree (Preferably electrical / building services engineering) or a relevant technology related BTEC diploma qualification. Registration with the engineering council at EngTech or IEng grade would be advantageous but relevant experience may also be taken into consideration. The ASIS Physical Security Professional (PSP) certification is also deemed a suitable qualification for this post. Experience in and knowledge of CCTV, Electronic & Physical Security Systems design and project management is preferred.

   Candidates should have reasonable competence in 2D Auto-CAD and Visio drawing design software and should be eager and willing to learn new technologies and products. Primary responsibilities will be the preparation of feasibility, outline and detailed design reports and documentation relating to security, fire and building management related projects.

   You will prepare tender packages including performance or detailed design based specification, bills of quantities, site and building plans showing point by point requirements of the project, system schematics and visualisations.

   You will be expected to further develop a reasonable competence in Auto-CAD Building Design Suite including 3D Max & Revit and Adobe Creative Suite software and should be eager and willing to learn new software, technologies and products. You will also be expected to participate in continued professional development (CPD) activities.

   You will be expected to build relationships with manufacturers and hold regular meetings with manufacturers and integrator’s to assist you to prepare a final scheme design or tender package. Strong technical written, organisational, communication and presentation skills are very important and shortlisted candidates will be expected to present previous examples of drawings, design data, presentations or specifications prepared in a similar current or previous role.

   An understanding and experience of current British & International Standards in both electronic & physical security would be a significant advantage.

   To apply, please follow the recruitment links below;

   Security Consultant / Senior Design Engineer

   Graduate Trainee Security Design Engineer