Category: Venues

Football Safety Officers Association (FSOA) Conference: Pioneering Safety and Collaboration

Posted on by emmacook

Collaborating with industry leaders

Our Security Systems team recently attended the Football Safety Officers Association (FSOA) Spring Conference, which brought together industry leaders, security professionals, and safety officers from across the football world. Held in Stratford-upon-Avon, this sold-out event provided a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation in football safety.

The FSOA has long been at the forefront of promoting safety and security within football stadiums. As the premier association dedicated to stadium safety, its mission is clear: to develop and enhance all aspects of safety management during football events.

The conference featured prominent figures from the football world, including representatives from the Premier League, the English Football League (EFL), and the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA). These key stakeholders engaged in discussions, workshops, and presentations aimed at improving safety standards across the board.

For Andrew Campbell, Group Security Systems Director, and his dedicated team, the FSOA Conference was an invaluable experience. As one of the UK’s leading providers of security systems for football stadiums, arenas, and venues, attendance at leading industry events such as this is paramount to accessing insightful exhibitions and discussions around industry cutting-edge technologies, best practices, and innovative solutions for enhancing safety.

Security insights to improve services

Our team gained valuable insights during the conference, which will directly impact our approach to security systems, physical safety measures, and stewarding. By learning from others and sharing our expertise, we contribute to the collective effort to make football stadiums safer for everyone involved.

As the FSOA continues to lead the way, we remain committed to excellence in football safety. Our collaboration with industry peers and adopting best practices will ensure that fans can enjoy the beautiful game in a secure and welcoming environment.

Find out more about how we help make football stadiums safe and secure:  https://ocs.com/uk/customer-stories/making-a-london-based-football-stadium-safe-secure-and-ready-for-the-premier-league/

Mobilising cleaning team at short notice for stadium gig

Posted on by ameliaroberts

The customer

The Coventry Building Society Arena is owned by the Frasers Group, and hosts a multitude of events throughout the year. From being the home stadium for Coventry City FC to hosting live music concerts, exhibitions and conferences, the venue is a continual hive of activity.

The challenge

In the summer of 2022, the facility underwent some major redevelopment work to refurbish the boardroom and executive boxes. With the final stage of work still ongoing and a board event due to take place in the new area in under a week, the Arena’s incumbent cleaning contractor wasn’t able to fulfil a deep clean – leaving the Arena with a serious challenge. 

While the OCS team had worked with Frasers Group before, we had never worked on the Coventry Building Society Arena, and were asked to mobilise a team of eight cleaners within three days to conduct a Saturday deep clean.

 

The solution

By using our time and attendance software system, we were immediately able to contact all staff in the local area across all of our divisions to gauge availability to work at the Arena on the Saturday. Very quickly, we were able to mobilise a team ready to ensure the new facilities were spotless. 

With rubble still on the floor, the team was on-site for around five hours, cleaning everything from walls, windows and floors to big screens, coordinating with and working around the builders as the last stages of building work were completed

The outcome

The cleaning work was completed more quickly than the customer expected, and when they arrived to inspect the site, they were incredibly impressed. As they’d never worked with us before, they didn’t know what to expect, and they were hugely grateful – not only that we’d been able to mobilise a team so quickly, but also because of the quality of the job. 

By ensuring the facility was clean, safe and hygienic, the event the Arena had booked in for 36 hours later was able to go ahead. 

Wear Red and Show Racism The Red Card

Posted on by ameliaroberts

Show Racism the Red Card is the UK’s leading anti-racism charity, and ‘Wear Red Day’ is their national day of action.

Wear Red Day is the UK’s largest anti-racism fundraiser, with over 444,000 people poised to take a stand this Friday. The day is about more than just a colour, it’s about creating unity, it’s about starting a discussion, and most of all, it’s about taking a stand against all forms of racism.

As part of our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, we’re encouraging our colleagues to wear red on the 20th of October to combat racism. From socks to scrunchies, t-shirts to onesies, wear red to stand against discrimination.

Find out more about the day by watching the video below.

Show Racism the Red Card was established in January 1996, in collaboration with then ex-Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Shaka Hislop.

While playing for Newcastle in the 1990s, Shaka was at a petrol station near St James’ Park when he was confronted by a group of young people shouting racist abuse. After one of the group realised that they had been shouting at Shaka Hislop, the Newcastle United football player, they came over to ask for an autograph.

Over the years, the charity has grown and is recognised across the football industry with professional football players such as Harry Kane, Dele Ali, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jordan Pickford, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire, Eni Aluko as well as England manager Gareth Southgate involved in their education programme.

Find out more about Shaka’s story and the amazing work Show Racism the Red Card does here.

Birmingham 2022 appoints OCS as Official Provider of Facilities Services for the Commonwealth Games

Posted on by emmacook

OCS Group UK has been selected to provide security services for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Named as the Official Security Personnel Provider, OCS will provide services including screening, vehicle search, patrols and response teams at Alexander Stadium, Sandwell Aquatics Centre, NEC campus hotels and the Games Family Hotel Accommodation. Over 1,100 OCS colleagues – all SIA licenced and extensively trained – will help to keep Birmingham 2022 safe.

Bringing people together

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will see around 4,500 athletes from 72 nations and territories compete in 19 sports across 14 competition venues from 28 July until 8 August 2022. As the biggest event ever to be held in the West Midlands, it is expected to attract more than one million spectators to the city and have a global TV audience of 1.5 billion.

A big part of Birmingham 2022 is to ensure it is a Games for everyone. During the build up to the games next year, OCS will be visiting over 100 schools and will be working closely with Birchfield Harriers Athletics club to promote sport and to support athletes of the future.

“It’s great to have OCS on board as they join us as our Official Security Personnel Provider for Birmingham 2022. They are well known for their sports and entertainment experience, in particular for the NEC, which is hosting a number of our sports including boxing and para-powerlifting. This pedigree makes them an ideal partner to help us deliver not only a safe and successful Games, but an enjoyable experience for all.

In addition to providing security services at competition venues, we’re delighted to work together with OCS on our community engagement activities, using an exciting and engaging approach to educate and inform young people.”

Nick Knight

Security Director at Birmingham 2022

Jeremy Dicks, Director of Venues and Events at OCS said: “We’re delighted to provide security services for this high-profile multi-sport event, working in partnership with Birmingham 2022 to deliver a safe and secure Games for everyone. We’ll be recruiting locally and using our experience at Premier League stadiums and the NEC Group to provide expert training and the latest support systems. We’re also excited to provide 400 volunteering hours to support school visits as part of the Commonwealth Games’ volunteering programme.”

Darren Hall, Chief Operating Officer at the Commonwealth Games Federation, said: “We’re pleased to welcome OCS to the sponsor family. Their talented workforce and established experience in many local Games venues will benefit Games organisers but, most importantly, ensure a safe, welcoming, family-friendly Games for everyone.”