Case study
Education
What we found
The College of North West London (CNWL), based in Brent, is one of the largest further education colleges in London with over 900 full-time and part-time employees and a student body of around 14,000, consisting of people of all ages, backgrounds and experience.
CNWL comprises three educational campuses located throughout the London Borough of Brent; Kilburn Centre, Willesden Centre and Wembley Park Centre. With four ‘Centre of Vocational Excellence Awards’, the college offers an exceptionally wide range of courses and is used by students as a stepping stone to employment or higher education. The college has a good reputation with many students returning to CNWL whilst developing their careers, to acquire further qualifications or specialist training.
The CNWL takes the safety and security of its employees and student body very seriously and for many years the college has employed an outside partner to ensure that each of its campuses offer a safe and secure environment for people to work and study, without fear of intrusion or interference.
The colleges’ security contract came up for re-tender at the end of 2006, and after a rigorous selection process, the college chose Work Facilities, one of the UK’s leading facilities management organisations, on a three year contract.
What we did
The contract, which began on the 1st January 2007, was to provide round the clock manned security at each of the colleges’ three educational centres, enforce access control and maintain site security.
Work Facilities has built up an excellent reputation for providing clients with a full facility management services programme, including security provision. Whilst the company has an enormous amount of experience working with clients in an array of different sectors, the CNWL represented the organisations first public-sector contract and with this, a new challenge.
Malcolm Rapier, Assistant Principal at the CNWL comments: “It became apparent from the very beginning that their fresh and considered approach to on-site security provision mirrored the colleges’ objectives perfectly. The package that Work Facilities put together showed an excellent understanding of where the security challenges would lie, and this, coupled with the company’s dedication to complete customer satisfaction, meant Work Facilities was the obvious choice for us.”
Work Facilities delivers the provision of security on the campuses through a team of 12 security personnel and an on-site manager. The team regulates access to each of the educational centres through passes which people are required to show to security personnel as they enter and leave the site. Security personnel also provide a visible security presence around the site, helping to ensure peace of mind amongst staff and students alike.
Making it work
“What we’re looking for is security provision that’s effective, noticeable and imperceptible at the same time.”
Malcolm Rapier, Assistant Principal, CNWL
Bill Squires, Managing Director of Work Facilities comments: “The fact that the College of North West London wanted us to start within weeks of the contract being awarded meant it was imperative that we assembled a team of professionals and integrated them with the colleges’ security procedures and ways of operating at the earliest opportunity. As we also inherited some of the remaining security team from the previous incumbent, it was vital that we trained them up to Work Facilities standards and embedded them in the company’s strong client-focussed culture, as quickly as possible, to ensure that we delivered a high quality of service. Following a detailed security survey conducted by a Work Facilities specialist, we organised a bespoke two day training package as part of the mobilisation process. This drew on the experience of existing staff and brought them together with new recruits to create a focused team dedicated to providing high quality service.”
The provision of dedicated security teams at each campus has brought a positive response from both the employee and student bodies.
Both groups are able to report that they feel safe and fully at ease with the security personnel on the site and value hugely the role they play in contributing to the friendly and atmospheric environment which exists within the college.
Bill continues: “In the short period of time we have worked with the College of North West London, we have worked hard to ensure that the security provision we offer at each campus is of the highest standard. It’s great to hear that both the college employees and students have commented positively on the service that we provide and we look forward to building on the strong relationship we have with the college going forward.”
Malcolm Rapier concludes: “Since Work Facilities began working with us, we have had nothing but positive comments from both students and employees on the re-assuring, but not intrusive, security presence that they offer. The college prides itself on its friendly and studious environment, and this has only been strengthened since Work Facilities joined us.”
