How are you doing? I miss getting out and meeting everyone, I miss the shows, and I miss networking, I miss my lunches too (mind you, my waist line doesn’t) but I know I am not alone.
I do sit here in my quiet office and worry about how the industry will look in a few months’ time. I mean, we have as a country have got 7.5 million people furloughed, costing the nation £14 billion pounds a month; 2.9 million of them work in the hospitality and entertainment sector. We also do some work in that area, having had to postpone our recent shows. The latest is ST20 Manchester (pictured is ST19 Manchester) which we will not be able to go ahead with in July as planned. So we have moved this to new dates of Monday and Tuesday, January 18 and 19, 2021.
That by the way this is big trouble for me as it is my wife’s big birthday (no details of the number in the public domain) so I am sure it will cost me for months ahead. But I wonder how many of that 7.5 million work in the security industry and are furloughed and how many are going to lose their jobs, businesses and/or livelihoods at the end of all this? Let’s hope it’s not that many but don’t forget I am here to help you where I can.
We are well connected and hopefully can help you. My concern is that employers may use this to trim their staff back, or to remove those that they don’t like; those average performers, so to speak. Now is the time to show your boss how important you are to the business and how much you can do for them. I have heard of some asking to be furloughed, why would you do that? To get a few months off; let me warn you that this is not the correct message to be sending to your boss. A few weeks or months of paid leave could cost you your job; if you want my advice, don’t be volunteering for that.
I am also alarmed by the latest ONS report released on May 11, talked about the assessment of deaths from the virus and alarmingly that male security guards had one of the highest rates with 45.7 deaths per 100,000. So please guys stay safe out there doing your thing. It’s one thing losing your job but losing your life is another altogether.
I am also amazed at the innovation that people are coming up with, we have seen all these ‘corona cams’ appear (as I call them), seems these will be the norm now when going into buildings and public areas. At the last count there were some 45 versions of them, how will end users decide which one to buy? It’s a minefield but we are looking into these in the magazine. I think my advice would be to go with one that has a great reputation but that also one that has some reference sites, customers already signed up and using the kit.
Like the recent press release from Oprema who working with Dahua have have donated a thermal imaging solution to the key workers and patients of University Hospital Llandough in Cardiff, so that there’s no need to stop visitors manually. The solution can automatically detect a person’s temperature in less than a second without the need for personal contact, providing the hospital with a ‘primary screening solution’.
We too have been innovative, as you know our very successful ST events come to a town near you, it is one of our USPs but we felt we can do better, and we are planning to bring it even closer; into your inbox, your home or where ever you happen to be. Yes, we are going to do a virtual event if we can. It’s very exciting and I hope you will like it, but still a lot of work to do on it yet.
Charity
Many of you in these times have been doing loads for charity. Here is a summary of some: 360 Vision Technology have always been proud to support British Heroes through their “£25 for every Invictus sold in the UK” initiative for military charities. But they say there are ‘new heroes’ that need support, now more than ever.
They have decided to create new fund raising to support our current heroes, the NHS. They told me: “For every UK sold Invictus we have supplied in these difficult times since the lockdown started, we have put aside the same £25 per unit and have created a new, British security industry fund-raising page, to raise much needed money for PPE equipment and other much needed support services. We are kicking this off with a 360 Vision donation of £4000 which has come from our valued customer use of our Invictus since lockdown began. But we want our entire network of fellow technology partners and the wider security industry to get behind this and raise as much as we can! All money raised will go directly to https://lnkd.in/ek5yFiP for them to support all the wonderful heroes that are currently battling against personal exposure to this deadly #Covid19 disease and all of us do our bit to work together.” Let’s make a difference, indeed.
A trike for three-year-old Jack Hampton from Kings Lynn in Norfolk will help him to lead a more independent life. An adapted trike was purchased on his behalf by the Videx Charitable Trust. The Trust raises money for the purchase of highly specialised equipment like Jack’s that’s required to accommodate the physical needs of those living with cerebral palsy and help make their lives easier. Jack receives care at The Bobath Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy. That’s a specialist treatment centre that aims to improve the quality of life for children and adults. John Rickard, Managing Director at door entry product firm Videx Security, said: “The Bobath Centre has personally played a big role in mine and my family’s lives as our son has cerebral palsy and he was treated by the charity throughout his childhood.
“We know that such highly specialised equipment is very expensive and not something families can afford to buy outright so we’re pleased the Trust was able to help. This was the whole reason why the Videx Charitable Trust was created – to raise money to buy much needed equipment for those living with cerebral palsy, so that they can lead more comfortable lives. Jack’s mum, Emma Hampton added: “Having the trike means that Jack can join in with the rest of the family during outdoor activities. We are extremely grateful to The Bobath Centre and Videx for making this possible.”
