In safe hands

Safeguarding your commercial property is paramount to any business, and it is vital that your security services are catered for by a trustworthy firm. Vigil Security are a relative newcomer in the field of business security systems and services, yet it has already won the confidence of some noteworthy clients such as Caprice Holdings – owners of one of London’s most celebrated venues, The Ivy – and the prestigious fashion design label, Polo Ralph Lauren.

In the style of a nativity play, Vigil came into the world on Christmas Eve 1999, when Bill Mortimer, a former officer with the Metropolitan Police then Operations Manager at Marks and Spencer, launched his new business, Capital Key Holding. As the name suggests, the initial business plan was to provide key-holding and emergency alarm response services to businesses based in Central London.

The premise of the enterprise was that intruder alarms are a key facet of all business premises, as well as being a requirement imposed by insurance companies in order to keep premiums to a minimum. Founder and managing director of Vigil Security, Bill Mortimer, says, “The problem with alarm systems is that whether by a genuine break-in or by a false alarm, they tend to occur when you least need it, such as between hours of trading or in the middle of the night. So to ensure the security of commercial properties, Capital Key Holding – with a headquarters in the centre of the city – held the key to the premises and would therefore be able to tend to such emergencies on behalf of the client and resolve any security issues.”

Following a targeted marketing campaign in January 2000, one of the first responses, in March of that year, was from Caprice Holdings. Within weeks, Vigil had secured a contract to supply key-holding and emergency alarm services to three of Caprice’s exclusive London restaurants; The Ivy, Le Caprice and J. Sheekey. Securing such a big brand so early on may have been in part good fortune, but stands as testament to the company’s promise of the quality of its service offering. In any case it caught the eye of other high-profile businesses within the city of London.

In 2000, new legislation was introduced in the form of the Private Security Industry Act, which demanded a more professional approach towards the provision of security services in the UK. Over the next decade this would involve the professional licensing of security personnel, whereby those intending on pursuing a career in security were required to embark on extensive training and pass examinations, culminating in the receipt of certificates and accreditations. This was a big step in ensuring the integrity of the industry, which had formerly been catered for by ex-servicemen in the old-style doorman or ‘bouncer’ mould.

Vigil was quick to keep abreast of these developments. It expanded its range of services to include the deployment of security officers and, taking into account the new legislation. Initially Vigil provided stand-in security staff to replace those on vacation or other leave, but Mortimer quickly realised this was a key route into providing its own ‘manned guarding’ services.

The first company that Vigil approached with a view to providing security receptionists was the West End based Framestore Ltd – a high-profile specialist visual effects company – in 2002. By the very nature of the business, the company demanded a high level of computer literacy and communication skills. The meeting was pivotal in determining Vigil’s future strategy. Mortimer says, “I sat down with Framestore and they asked me how many other clients we supplied security receptionists to. Reluctantly, I had to admit that they would be the first. As it turned out, my response was the correct one as they wanted a firm with few or no other customers, which would give them their undivided attention.”

Over the next five years Vigil continued providing its key-holding and security staffing services to an expanding client base across London. However, in 2007 it took the decision to broaden its offering to include electronic security technology.  This opened the business up to a new breed of client. To reflect this new approach to the business security market Capital Key Holding changed its name to Vigil Security.

One of the first contracts it secured was to fit 90 new security cameras to Polo Ralph Lauren’s flagship Bond St outlet. The relationship with Polo Ralph Lauren grew quickly thereon. Soon after Vigil had begun working with Polo Ralph Lauren in London, they received a call from Switzerland saying that the security contractor on their soon-to-be-opened St. Moritz store had pulled out just four days prior to the launch. “In response to their request for help, we drove to Switzerland, fitted their premises with security equipment and returned to the UK, all within 72 hours,” Mortimer says.

As a reward for their dedication, Polo Ralph Lauren invited Vigil to fit and service security equipment across a further 12 of their European stores. As a result, today Vigil today has in place contracts to service a total of 43 Polo Ralph Lauren outlets across Europe.

Meanwhile one of Vigil’s other key clients, Caprice, was busy expanding its portfolio of top-end restaurants, purchasing Rivington, Daphne’s and Bam-Bou. As Caprice Holdings grew and developed, so did the services provided by Vigil. From its original key holding and alarm response service, Vigil started providing the group with licensed security officers and took over the management of contractors during major refurbishments.

Caprice’s 2007 acquisition of The Birley Group added a series of five Mayfair-based private members clubs to the collection, including Annabels, Mark’s Club and Harry’s Bar. As these clubs are home to several priceless works of art as well as irreplaceable memorabilia from the world of entertainment, the value of Caprice’s portfolio grew significantly, and the need for protection became even more vital. Vigil was entrusted with looking after all five of the Birley clubs and their associated offices, taking the total number of Caprice properties under Vigil’s responsibility to thirty.

Andy Kress, operations director at Caprice, said, “We have used Vigil for the last ten years and I have found them to be honest, hardworking and dependable as well as friendly and efficient. I can sleep better at night knowing they are watching over our properties.”
 “The reputation of Caprice and Birley requires exceptional security officers, displaying the highest standards of tact and diplomacy,” Bill Mortimer explains. “In addition to that, they must reflect the image of the restaurants within the group, and to that end must have a very high degree of self-worth.”

Not resting on its laurels, Vigil continues to lead the way in the security industry, devising new methods of working and new business lines. Whereas other security systems are forced to adjust their strategy following a breach of security or other incident, Vigil adopts a proactive model. This begins with a thorough risk assessment followed by monthly meetings with each client, using key performance indicators to improve and maintain service levels.

In terms of new business areas, Vigil has recently rolled out its service offering to include the opening and closing of premises, providing a convenient solution to those businesses that do not operate within standard working hours.

Looking to the future, Vigil is on the brink of moving into the car parking security management market. Currently, the most common punitive measure in operation is wheel clamping, however there are some serious personal safety issues associated with this practice. Instead, Vigil will employ a system of monitoring persistent unauthorised parking, followed by the issuing of fines, all within a workable legal framework.

In terms of accreditations, Vigil is approved by the Security Industry Authority, the British Security Industry Association and the Security and Alarms Inspection Board. More recently, Vigil has become one of the very few security companies to have secured the BS14001 Environmental Management, so a company which employs Vigil will also be adding to its own environmental credentials.

Just as the security industry in the UK has come a long way since the days of employing ex servicemen, so too has Vigil Security evolved over the last decade from a key holding and emergency alarm services firm to a business that offers a rounded and comprehensive range of security solutions. The fact that esteemed names such as Polo Ralph Lauren and Caprice have put their premises – the very core of their business – in the hands of Vigil Security is testament to their excellent service and dependability.

For further details on Vigil Security and the services they provide, email: george.paton@vigil-security.co.uk, telephone George Paton on 07903 151634 or 020 7740 2434 or visit: vigil-security.co.uk