Veritech Goes Platinum
We are delighted to say Veritech Systems Ltd has achieved Constructionline Platinum Certificate of Membership!
It is fantastic to be recognised for our commitment to service excellence, continued investment in health and safety, quality management and our people.
Constructionline is the UK’s most connected and progressive provider of procurement and supply chain management services, making contracting simpler and helping our customers achieve more. ConstructionLine, originally a goverment ran iniative, carefully asses all business processes before awarding any certification. Veritech Systems underwent scrutiny of its operational processes such as human resources, health and safety, enviromental aspects and management infrastructure.
This accreditation includes a robust validation of processes against stringent PAS91 criteria to facilitate the procurement of construction services, particularly for public sector projects. The Constructionline Platinum certification means our construction clients can have complete reassurance that we are a high quality supply chain partner for every security requirement to the construction industry.
Leading By Example
Veritech strives to achieve the highest standards of excellence, we benchmark the Security Industry by ensuring we are leading by example and this is proven by our SIA audit score, ranking us in the top 4% of the Security Industry in the UK.
To learn more on how Veritech’s Security Guards or CCTV can benefit your construction project, get in touch today.
Veritech Systems has successfully completed and been approved for the Cyber Essentials Certification Scheme.
Cyber Essentials is a government-backed scheme that ensures a business is protected against potential threats. We work closely with our Cyber Security providers and continuously evaluate the measures we have in place to protect us and reduce our vulnerabilities.
We believe in our modern and constantly changing business environment, digital security is just as important as the physical security we are so familiar with.
Internally reviewing our cybersecurity measures consistently is vital to keeping safe both Veritech’s and our client’s data. We are now working towards Cyber Essentials Plus and look forward to working with our Cyber Security partners to achieve this.
Employees of the month
Veritech constantly strives to provide the best possible service to our clients, this is only made a reality through our incredible staff who work hard to uphold our values. We’d like to recognise and thank the following staff for their contributions to the company .
Sarah Byles
The Veritech Supervisor of the month is Sarah Byles. Awarded this due to her unfaltering positive attitude and ability to always keep her site running to a consistently high standard. Sarah has demonstrated outstanding communication skills with all the staff and management, she is a credit to our company. The site she represents is Fareham LTS.
Veritech Security Supervisor of the Month
Steven Boden
Our officer of the month is Steven Boden. Recently promoted to deputy supervisor, he has taken his new role in his stride. Steven has a great rapport with all the site team and all the security which, as any security officer knows, is vital to running things smoothly. He is willing to go above and beyond to ensure the job gets done to a consistently high standard. The site he represents is Portsmouth LTS.
Veritech Security Officer of the Month
Employees of the month
Veritech constantly strives to provide the best possible service to our clients, this is only made a reality through our incredible staff who work hard to uphold our values. We’d like to recognise and thank the following staff for their contributions to the company .
Steve Hayes
Steve Hayes is our Security Officer of the Month for Feburary. Steve consistently goes above and beyond what’s required. This month Steve has been working on a mobile testing unit, ensuring everything is kept running smoothly. Nothing is a task too far and he is constantly willing to help as well as prioritses the well being of his staff.
Veritech Security Supervisor of the Month
Mark Hayes
Mark Hayes is our Security Officer of the month for February. He time and again goes beyond his job role and is massively helpful and professional towards all staff. He is always willing to help the site team to adjust or improve the site and constantly seeks improvement. This coupled with his friendly and approachable nature makes Mark a true asset to the Veritech team.
Veritech Security Officer of the Month
Vacant Commercial Property Security
Over the past year, more commercial properties have been left empty for long periods of time. Regardless of what your property is usually used for, it is essential to protect a commercial property while vacant to ensure it doesn’t suffer break-ins, vandalism or fire leading to costly repairs and expensive delays. By following these tips listed below, you’ll be able to secure your empty commercial property to reduce the risk of crime and damage.
CCTV Cameras
CCTV is one of the most common ways to secure an empty commercial property and can also act as a deterrent for criminals. CCTV offers you 24-hour surveillance of your property and can either be purchased or hired. The visuals and recorded media this system provides is crucial for monitoring criminal activity and offers assistance in court claims. A good CCTV system will allow you to watch your building from anywhere in the world on your mobile device. This is one of the most straightforward security solutions for an empty property and can be used on buildings of any size. It’s an excellent option for anyone with multiple facilities to look after, as you can check they are all safe and secure from the comfort of your home. With modern systems such as behaviour analysis, cameras can alert you to entry or movement with high degrees of accuracy, we have personally had great success with HIK Vision’s answer to this, VCA, and use it on all our customer sites. CCTV can also be monitored by a control centre from as little as £40 per week, providing complete security and dynamic audio deterrents through built-in speakers. Monitored CCTV systems also vastly reduce the time taken to contact the police, meaning your vacant commercial property is only minutes away from a response.
Access Control
An access control security system is a far superior alternative to classic lock and key systems for property owners. It offers a high tech upgrade and gives your commercial property a secure yet modern image. Upon installing an access control system, you’ll be provided with the software and hardware to identify your workers. With multiple different identification check options, this is a fantastic solution for commercial properties, offices, and construction sites. These are a huge deterrent for criminals and show your investment in the security of your property. Key card RFID systems allow for around-the-clock access to those who need it, while keeping those who do not at bay. Alternatively, you can use pin code access systems, meaning anyone visiting the vacant property can safely enter.
Security Guards
There’s no better way to deter criminals from your empty commercial property than employing a team of security guards. Manned guarding or dog handlers can be used to watch over your vacant commercial property. Overall a physical presence on your property is always the most effective. Security guards can be employed to fit your needs, whether you need it as a permanent or temporary measure. You may want to use this solution twenty-four hours a day, or just during the night-time if that’s the main period of concern and you need a cost-effective security measure.
Securing your vacant property with security guards is, without doubt, the most effective way to protect unoccupied buildings, things like fly-tipping and criminal damage such as broken windows can be much better prevented with boots on the ground.
Perimeter Detection Systems
A perimeter detection system will protect your site, detecting criminals before they can even approach your empty commercial property. The system will run around the entire perimeter of your site and is one of the most effective solutions for securing an empty property. If someone is trying to enter your property, a response officer will be sent to avoid further damage or theft. This is an ideal solution for large sites and can be used in conjunction with security guards to cover areas they can’t easily see. A perimeter Alarm system uses a network of infrared beams and is completely wireless, meaning it can be deployed in the most rural of locations without compromising on security for your commercial property, important given the increased risk of properties away from built-up areas.
Mobile Patrols
During the hours when your commercial property is empty, mobile patrols allow you to still have a human presence on the site. You can either select random or scheduled visits, which will deter anyone who is watching your property. During these visits, access points will be checked, and you’ll enjoy up to an hour of security at a time. This solution can be tailored to your needs and is a good option to employ before resorting to full-time security guards.
Perimeter Security Systems
A vacant property is naturally at a far higher risk of receiving unwanted attention or criminal activity. Securing your property is the best way to avoid anyone entering and can be an affordable solution when your property is empty. Galvanized steel is often used to secure the doors and windows, using security bolts to prevent opportunistic removal. The presence of a perimeter security system will deter potential criminals and can be installed on the interior or exterior of your building. Other options include steel screens and hoardings, protecting a commercial building or residential property from unwanted intruders gaining access.
All of these solutions listed above are reliable options for anyone looking to secure an empty commercial property this year. Whether you use just one solution or a combination of the suggestions listed above, you’ll deter criminals and protect your property from damage. With more buildings than ever before sitting empty at this current time, it’s crucial to secure your property until you resume normal operations. Veritech Systems offers all of these services and more, we are committed to protecting your empty property. Contact Veritech Systems today for a bespoke security service that keeps you protected.
At Veritech we are pleased to have a diverse workforce.
We expect everyone to treat each other with dignity and respect, and we do not tolerate unfair or discriminatory behaviour.
Please be considerate, fair and polite. Do not make assumptions based on things like someone’s age, gender, race or background. Having a laugh at work is great, as long as everyone is in on the joke.
- Fairness: being unbiased and treating people according to their needs.
- Inclusion: not making anyone feel left out or unwanted. We all have unconscious biases: try to be aware of the way your assumptions might impact on other people.
- Respect: valuing the different skills different people bring to the team. Everyone has a different point of view, and sometimes the people who are least similar can teach us most.
If you have any questions, please ask your line manager, or our FIR (fairness, inclusion and respect) ambassador trained by the Supply Chain Sustainability School, Mr Paul Oldridge (MD).
Be aware of your language and behaviour. Avoid making someone else feeling left out or uncomfortable. Remember that a joke you find funny could upset someone else.
If you see or experience behaviour that makes you feel uncomfortable, please tell your manager, or report it, so that we can do something about it.
As an ambassador, Paul speaks out to encourage respectful language and behaviour. The Supply Chain Sustainability School has created this excellent two-minute YouTube video – FIR on site: why it matters and how to achieve it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fBePoQD1wk
For anyone wearing a uniform at work, you are eligible to claim a tax rebate for the last 5 years. This applies, in particular, to the security industry. Whether it is a full guard uniform or a branded T-Shirt, you can claim. You can also do it yourself very easily, so there is no need to pay a claims firm or use online services.
To be eligible for a rebate you must:
- Wear a recognisable uniform.
- Be required to wear it while working.
- Paid tax in the year you are claiming for.
- Purchase, clean, repair or replace it yourself.
- Not be paid additional cleaning costs already by your employer.
An important thing to note is you cannot claim for any PPE you wear, this should be provided by your employer free of charge or you should be asked to purchase it and then paid back any costs.
How much will I get?
The standard rate is £12 tax relief per year, which totals £60 over five years. Higher rate tax bands will receive more and so will specific occupations listed on the government website here.
Use this government tool to check if you can claim expenses online and to then file your claim.
Employees of the month
Veritech constantly strives to provide the best possible service to our clients, this is only made a reality through our incredible staff who work hard to uphold our values. We’d like to recognise and thank the following staff for their contributions to the company .
Cyril Ouatara
Meet Cyrill Ouatara, our Officer of the Month for November. Cyrill is know as the happiest officer on site, always will to help anybody and always does so with a smile. Cyrill will adapt to any position or requirement as soon as asked, with no objections at all. Cyrill is a shining example of the ethics and morals embedded by the SIA
Veritech Security Officer of the Month
Russel White
This is Russell White, our Supervisor of the Month for November. Whilst on duty a member of the public collapsed and began seizing just outside of Russell’s place of work. Russell immediately administered life saving first aid to the person, who had no history of seizures. Russell made sure they were safe and monitored his vitals until paramedics arrived and took them to hospital. Without Russell’s immediate action the outcome may have been entirely different. Thank you for your outstanding work Russell!
Veritech Security Supervisor of the Month
Veritech Systems continues to monitor and mitigate the COVID-19 Impact with the following intended actions.
1. Veritech is monitoring the current situation and government guidance on the Coronavirus outbreak, duty of care to our staff, suppliers, subcontractors and customers is of paramount importance and we felt it important to update you regarding our current position on coronavirus.
2. Our Senior Management are meeting daily to discuss our position in relation to changes to the Government advice, our customer’s needs and available resources.
3. We have contingency plans in place to ensure the continuity of security staff on our customer’s sites and in our 24/7 control Room. This includes maintaining our high standards of health & safety with a specific emphasis on lone working and emergency response.
4. Following advice from customers we have introduced an interim essential business travel policy to limit travel and business meetings which we will continue to monitor as the advice from Government evolves. Our policy covers:
5. Minimising travel to business meetings with subcontractors, suppliers, customers and other stakeholders.
6. Stopping the supply of security to any new events.
7. Postponing non-essential meetings at our offices and sites with subcontractors, suppliers, customers and other stakeholders (video/audio conference calls where possible).
8. Restricting all Visitors to our offices, with permission being granted on an individual basis by our H&S Director.
9. To ensure the safety of Veritech staff, visitors and our customers we need to ensure we all work together to minimise the effects of transmission, therefore we have put in place the following procedures:
10. Cleaning – additional cleaning is taking place at our offices, with the addition of hand sanitisers.
11. Staff training – a series of toolbox talks, information guides and meetings are being held to ensure our staff are equipped with the knowledge to work safely.
12. We will continue to communicate with you on a regular basis as Government advice gets updated, however rest assured that we are monitoring this closely and ensuring that we are as prepared as we can be.
13. Should you wish to discuss anything specific please contact a member of the Veritech management team on 02380 000 400.
CCTV is essential for commercial surveillance and security. A store break-in, employee emergency, health scare, or any other significant event could occur when you’re not looking. Only CCTV can catch everything the moment it happens.
Getting started with video surveillance requires more than just installing a few cameras. There are also strict compliance regulations you need to follow.
One of those compliance concerns is GDPR. GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation. It’s one of the most recent, and most important, regulations business owners must follow if they want to install CCTV.
You don’t want to miss a moment of the action. Learn more about GDPR requirements for closed-circuit televisions, so your business remains compliant at all times.
How Does GDPR Work?
General Data Protection Regulation was introduced into EU law in 2016 and implemented across Europe in 2018. All countries that belong to the EU must abide by GDPR regulations.
GDPR applies to any website, process, or device that records and stores data. For example, a webmaster who operates websites is subject to GDPR since sites use cookies. Cookies store personal data to improve the web browsing experience for visitors.
However, under new GDPR regulations, websites must inform all visitors that a website uses cookies. A visitor can either agree to the terms and proceed to the site or disagree with the terms and not browse the site. GDPR ensures sites are transparent about personal data collection.
Your company website is just one GDPR concern to consider. If you collect consumer data for marketing purposes, you must remain GDPR compliant, as well. You would also need a GDPR-compliant login process for customers and clients.
Even countries based outside of the EU are subject to GDPR regulations. For example, a U.S. based eCommerce site should prioritise GDPR compliance if they serve any customers in the EU. When GDPR was officially implemented in 2018, some outside companies temporarily restricted access to EU residents because their processes were not yet compliant.
Not being GDPR compliance can slow down production and sales for your company. The same applies to your security efforts. Using non-compliant CCTV can throw your business off track if you’re caught and fined.
GDPR for CCTV
Since CCTV cameras record anyone who walks in and out of your business, it’s also subject to GDPR compliance. Any video or image recorded through CCTV can potentially identify an individual, which means you must follow GDPR rules to install CCTV.
Your first step is to communicate with customers that they’re on CCTV. This is similar to letting website visitors know that a site uses cookies.
How to Inform People
The best way to inform customers of CCTV GDPR compliance is to post visible signs inside of the store. The same standard applies to employees. You must tell your employees that you’re installing CCTV cameras to monitor job behavior.
Employees should be informed of your CCTV data policy upon employment. It’s also not enough to just inform people that they’re being recorded. As a business owner, it’s also your responsibility to explain why you’re using CCTV to monitor the store.
It’s important to communicate to EU residents when GDPR is lawful. Since consent can technically be withdrawn, you need a way to explain to residents that it’s necessary. There are several ways to explain CCTV recording under GDPR.
Contractual Explanations
For example, you could explain in a contract that the flow of goods will be monitored with CCTV. You would use this explanation for a vendor who delivers goods and services to your business.
This GDPR rule also applies to any contract that holds up under contract law. Even verbal contracts count. Thus, the other party understands that CCTV monitoring is necessary to meet contractual terms.
Legal Reasons
You can explain that you’re monitoring because of a required legal provision. You would use this explanation if you need to collect and process data for a particular law or statute. However, you must inform the other party about which legal requirement you’re following.
The legal explanation requirement is similar to the previous DPA 1998 rule. Thus, if you’re already using this explanation, you’re CCTV is likely compliant. However, you should still read through the latest GDPR guidelines on the issue.
Protecting a Person’s Life
Another GDPR explanation is the “vital interest” explanation. You would explain to subjects that data processing is necessary to protect their lives or interests. This explanation typically applies if potential medical emergencies are involved.
Using CCTV for Public Interest
Another lawful use of CCTV is the recording of EU residents for public purposes. This explanation applies to public or government or agencies that must record and process personal data.
Public tasks carried about by Parliament, the Administration of Justice, the Crown, or Minister of the Crown would use this explanation to inform individuals of CCTV recording.
What Does Legitimate Interest Mean?
If you’re having trouble identifying the right GDPR explanation for your needs, your CCTV activities may fall under “legitimate interest” under GDPR. This is technically the most flexible lawful reason for CCTV recording.
Since the “legitimate interest” basis is quite broad, you’ll need to detail your reasons for using CCTV. GDPR guidelines suggest running three tests: purpose, necessity, and balance.
First, you’ll need to explain if you’re using CCTV for legitimate interest. Why are you using CCTV, who benefits from CCTV at your business, and what are the broader benefits of CCTV? These are critical questions to answer.
Next, explain why CCTV is necessary to achieve your legitimate purpose. Is there another means of going about it? Finally, you’ll need to see if the rights of the individual override the legitimate interest explanation.
You need to explain the potential impact of CCTV and consider ways to lessen any potential harm CCTV recording, as well.
Protect Your Business By Remaining GDPR Compliant
GDPR applies to more than just your company website. Ensure that all your CCTV activities are compliant with the latest GDPR guidelines. Refer to this guide as you draft your new CCTV plan and policy.
Are you ready to enjoy the benefits of CCTV now? Request a CCTV survey now to improve your security right away.