Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business Issue 43 | Page 21

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 21
PICTURES BY CHRIS BOOTH
Jeremy Redshaw and
Michael Catmull from
PWS, with Francis Jones
and Kevin Weaver from
Sparta Security.
PEACE OF MIND
By Colin Young
How Sparta Security is helping firms stay secure across Aycliffe Business Park
W
ith a 60-strong Task Force consisting
of mainly ex-Forces personnel offering
both covert and overt surveillance on their
premises, no wonder companies and
businesses under the watchful eye of Sparta
Security feel safe and secure.
The Newton Aycliffe-based security
operation has implemented its bespoke
services to companies across the site.
Their presence is 24/7, and their distinctive
4x4 trucks, hybrid cars and SIA-licensed
security officers constantly patrol the nooks
and crannies of the area.
And when it goes into lockdown, and in
the hours of darkness, their expertise comes
to the fore. No strange vehicle, no heavily-
disguised ‘pedestrian’ will enter their domain
without being subjected to some form of
surveillance.
Making sure the streets and business units
on Aycliffe Business Park stay safe requires
hi-tech equipment, CCTV, mobile security
patrols and key-holding and alarm response
services, all of which Sparta supply.
Crime prevention is the key to Sparta’s
success and managing director Francis
Jones says that businesses must take
security seriously and only then can Sparta
implement security plans which are bespoke
to their premises.
And he says businesses who take on
Sparta Security have to be serious about their
security so he can implement the plan which
will work for their premises.
“It’s surprising how many businesses
still wait to come to you after they’ve been
broken into,” says Francis.
“You can knock and knock and they won’t
listen until it is too late, but we sell peace of
mind.
“Wherever Sparta are, we give reassurance,
and we are out every night on this estate. We
have a number of businesses on the park and
if we have more of a collective, we can get
more men on the ground.
“We are local and activation from our
headquarters is less than two minutes
anywhere. And because we patrol every
night, we see things, and we can help to
remind businesses and the MDs about the
importance of security.
“They need to have a relationship with me
and the Task Force commanders and we can
look after their businesses. I’m interested
in talking to people who are interested in
looking after their businesses.”
With more than 25 years’ experience in
security, Francis set up Sparta 10 years ago
and it continues to grow day by day, covering
the whole North-East region, but the County
Durham and Darlington areas in particular.
Preventing criminal activity from Newton
Aycliffe’s business hub has not been without
its challenges.
“If a van comes on the estate at night we
know about it and they see a Sparta-marked
vehicle, they race off,” says Francis.
“If we see someone in a hoodie wandering
down the street in the estate, we want to
know what he’s doing. And he’ll scarper.
“We’re the eyes and ears for the police. All
serious incidents and occurrences are always
reported immediately and, if necessary,
police assistance is requested.”
Sparta already works with a number
of companies on Aycliffe Business Park,
including PWS.
Jeremy Redshaw, head of manufacturing
at PWS, said: “As PWS has grown and now
has multiple sites away from its Station Road
base, we had to consider security of the
satellite buildings.
“We were introduced to Sparta as they
were looking after some of the sites for
our contractors while the buildings were
undergoing building and renovation works.
During this time they proved to be reliable
and trustworthy with the sites secured
properly.
“As such it made great sense to secure the
services for these sites on a more permanent
arrangement.
“All though our buildings all have CCTV,
alarms and secured perimeters we required
the additional confidence of somebody on
site at all times.
“Sparta have provided a great service with
staff who are punctual, polite and as a result
of their willingness to assist, have become
part of the team, the same people on the
same shifts providing continuity and security
week in week out.
“My concerns and worries of leaving some
buildings empty at night and at weekends
were quickly and smoothly eradicated.”
Find out more about Sparta and their services at spartasecurityuk.co.uk
Alternatively, [e-mail] or call 01325 582122.