The events and conference centre in Warwickshire, NAEC Stoneleigh has moved to save around 60 jobs which were threatened by the closure of Solihull-based Securex. The event stewarding contractor provided security and stewarding staff to manage events from Product Earth (an annual cannabis and hemp trade show) to the British Showjumping National Championships (in August), at the NAEC, at Stoneleigh Park, near Kenilworth.
Securex is now closing and NAEC Stoneleigh has stepped in to create Grandstand Security and Stewarding, to save the jobs of workers who have been regular faces at the renowned conference site for years. Pictured at Stoneleigh are its security manager, Shirley Dolphin and head of venue operations, Rob Patterson.
Rob Patterson said: “We host more than 275 events a year at Stoneleigh and pride ourselves on providing a safe, secure and efficiently-run environment. To do that, we need the expertise and experience of an extremely proficient and professional group of security staff, which Securex has always provided for us.
“As soon as we heard the business was closing, we moved to ensure the high-quality service provided to all visitors and exhibitors at the NAEC would continue. To this end, we have decided to take all of our security and stewarding needs in-house under the banner of Grandstand Security and Stewarding and, at the same time, protect the jobs of up to 60 dedicated staff who have worked with us for so long – many of whom live locally to Stoneleigh.
“It will ensure the seamless continuity of staffing at NAEC by people who know our site and facilities and how to keep them, and our visitors, secure. We’re delighted to be able to announce such positive news.”
Roger Evans, operations manager at Securex for 20 years, says that he is delighted to be able to continue working at NAEC. He said: “NAEC Stoneleigh immediately wanted to secure the future of the Securex staff, as well as retaining all their knowledge and experience of working at Stoneleigh. That was a perfect solution for me. We’re one big happy team and we pride ourselves on delivering the very best security and service to exhibitors and visitors. If you can do that, then they’re both likely to come back again and again.”
Visit www.naecstoneleigh.co.uk.
