A provider of security services in the Highlands and Islands has gained a certification standard for quality management.
Inverness-based Castle Security Group Northern says their ISO 9001:2008 standard will allow them to pursue larger contracts, particularly in the oil and gas and renewable energy fields. Pictured with the certificate from the assessment body LRQA are Jim Ferguson Castle Group Northern managing director and Margaret Ferguson director of business development. An award ceremony is on Thursday, September 4, at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness.
Jim Ferguson said: “We are delighted to have achieved this standard, which is one of the highest levels of accreditation possible. It is a great confidence boost for everyone here and reaffirms to our clients we are providing a high quality service, while still striving to improve.”
Richard Crute Morris, UK technical manager for assessors LRQA, added: “Castle’s achievement in securing this prestigious quality approval demonstrates the company’s commitment to its customers and to improving its business. It also reflects the senior management team’s determination to provide its clients with a quality service and product.”
Castle, which employs 100 staff, already works across domestic and commercial markets, including the oil and gas, marine and renewable energy sectors. Jim Ferguson added: “The oil and gas and renewables sectors in particular are looking for companies which have been independently audited and inspected and can demonstrate reliability and compliance to the highest standards. Achieving ISO 9001 will certainly open more doors for us and, in turn, will create further job opportunities.”
He believes if recent levels of business development continue, the new certification could realistically help the workforce grow by a further 10 to 15 per cent within 12 to 18 months. The year-long certification process was carried out by LRQA to regulations defined by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). It covered all company policies and procedures and client contracts were chosen at random and the contract with Inverness Campus, where Castle has the security contract, was visited.
“This has provided us with valuable feedback,” said Mr Ferguson. “It has shown that we are operating to the highest levels and that our customers value quality and reliability far more than pricing. It has highlighted areas where we do well and we’ve taken on board advice which has helped us streamline some internal procedures to make them simpler and more efficient. And it’s an ongoing process, so we will remain focused and continue to try to make the service to clients even better.”
About the Castle Group
Formed in 1992 the company offers static guarding, access control, key-holding alarm response, lockdowns, mobile patrols and investigations. Castle Security Group Northern has been shortlisted in the Best Renewable Energy Service Supplier section of the Energy North Awards 2014.
