John Lane Business Consulting


	OUR NEW LONDON AREA OFFICE We have a new West London office - we have moved from West Drayton to the Hounslow / Feltham border right next to Heathrow - see 'HOW TO CONTACT ME'. INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS and the SIA APPROVED CONTRACTOR SCHEME I'm currently helping a micro 2 - person security guarding business through the ACS - assessment is due 10th August, so fingers crossed (today is the 7th !) - UPDATE: They PASSED the assessment, first time, subject to confirmation in writing from the SIA. Another of my manned security clients successfully passed their first NSI Gold (ISO 9001 + BS 7499 and BS 7858) UKAS accredited assessment at the end of July - Yippee - but I have to say much of the hard work was done by my associate, Amanda Randall while I acted mainly in an advisory and auditing capacity, also providing a fully flowcharted business and quality management system, in full colour. I have a longer-term contract under way - developing an integrated management system, combining ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 - AND I am working with the company's in-house team to integrate this within the company's bespoke electronic business administration system - for this HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical and Water Treatment installation and maintenance contracting firm in Wembley. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NEW ! - APRIL 2010 EVEN MORE OFFERS YOU CAN'T REFUSE Do you need CHAS or Constructionline or SAFEContractor or EXOR or a similar industry sector pre-qualification scheme approval ? If so, please click on OFFERS YOU CAN'T REFUSE - we have set out some keen offers and competitive prices for making sure you get these types of approvals quickly and with minimum fuss. We KNOW that your survival as a business, particularly if in construction or building services, MAY DEPEND on getting one or more of thee approvals. Don't forget also, if you are in SECURITY that we provide very cost-effective help with your SIA ACS or NSI Gold or other ISO 9001 / BS 7499 / BS 7858 etc. applications. There is a lot more stuff about my experience and thoughts on security standards further down in this NEWS page. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CATERING, HOSPITALITY, FOOD SERVING & FOOD MANUFACTURING It's been a while since I reminded the market place of our skills and experience in the these sectors - Trevor Walker and I are about to do a major mailshot on this subject, initially to our own localities - Just so you know, I have provided consulting help to licensed premises, hotels and food manufacturers on the topics of kitchen and general premises safety and hygiene. We ARE QUALIFIED: Trevor has direct experience of management in the food service retail sector and has run his own health food business as well as having food hygiene quaifications and being a NEBOSH Level 3 Health & Safety Management Certificate holder, while I am an Affiliate member of IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) and a Life Affiliate member of IMS (Institute of Management Services). ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MARCH / APRIL 2010 MORE OFFERS YOU CAN'T REFUSE ! If you are ANY KIND OF BUSINESS needing some initial Environmental Management documents - compatible with ISO 14001 of BS 8555 or EMAS, to help with the PQQs you are completing to gain shortlising to the tender process with local and government authorities and for as LITTLE as £ 95 then PLEASE CLICK ON 'OFFERS YOU CAN'T REFUSE' in the menu to left hand side of this web site. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DECEMBER 2009 *TIME TO CUT THE BS FROM BRITISH & ISO STANDARDS ?* Have you just about had it with British and ISO Standards ? Have the BSI and other Certification Bodies lost the plot ? I have come to the opinion that the BSI believes that it only has to publish a new standard and it will immediately become the biggest money spinner under the Sun for its own publication and management system certification sales - thus keeping itself in work for another few years. With the plethora of standards introduced in the last two to three years that are, basically, based on nuances in ISO 9001 or 14001 or other more popular standards, regurgitated into full-blown bureaucratic stand-alone standards, I am beginning to lose my patience with the BSIs arrogance, pomposity and belief that if they publish something that is obscenely expensive, then it must be good and everyone must buy it (i.e. British Standards Publications) - oh and did I mention that the BSI probably believes it stands roughly somewhere equal to the position occupied by your deity, if you have one ? Just one, small, example: Did we REALLY need a standard for sustainable management, or an upgrade to it ? (ISO 9004 - in ADDITION to ISO 9001) Does the BSI REALLY not understand that business SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD to keep shelling out for new standards and for assessments against them ? Who REALLY MAKES MONEY out of standards ? - usually the BSI, Certification Bodies and yes - you guessed it - Consultants (yes I'm one of those - ouch!). Of course, when you live in the closeted, protected, quasi-civil service, job-for-life world of BSI, you CAN AFFORD to believe that the whole world revolves around YOU and you WONDERFUL IDEAS for NEW STANDARDS that the whole world must conform to - and NOT those lovely, kind hearted, generous and oh-so charitable banking people. Sounds cynical ? well so it does - and it is - and I also believe its true. I have spent much of my workling life helping my clients to understand and comply with many forms of regulations, statutes and standards, but as the years have gone by I have URGED my clients NOT to take up standards UNLESS THEY ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO for one reason or another. Is this taking food out of my own mouth ? - YES but what kind of reputation and credibility would I have if I espoused every new standard that came along and attempted to convince my (equally and understandably cynical) clients that they MUST implement this NEW standard beacuse it will SAVE THEM MONEY and BRING THEM MORE BUSINESS - who really believes this (any more) ? I'll have more to say on the above shortly. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NOVEMBER 2009 *SUCCESS WITH JOHN LANE* Back in my May 2009 news, I talked about using a new catchphrase or trading banner: 'Success with John Lane'. Since then, in a kind of natural way I have attached this 'banner' to a service for which the demand has been gowing dramatically i.e. to prepare TENDERS on my clients' behalf. The problem with tenders, of course, is that you can never guarantee that a tender will be successful. From past experience I know that often, the end client will WANT to use my client for a contract but CAN'T because the tender submitted has not created confidence that my client could fulfil the contract satisfactorily - the tender did not look "professional", even in spite of competitive pricing. In 1985 I started learning how to put together winning proposals and tenders. I have been putting this experience to good use recently by helping clients e.g. electrical contractors, building services engineers, metalwork fabrication and mechanical engineers, a road haulier, etc. to submit tenders that are *most likely* to *WIN* the business they are after and in the MAJORITY of cases it HAS DONE ! Even where a company submits its first 'professional' tender with my help but fails to win the bid, the feedback from the end client is much more favourable and DOES guarantee that the company will be offered *another chance* to bid for the NEXT tender. So, for now, consider 'Success with John Lane' to be the byword for *GETTING NEW BUSINESS. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ OCTOBER 2009 WHY NO NEWS SINCE JULY ?* HOME & OFFICE RELOCATIONS & ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS I can't believe how quickly time has passed - in the last few months we finally completed our move of home and this has taken up a lot of my attention in that period. We have also moved office address back to where we were in the mid to late 1990's in West Drayton (near London Heathrow) which has proven to be more central for a lot of our business and has helped to free up space at home. To those of you who do take a look at this page occasionally, please accept my apologies - my attention is now focussed back on the business full-time after my spell of sorting out the new home arrangements. NEW OPERATIONS IN EAST ANGLIA We have now set up a NEW, ADDITIONAL OPERATING BASE in Sudbury, Suffolk. John Lane and Trevor Walker will continue to serve clients in the East Anglia region, but with the added benefit of having premises in Sudbury itself. ADVERTISING CANCELLATIONS - FEEDBACK One piece of feedback, following my statement in July about cutting out a lot of my advertising - it really does not seem to have impacted upon the rates of new serious enquiries and actual new business coming in - so I feel vindicated in my decision to make savings in this area. Of course, some business NEED to advertise and it IS necessary in certain business sectors. NEW PROJECTS Yippee ! - Another of my existing clients, a contractor in the building maintenance sector, has decided to go for BOTH ISO 14001 (the environmental management standard) AND OHSAS 18001 (the health and safety management standard). No - I did not badger them into it - they decided themselves it was right for their business, having already taken on ISO 9001 back in 1996 with my help. AND THE BEST NEW OF OCTOBER IS.... .... that my client, since 1999, MAGENTA SECURITY SERVICES LTD., was AWARDED the ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARD at the SECURITY INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE AWARDS ceremony in LONDON on Thursday 22nd October (somewhat belatedly, as the company originally gained ISO14001 certification with the BSI back in 2002 and was the FIRST IN EUROPE and we believe WORLDWIDE to gain this certification for security services provision - but until now the UK security industry bigwigs did not recognise improving the environment as an issue it had to bother with, or if it did, only half-heartedly). My CONGRATULATIONS to the Company's MD, Abbey Petkar ! - Well done, Abbey - the award is well deserved ! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ JULY 2009 ADVERTISING - or LACK of ! Some of you - particulary those of you in the security industry, will have been used to seeing my box adverts in several industry journals i.e. Security Management Today ('SMT'), Professional Security, RISK UK and Professional Security. Well - like most of you - I have been forced to undertake a cost-minimisation drive recently and it has made me realise just how much money I have been spending on services that don't provide good value for money. Over the 8 or 9 years or so that I have been advertising (I also appear in several Yellow Pages books and Yell.com), I have done my research and have found that the security industry journals by and large have not provided sufficient new business to warrant their cost. In fact, as has nearly always been the case, virtually all of my new business comes by word or mouth - recommendations and referrals from satisfied Clients. There are one or two exceptions, however, and so I do still advertise in a small way, but in carefully focussed journals where experience has shown that a decent return is achieved, but I HAVE also decided to stop appearing in Yellow Pages and Yell.com. I am using the money saved to develop the business in other, more meaningful ways, that will in fact enable me to provide better value for money and efficiency to all of my existing Clients - this MUST be a GOOD thing in thes financially hard-pressed times ! So - don't worry - if you notice the adverts have suddenly stopped appearing - TREVOR & I are STILL HERE ! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ JUNE 2009 NEW TRENDS We are seeing: - a lot more interest from small contractors who want to become CHAS or CONSTRUCTIONLINE or SAFECONTRACTOR or EXOR, etc. accredited. - a much more in-depth requirement from customers (government authorities and larger organisations) for evidence of good ENVIRONMENTAL practices and documentation. - the requirements to provide far more documentary evidence of IMPLEMENTATION of good H&S practice. - more companies wanting us to help put TENDERS and TENDER PRE-QUALIFICATION QUESTIONNAIRES together professionally. Please note: There has also been a noticeable increase in the number of YOUR customers' use of external consultants to 'VET' YOUR H&S, etc. documentation and performance. This is leading to unnecessary problems when such consultants are using their position to bolster the opinion that their clients have of them, whilst belittling and berating the H&S approach taken by companies such as YOURS for using consultants such as ourselves to help them. If you are in doubt as to how to answer questions on any of these pre-qualification questionnaires, PLEASE DO NOT 'do yourself down' by giving an answer that could make your approach seem less robust THAN IT REALLY IS ! - neither would we want you to state a falsehood - SO ALWAYS CHECK WITH US FIRST - we DON'T CHARGE FOR TELEPHONE ADVICE where this is of a reasonably short duration. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MAY 2009 MOVING HOME & OFFICE For those of you who study this news page - you may have thought that I had done a 'Reggie Perrin' and disappeared into the Sea ! The truth is that we have been moving home and office and in an unconventional way so that we have not yet moved to our 'final destination'. The time consuming and frustrating difficulties associated with any move of home and business premises seem to have multiplied by a factor of at least two but I am now hopeful that we will be in our new home and work base during this Summer. I have not been able to find the inspiration to keep this new page up to date for the last few months, because of the unsettling effects of the move to our current temporary location but things seem to be more positively moving in the right direction now. SUCCESS In spite of the recession, or perhaps even because of it, the level of new enquiries, new business and repeat business from existing Clients has not abated. Of course, I cannot and do not take this for granted - but it does kind of re-affirm to me that we ( Trevor Walker, my Wife, Martine and I ) must still be doing all the right things ! The current economic climate has also helped me to decide that now is the best possible time to launch a new service, the seeds of which were formed when I first set up this website, over six years ago. I intend to put my experience and expertise in business development to more 'rounded' use by marketing this new service through a dedicated, separate website - aimed at helping those who have good ideas and the potential for creating new successful business or developing existing businesses into much better ones. What strikes me about business life - and the recent banking crises have only serviced to confirm my views - is that the lessons learned by earlier generations rarely seem to be passed on to those embarking afresh into business life. The same old mistakes seems to be repeatedly made and the old lessons are forgotten or ignored - to the detriment of professionalism and ethical practice. This could be called lack of training but this would only be a symptom of the problem which I think is more fundamentally to do with a lack of ethical thinking at the outset of any business or any business project. And yet - youthful enthusiasm should not and need not be stifled by the lessons of history. Perhaps instead, there is a way of combining experience and common sense with new ideas, new technology and the 'let's do it now' generation - after all, I was there myself, not so long ago (or so it seems). Watch this space for more news about Success with John Lane. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DECEMBER, 2008 TENDERS Once again, it seems to be the season for Tenders ! We are currently helping contractors in the building and street services and private taxi hire industries to put together tenders or to provide certain specialists parts of those tenders, to local authorities. This is often a real nuisance for our Clients, where they are often already be the contractor providing the services but the local authority is legally bound to put the services out to tender (even if they might prefer not to !). We also, much mor frequently help with preparing the initial pre-tedner pre-qualification packages that prospective tenders have to put in - just to make sure they are included on the lists of tenderers. There is of course no guarantee that a tender we have contributed to will be the winning one, BUT I have a good track record with this work - in the region of a 75% hit rate. See also LATEST NEWS - NOVEMBER 2007 for more information on THIRD PARTY pre-qualification schemes - e.g. EXOR, CHAS, Constructionline, SafeContractor, etc. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NOVEMBER, 2008 *THE RECESSION and EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS / TERMS & CONDITIONS* Since all this talk about recession started I have been bombarded with requests for help with employment terms and conditions - I wondered why ? - but it seems a lot of you are concerned about employees looking for loopholes to use as excuses to go to the Employment Tribunal with a view to getting more favourable financial settlements when they leave or are fired. For example, you may already have written terms and conditions in place - but are they up to date e.g. the gradual phasing in of the 28 days holiday entitlement per year and the need for formal disciplinary and grievance procedures ? Another possibility is that you may have no written terms and conditions in place at all - everything having been done verbally only, which puts you in a very vulnerbale position in the event of any disputes with employees - particularly if you dismiss them without going through a proper, recorded, process. One of the biggest and most common issues I am asked to help with and to write tight controls / procedures for is the way that mobile workers such as construction operatives and contract equipment installation and maintenance staff are managed and monitored in terms of hours of work, expenses, taking unreasonable advantage of their mobility e.g. claiming they are at one place when in fact they are somewhere else, starting late, knocking-off early, etc. I have built up a bit of experience in these areas and can help you ensure your staff can't take the mickey - or at least not without paying the appropriate price for their foolishness. *and SUB-CONTRACTOR CONTRACTS / TERMS & CONDITIONS* Similarly to employment terms and conditions, I have also built some experience in wording contracts to help you control your sub-contractors i.e. those people or companies who carry out work for you, in your name and who YOU pay i.e. self-employed individuals and companies who may have several of their staff working at YOUR or your Client's site. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SEPTEMBER 2008 - ADDITIONAL NEWS *WORK STUDY & INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING BACK IN FASHION ?* *Well, the old Work Study and Organisation & Methods Skills are back in demand !* - Just when I thought nobody wanted outside help any more to be more efficient, along comes an established Client wanting some old-fashioned observational / analytical / method study input to help identify some improvements in customer service. *BUSINESS CONTINUITY & BUSINESS RISK* *BS 25999 and BS 31100 -* For those of you interested in the Business Continuity and Business Risk British Standards (you may see my advert soon in the RISK UK journal) I'm just about to bone up on the recently introduced BS 25999 and 31100 standards - I'm sure it will all be common sense really - but I wonder how much will be applicable to smaller businesses ? - *we'll see !* LATEST NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2008 *Apologies again for no updates since April* - sadly again for similar reasons, ill-health in the family has taken up nearly all of our spare time, emotionally and technically - on a personal note we are hoping 2009 will be a happier year than 2008. Some good, or nearly good news is that I am nearing the completion of a *Fire Systems Installation BAFE / NSI Gold* project for a company in the North West of England. While having worked for scores of electrical and security installers over the years, this will be the first start-from-scratch project for a company specialising in fire systems install work, whereby they will, on certiofication, be able to commission their own systems and self-certificate all 4 BAFE stages of work. I'm popping over to *South Wales* (an old haunt) this month to speak to another company who may want *similar help* to the above. A project completed just last week was the *preparation of a tender* for a *tree surgery* ('arboricultural') services company. An *electrical / mechanical and security systems installer* is also wanting me to help prepare a tender for / with them in order to get a better shot at winning local authority business which they know they can handle, if awarded, but are failing due to a poor effort on tender presentation when compared with the 'packages' put in by larger, national companies. As for the *credit crunch* - well, at present there seems to be no abatement in the enquiries and actual work levels coming in - lets all hope this continues, but I suspect we'll suffer somewhat in the home building sector as some of our small construction, building services and security clients do a great deal of sub-contract work for the larger home building companies. It is indeed fortunate that we cover a very broad spectrum of industries and sectors without being tied too much to any one - *We wish you all good luck in the coming months and years !* ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS - APRIL 2008 *Apologies for lack of news and views on this page since December.* A close family member passed away in January and the fall-out from this has occupied much of the spare time of my Wife and I since then. Thankfully, however, we have not been short of work since January. *My colleague, Trevor Walker, is now looking after around 85% of our Health & Safety consulting work. Trevor is also doing very well with his NEBOSH Health & Safety Diploma course, having passed his first set of exams for the Diploma following his NEBOSH Certificate award last year. Personally, most of my own work time since January has been occupied with the security industry -* with the ACS for manned security companies and with SSAIB and NSI Silver / Gold schemes for my manned and security systems installation Clients. *I have had some interesting experiences with ACS assessments just lately* including a major one that was attended by one of the SIA's own 'Quality Managers'. The BIG ISSUES at ACS assessments at the moment seem to be: (1) Checking Right to Work in UK - don't forget to buy your ultra Violet scanner (they can be had for a tenner each at the big cash and carry warehouses) and (2) Staff Appraisals - making sure you do them ! There still seems to be some misunderstanding out there in the security industry as to what constitutes a 'SUB-CONTRACTOR' in the eyes of the SIA - If you are ONLY supplying staff to another security services company and you DON'T HAVE ANY DIRECT CLIENTS OF YOUR OWN, then you are NOT a sub-contractor - you ARE, IN FACT, ONLY an employment agency. As such, you do NOT need to have ACS approval in order to supply to your security contractor customers - IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT THIS AT ALL - FOR CLARIFICATION - PLEASE DO check this out direct with the SIA who will be glad to advise you OR CALL ME OR E-MAIL ME - I WILL ADVISE ON THIS FREE OF CHARGE. Please do NOT waste time and money trying to get ACS approval UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO OR UNLESS YOU WANT TO USE IT TO FURTHER your business e.g. to go get your own 'direct' customers, IN ADDITION TO supplying staff on an agency basis to security services contractors. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS - DECEMBER 2007 Attention: RECRUITMENT CONSULTANCIES, EMPLOYMENT & CONTRACT STAFFING AGENCIES - and ALL ORGANISATIONS WANTING COST-EFFECTIVE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS & EMPLOYMENT ADVICE Having worked myself in the recruitment business, on both sides of the fence and in various industries, on-and-off, since 1983 I find I am still being drawn back to it from time to time. For those of you in recruitment or HR who might need advice on EMPLOYMENT LAW or EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS or those of you in the recruitment industry who need help to WIN TENDERS for larger contracts e.g. with government departments and the larger commercial organisations, I now have DAVE MURRAY, an industry experienced associate working with me. Dave has a wealth of operational and legal knowledge and experience in the contract recruitment business. He also has a good deal of experience with business and quality management in the recruitment industry including the development and implementation of ISO 9001 based systems in this and associated sectors. Dave's close association with John Lane also means, that being mainly Manchester based, John Lane Business Consulting can provide a much better service generally to its clients in the North and North West of England. Diane is an HR professional, with extensive experience with employment law and personal development in both large and small organisations. She also has a great deal of knowledge in the recruitment sector but is generally experienced in other industries and with both large and small organisations. I have known and worked with or alongside both Dave and Diane since the 1990s and It is good for me and for the John Lane Business Consulting brand to now have two such reliable and experienced people who can help our clients on an as-and-when-needed basis and particularly in the recruitment and employment areas, while also providing improved regional coverage. P.S. to the above article - as at 2008, both Dave and Diane have taken different career paths and are no longer available direct to my Clients. Instead, now that Trevor Walker, my full-time employed consultant, is looking after most of our Health and Safety work, I now have time to do our employment legislation related work myself personally. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS - NOVEMBER, 2007 THANKYOU ! Well, where has the time gone ? I am writing this on Saturday 10th November, wondering how come I have not had time to produce some really inteersting news articles over the last six months or so - and the answer, quite simply is that I have been working almost continuously just to meet the rising demand for my help. Even with the help Trevor Walker, my full-time employed Consultant, is now providing, the demand on our services has been rising so fast as to meet the increasing productivity we have been able to offer this year. All I can say in response to this demand and additional custom, is - THANKS ! to all of you who have expressed your continued confidence in our professionalism. As for the REAL news: CHAS / CONSTRUCTIONLINE / SAFECONTRACTOR / EXOR - These (primarily health & safety) assessment / pre-qualification schemes have been giving us some headaches this year - It seems that now the CORPORATE MANSLAUGHTER law is a reality, the people managing these schemes and the consultants they use to assess the applications we put in on behalf of our Clients, have become PARANOID and are raising the bar to a ridiculously high degree on many of the application we put in. It has also become apparent that some opf the assessors used for these schemes (almost always sub-contract consultants working from home) have VERY LITTLE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE and are virtually fresh out of doing their basic H&S training courses. Consequently, they are using a good deal of theory to assess the applications put in without fully understanding or appreciating the realities and practicalities of how buidling and refurbishment sites and contractors HAVE TO WORK. Anyway - FEAR NOT ! - we have it ALL UNDER CONTROL ! - However, those of you contemplating going for one or more of these schemes should bear in mind that there is always a RISK that the first application may result in the Assessor wanting further information before passing it for approval. What is happening is the the Assessors are being given carte blanche to ask ADDITIONAL questions i.e. MORE than is asked for on the original questionnaires - to totally satisfy themselves that everything is as it should be - this does make it difficult however as they all ask different extra questions which we cannot always predict ! - In itself this is NOT A PROBLEM but just adds a week or two the process. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS - JULY to OCTOBER, 2007 DUE TO BEING EXCEPTIONALLY BUSY with projects work in June, July , August, September and now, yet again ion October, there have been no news stories appearing on this page for over 4 months. My apologies (again) to those of you who tuned in hoping to find some new info over the last few months (today being October 5th). EXCELLENT NEW HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGEMENT PRODUCT ! However, in connection with the MAY 2007 news story, I have nearly completed the development of a Health & Safety Management System, (compatible if really necessary) with the latest OHSAS 18001 health and safety management systems standard. My Client has kindly allowed me to retain the intellectual property rights to the system design and make-up which mean that ANYONE wanting an electronically based BUT SIMPLE and USER FRIENDLY and visually appealing system for managing health and safety (in organisations probably employing more than 1 or 2 people) now have a viable, practical option to an expensive off the shelf proprietary database system from a health and safety software specialist - without the need for an equally expensive and probably compulsory, annual maintenance contract. My system relies purely on two software packages that sit on virtually everybody's PC - WORD and EXCEL and is compatible with all versions of these two Microsoft programmes starting with the Office 97 version right up to the current versions. The beauty of the system is that is lightning-fast to go to and open, edit or refer to and go back to other documents and records as well as enabling access to internet based official guidance, regulations and codes of practice on the UK government's own HSE website and other websites. The system means that paper based documents and records are kept to an absolute minimum. I should be ready to demonstrate this package outside of my existing user, during November, 2007. Some customisation to each Client will probably be needed in most cases. This package will also be easly upgradeable to embrace ISO 9001 Quality and ISO 14001 Environmental requirements. In fact, this is what my current client, is planning to do. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS - JUNE 2007 UNDER CONSTRUCTION - SUBJECTS TO BE COVERED WILL BE: SIA Approved Contractor Scheme latest; NSI / NACOSS & SSAIB & BAFE SCHEMES LATEST; EMPLOYMENT LAW LATEST - to include new increase of MINIMUM Holiday entitlement to 28 days inclusive of bank / public holidays; New NO SMOKING law. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS - MAY 2007 The project for the major UK based Fire and Security Product Testing / Certification and ISO 9001 Certification Group, reported in April LOOKS TO BECOME ONE OF JLBC's BIGGEST PROJECTS, TO DATE. The project has become one to develop and implement a Health, Safety (and possibly Environmental) Management System - BUT to do so in the simplest, most user friendly and practicable way. Whilst JLBC is NOT an I.T. consultancy, in order to avoid purchasing a potentially expensive off-the-shelf but un-customised proprietary software package, John and Trevor are developing an end-user oriented system of health and safety task planning and task / audit / review record keeping simply by using the Group's existing Intranet and Microsoft Office products. e.g. Hyperlinks are being used extensively to enable website-like links between Policy, Organisation Charts, Job Descriptions, listings of Responsibilities and Duties for for individual Job Holders, associated procedures and records, risk assessments, etc. to be accessed at lightning speed. This approach makes the classic 'dusty manual on the shelf' obsolete and extensive use of colour - previously pioneered by John for Quality / Business Management Systems - will make the whole package far more attractive and 'wanting to be used'. The documentation and approach will also be keyed in to the existing Quality / Business Management Systems operated by the different companies in the Group so that, in effect, a fully or near-fully Integrated Management System should result. John's last 20 years' experience with ISO and BS standards combined with the real world experience gained with small and medium sized businesses means that this project may well be JLBC's pinnacle of achievement in the field of GENUINELY USER-FRIENDLY management systems. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS - APRIL 2007 MAJOR UK BASED, INTERNATIONAL FIRE & SECURITY PRODUCT TEST LAB & ISO 9001 CERTIFICATION GROUP NOW USING JLBC'S SERVICES In addition to working as Health & Safety Advisor to a UK (Government recognised) accreditation service, JLBC is now providing a similar service to one of the major UK based Fire and Security Product Testing / Certification and ISO 9001 Certification Groups. INCREASED INTEREST IN BAFE SCHEME FOR FIRE SYSTEMS INSTALLERS - BUT SOME DECREASING INTEREST NOTICED IN THE NSI GOLD & SSAIB SECURITY INSTALLATION CERTIFICATION SCHEMES I have noticed an increasing interest in the BAFE scheme for Fire Systems installations - BAFE is essentially ISO 9001 plus the BS 5839 and associated technical standards, whilst it seems that those installers who service certain parts of the commercial sector simply are not asked for and do not need to provide to their customers, security systems certification to SSAIB or NSI (formerly NACOSS) standards. I guess it does depend on what type of customers require systems and how those systems will be used - if Police Response is not essential then it seems that expensive and overly bureaucratic NSI & SSAIB requirements are simply unnecessary - but some best practices in certain areas of an installer's business ARE still essential to make sure product reliability and customer service are maintained to the same or better levels than those claimed by an ISO 9001 certificated competitor. I have also seen that the certification bodies have been of little help (if any) to their customers in making the PD6662 migration from BS 4737 to the EN50100 series and for the most part until now have in practical or meaningful terms avoided the issues altogether during assessment visits (making it all even more confusing through lack of any real clarity) - probably while awaiting the industry i.e. the installers and manufacturers themselves to decide (the hard way) how to handle it rather than being told by the certification 'experts' how to do it. Some parallels here perhaps with the manned sector and the involvement of SIA and the ACS certification bodies using security services providers as unpaid guinea pigs for the scheme ? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS ! - MARCH 2007 COMPLIMENT FROM 'PERSON CLOSE TO' SIA TEAM THAT CREATED THE ACS, PAID TO JOHN LANE ON QUALITY OF HIS FULL-COLOUR, FULLY FLOWCHARTED BUSINESS / QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM *The full-colour, flowcharted business / quality management system developed by John Lane has won a significant compliment from a 'person close to' the development of the ACS scheme.* During a February, 2007 ACS assessment for a new entrant seeking ACS registration, John Lane was complimented for the quality of the documented business / quality management system that he personally developed to cover both ISO 9001 and the ACS requirements. This compliment was a particularly weighty one beacuse it was offered, unsolicited, by an individual who was exceptionally close to the development the ACS assessment principles and the 'Workbook' at the 'front end' of the scheme. Given this feedback, John is now asking budding ACS and ISO 9001 manned security contractors if they would like quotations for converting to the new, simplified, flowcharted approach to their existing or as yet, unwritten systems. The flowcharted package is undoubtedly an almost unique business development / marketing tool in itself, rising skyscrapers above the plethora of conventional, bog-standard, BORING word processed systems prevalent in the industry. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS ! - FEBRUARY 2007 LATEST VIEW from JOHN on the SIA APPROVED CONTRACTOR SCHEME (ACS) I have to say that the expense of this scheme has cemented the growing concern and opinion in my mind that this is predominantly a money-making scheme for the SIA and the selected certification bodies and maybe - just maybe, secondarily a true quality assessment scheme for security contracting companies. It is clear that until now, a number of security contractors have entered the scheme for one reason only i.e. to be able to deploy a number of unlicensed guards, while the other companies have joined the ACS in the hope that it will help them to gain new business or to help keep certain, existing customers. I am now seeing, however, another process occurring - that of the company that fast-tracked or took the standard route into the scheme to allow it to deploy unlicensed officers, but which has since achieved a fully licensed workforce and has felt absolutely no other benefit from having the ACS logo on its stationery i.e. no new business and no loss of existing customers. Do the customers really care about ACS - I suspect not. Do the customers care about who can provide the cheapest service ? - almost certainly yes in 90 % of the cases. Do the customers care about true quality of performance in service ? - yes, almost always (so long as its also the cheapest service). Do the customers just want a security service to satisfy their insurance requirements ? - in many cases yes. In such cases, do the insurers care whether the service provider is ACS registered or ISO 9001 (UKAS accredited) registered, etc. - often, it appears no ! although I guess there might be a slow creep by the insurers towards wanting this type of assurance. The 'BOTTOM LINE' ? - I am not at all sure that once a security company has all of its licensable staff licensed, that it needs any other accreditations, registrations or awards - and the continuing existence of a great many successful security contractors in the UK that have no such awards or badges proves this conclusively (not to mention a great many that must surely, still be employing unlicensed staff with little fear of early prosecution and those who are deploying unlicensed security staff by renaming them as property minders, caretakers and the like). ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS ! - DECEMBER 2006 / JANUARY 2007 !! MERRY CHRISTMAS & BEST WISHES FOR A SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR !! BIG NEWS AT JLBC Following an unprecedented surge in demand for my help, particularly from the CONSTRUCTION and SECURITY industries, John Lane Business Consulting is expanding with the recruitment of a new FULL-TIME EMPLOYED Consultant: *Trevor Walker* A word from our Proprietor, John Lane, about Trevor: "Trevor and I have known each other since childhood and have worked for and with each other in differing capacities but only on an occasional basis, since the 1970s. Starting in January 2007, Trevor will be coming on board with JLBC as the firm's 2nd full-time Consultant (2nd to myself). Trevor will NOT be a sub-contractor - he will be wholly and solely employed by the business to ensure continuity and to provide the extra capacity that my Customers now need. Trevor will be an asset to the business and to my customers. It is worth noting that Trevor's own background includes the running of his own business, sales and marketing work, financial sector experience, retail and manufacturing management experience, health and safety management practice in the construction, security and manufacturing industries and most recently, several years' practical experience in the manned security sector". Please note: for those of you who already know John - DON'T WORRY - He is not disappearing off the scene - FAR FROM IT ! Every single project undertaken by the practice will involve John himself in one capacity or another e.g. as the day-to-day project consultant, Project Manager or as an occasional Advisor or perhaps to carry out audits, etc. In any event John will be generally available to deal with enquiries, queries, etc. until Trevor Walker has completed his familiarisation with the business and my Customers. LATEST NEWS ! - OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2006 MEDIUM SIZE DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR NEEDED LAST MINUTE HELP A medium size demolition contractor called for help after being let down by someone who had promised to help complete pre-qualification health and safety questionnaires (but did not do it). In the space of 5 working days including the day of the first telephone enquiry, I was able to complete two pre-qual questionnaires for this company (on the first day) and then 3 days later, on the day requested started a Construction Phase Health & Safety Plan with Method Statements and Risk Asssessments for one of the pre-qual related projects for a major house builder - completed it - and it was accepted by the House Builder company (as well making time to meet my new Client for the first time) - all within a week that was already an EXTREMELY BUSY one ! SMALL CONSTSRUCTION CONTRACTOR ASKS FOR HELPM TO SET UP WEB SITE One of my existing clients, a small construction and building refurbishment contractor carrying out predominantly UK Govt. work, has asked for my help to set up a web site along similar lines to this (my own) web site. One of the benefits of this web site is that I maintain it myself, as it requires no programming language skills and I can keep it up to date (most of the time) whenever I have the time to do so e.g. in evenings and at weekends without ever having to rely on (expensive) web consultants. Im case you are wondering.....I use a company called one&one (at www.oneandone.co.uk) to host the web site and who provide the software for setting up and maintaining it. This is a VERY COST-EFFECTIVE way of having a web site. There are other web hosting companies that provide the same type of service, however and so you should shop around - GOOD LUCK if you want to HAVE A GO ! DSE (DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT) RISK ASSESSMENTS FOR ACCOUNTANCY PRACTICE A medium size accountancy practice has commissioned my services to carry out display screen equipment risk assessments on staff and their workstations where there is a high risk of upper limb disorder (ULD) and repetitive strain injuries (RSI. Perhaps equally importantly, the general office layout, work organisation and working methods are being studied from an ergonomic and practical viewpoint to establish work place setups that are more condusive to healthier working. Two assessments on particularly busy workstations and documented risk assessments on these plus improvement recommendations have already been completed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS ! - SEPTEMBER 2006 I AM NOW PROVIDING PUBS / RESTAURANTS WITH HELP TO COMPLY WITH FOOD HYGIENE & NEW FIRE LEGISLATION I am helping with advice and doing risk assessments in relation to Food hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 & the newly reformed Fire regulations requiring self-regulation by businesses instead (as was often the case) of relying on the local Fire Officer to tell you what fire systems and precautions to put in place - also taking account of the changes to the licencing laws. I am currently providing this input to two of the management companies who manage a number of Public Houses owned by one of the major UK chains. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS ! - AUGUST 2006 SIA - ACS - APPROVED CONTRACTOR SCHEME - Are you being conned into doing ISO 9001:2000 as well ? - or even into doing the ACS on its own when it won't REALLY help you ? Do NOT be hoodwinked into doing ISO 9001 AND the ACS. I am getting reports that some Consultants are telling their Security Company clients to do BOTH ISO 9001 AND the ACS. To do so means that you will be spending MORE MONEY than you need to in the short-term and while you MAY get a very short-term benefit by gaining early entry to the ACS Approved Contractor Register, I DOUBT VERY MUCH that you will get MEDIUM & LONG TERM value from paying out to maintain BOTH schemes UNLESS your Customers demand it ! - In most cases all you will be doing is putting more money into the Certification Bodies and SIA's pockets. I am advising SOME SECURITY BUSINESSES to do NEITHER SCHEME - because that it the BEST ADVICE for those particular companies. Your BEST BET (BUT ONLY IF YOU ARE REALLY, REALLY, SURE YOU NEED ACS) is to DO THE HARD WORK EARLY ON and go STRAIGHT INTO THE ACS Register by having the earliest possible ACS Assessment visit - this means YOU CAN BY-PASS DOING ISO 9001. Theoretically, the ACS should be hard work BUT all the feedback I have is telling me it is ACTAULLY QUITE EASY (depending on how much best practice you already have in place). Overall, providing you take it seriously (or at least look convincingly as though you are) and DON'T LEAVE EVERYTHING the LAST MINUTE before the assessment visit and you play by the Security Officer Licensing rules the ACS Assessment visit should be a doddle (with the help of a wise consultant, of course). Don't forget the real reason for the ACS is to get money in for Gordon Brown - are they REALLY going to make it THAT difficult for you to get ACS approval - of course, not -it's a money-making machine for both government AND the certification bodies used to assess it - don't forget - YOU ARE THEIR CUSTOMER - not the other way around. If you want the BEST GENERAL ADVICE and the advice BEST SUITED TO YOUR BUSINESS, talk to ME before you make a potentially VERY EXPENSIVE decision. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS ! - JUNE 2006 UPSURGE IN REQUESTS FOR HEALTH & SAFETY HELP WITH: CHAS, CONSTRUCTIONLINE, SAFEContractor, EXOR (Sinclair Directories), SUPPLYCHAIN, etc. APPROVED SUPPLIER PRE-QUALIFICATION Along with helping my existing Clients to renew their current Approved Supplier status with their own customers, there is an upsurge in new Clients coming along with a need to register with pre-qualification organisations such as CHAS, Constructionline, SAFEContractor, EXOR (formerly Sinclair Directories), etc. I have become a 'dab hand' at helping businesses get through these application / assessment processes with very little fuss. Try not to leave it too late before asking for help though as currently my lead time for completing this is around 2 to 3 weeks ! ALSO: UPSURGE IN SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) APPLICATIONS I am now helping several manned security firms with their ACS development work, having already got their successful initial applications into the SIA. The first of the Clients should be assessed by NSI in August* to confirm their SIA approval. Please note that even though many firms are now listed as approved on the SIA's website, they have NOT YET BEEN ASSESSED by their selected certification / inspection body. This MUST be done with 12 months of being listed. There IS SOME WORK TO BE DONE on this - don't be fooled into thinking the initial SIA website listing is the END of the process - It's only the BEGINNING ! NOTE: This Company achieved its confirmed ACS approval as a result of its first assessment against the scheme, in August, as planned. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS ! - MAY 2006* NEW CONSTRUCTION, ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL SYSTEMS INSTALLATION CONTRACTOR CLIENTS Several new clients in the CONSTRUCTION and BUILDING REFURBISHMENT SECTOR have come on board over the last few months. The firms have in the main wanted assistance with HEALTH & SAFETY i.e. help initially with gaining APPROVAL with their own customers or with 3rd party Accreditation schemes such as CHAS, CONSTRUCTIONLINE, SafeCONTRACTOR, etc. This type of work is a popular demand on my services. NEW SECURITY SYSTEMS INSTALLER CLIENTS Two new clients have come on board with me for assistance with, in one case, SSAIB (non-ISO 9001) and in the other, NSI Gold (ISO 9001) registrations. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS ! - APRIL 2006 SIA APPROVED CONTRACTOR SCHEME: LATEST I have now helped FOUR of my current clients (all manned guarding companies) to get their Workbooks and Applications in for the ACS. I am also helping another NEW Client who wants to gain ACS approval. MY ADVICE Re: the Workbook: If you already have ISO9001 and the relevant current BS standards (e.g. BS 7499, BS 7858, etc.) with a UKAS accredited certification body (Crown & Tick) then Do NOT try to answer the questions in the Workbook in detail - you could be wasting your time generally and certainly if you want earliest possible entry to the Approved Contractor Listing. It IS worth just checking out the questions concerning HR / Personnel, Environmental and Health & Safety managment and working out where your weak points are against these particular items but it is more helpful if you deal with these items in house and do not declare them to the SIA on the Workbook. The point of this is that once you say what you are going to do the Assessor who will come to see you (eventually) will be looking at these particular items in detail. It is better to leave your answers as vague as possible thus giving yourself time to change your mind on how to deal with these 'gap' areas so you don't shoot yourself in the foot and say you'll do it one way when in the light of experience you may do it a different way by the time of the assessment visit. LICENSING DEADLINE - It is clear from the latest news in the SIA's own website that they are NOT going to be too quick to prosecute any firm who has obviously made SOME EFFORT to get their guards / officers licensed. Clearly, the SIA is very conscious of ITS OWN SHORTFALLS in the whole licensing fiasco and does not want to draw too much attention to thie own failures by prosecuting firms who have tried rather than those who made no effort at all. I'm not saying dont' worry but I am saying just keep going with your training and license applications at an affordable rate as the odds will probably be in your favour in the event of your firm or one of your unlicensed guards being singled out. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS ! - MARCH 2006 SIA – APPROVED CONTRACTOR (‘ACS’) SCHEME NEWS - SCHEME NOW LIVE ! (BUT ONLY JUST) - Up until a month or so ago I was advising all who asked, that no attempt should be made to do any work toward getting in to the ACS. My advice was based on the total lack of clear and helpful information coming out of the SIA on this subject and a good deal of conflicting supposition and gossip coming from elsewhere. The SIA has been crafty in linking the scheme to allowing security firms to have a number of unlicensed officers working. So - while the ACS is NOT compulsory, for MANY secuerity companies, the SIA has almost made it a condition of trading to cover the situation where you are recruiting new officers who would otherwise not be able to work until they have received their licenses (A LENGTHY PROCESS). Applications for entry to the scheme can now be made BY ACCESSING THE SIA WEB SITE, then expressing interest in the scheme, thereby receiving a formal access password and code for entering the ACS applicants / approved contractors -only part of the website, where the relevant documents can be viewed or downloaded and printed, filled-out and where an on-line SELF ASSESSMENT WORKBOOK (‘SAW’) can be filled out and lodged with the SIA along with the application form and fee cheque that have to sent by snail mail as the first step in the process. MAKE NO MISTAKE – filling out and lodging the completed SAW does NOT make you an approved contractor. For this process to be finalised YOU HAVE TO UNDERGO A FORMAL INSPECTION / ASSESMENT VISIT by one of the (seven or 8 or so, I believe) SIA approved certification bodies. This is likely to take some or many months to process for companies that have had little or no previous experience of voluntary inspection schemes such as UKAS accredited ISO 9001. Of those of you who have previously opted for ISO 9001 certification WITHOUT UKAS accreditation i.e. WITHOUT the CROWN & TICK logo, PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL to ensure that you are actually KNOW and are truly IMPLEMENTING all the requirements of ISO 9001 and probably the relevant British Standards such as BS 7499, etc. You do NOT need to have UKAS accredited certification BUT it will NOT be enough just to say you have a quality system and a manual. JUST LOOK at the SAW to see where your gaps are. There is NO EASY WAY to get QUICK SIA ACS approval if you have not already put auditable, best practice in place throughout your business – BUT you can ensure you get in on the ACS process so as to mitigate any shortfall on the 100% security officer licensing requirement by 20th March 2006 and minimise the resulting risk of prosecution for missing this target. If you DO already have UKAS accredited (‘CROWN & TICK’) ISO 9001 certification then this will make entry to the ACS much easier and QUICKER as you should already be satisfying many of the ACS requirements. If you already have INVESTORS IN PEOPLE certification and ISO 14001 UKAS accredited certification and are operating in a provable, socially and ethically responsible way, then the ACS will be much easier to achieve QUICKLY. If you do NOT have these things in place, then you have a lot of hard work to do. I won’t lie to you about this, BUT if you are committed to staying in business as a security provider and feel that the ACS will help you to do this, then I CAN HELP you find the most APPROPRIATE, MINIMALIST ways of achieving ACS approval, that are CUSTOMISED TO YOUR PARTICULAR BUSINESS with the LEAST AMOUNT OF your management and operational input. For a FREE, INTRODUCTORY TELEPHONE CONSULTATION – JUST CALL ME ! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS ! - DECEMBER 2005 - JANUARY 2006 CONTRACT WON TO PROVIDE HEALTH & SAFETY SUPPORT SERVICES TO MAJOR, INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN AND RESPECTED ACCREDITATION AGENCY John Lane is now providing health and safety support services to what is probably the most well known UK based agency that carries out inspection and certification services within the certification industry sector. This a MAJOR WIN for John Lane and in effect gives absolute recognition to his skill, experience and achievements in the business of helping his Clients to achieve accredited certifications, by now working for one of the highest international authorities in this area. 2 CLIENTS ACHIVE THEIR GOALS My first RVRC Client, based in the East Midlands, gains UKAS accredited ISO 9001: 2000 certification, and just as importantly, has done so in accordance with the requirements of the CCTV and alarm monitoring industry standards BS 8418 and BS 5979 with the BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION (BSI). This company provides detector activated CCTV monitoring services to commercial customers and is now going to use my marketing skills to capitalise on this award by going for controlled growth. One of my MANNED GUARDING Clients, based in East London, gains the prestigious UKAS accredited NSI ‘SILVER’ award. This covers certification to the BS 7499: 2002 and BS 7858: 2004 security industry standards. My current work planning includes this year, taking at least 4 security / fire systems installation and maintenance companies through to NSI ‘SILVER’ / ‘GOLD’ or SSAIB approval to enable the allocation of UK Police-recognised URNs to these companies’ installations for alarm response. One of these firms is based in the Greater Manchester area, one is in the East Midlands, one in London and one in Berkshire. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS ! - OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2005 UK SIA 'ACS' (APPROVED CONTRACTOR SCHEME) Don't forget this is STILL A VOLUNTARY SCHEME AND IS NOT GOING TO BE A LEGAL REQUIREMENT - at least not for the foreseeable future. An honest opinion ? - don't bother with this until the SIA has got its act together on the exact wording of the specification because I think the wording OR THE INTERPRETATION OF THE WORDING by those parties responsible for policing the scheme is going to go through a LOT of CHANGES before it settles down. Who is going to do the assessment of contractors on the SIA's behalf ? - yes, we know that NSI / ISI desperately wants to be the sole provider of this service but for competition it will have to be thrown open I believe, to other UKAS accredited certification bodies, e.g. possibly NQA, BSI, LLOYDS (LRQA) etc. - and THEY will all have different ideas on exactly how to assess companies against the scheme. In fact a letter from the BSIA on this subject in the last issue of SMT confirmed this very point (and there I was thinking that BSIA and NSI were everso closely linked - the BSIA clearly thinks its members deserve a choice - I THINK THE WHOLE INDUSTRY DESERVES A CHOICE) - SO.....WATCH THIS SPACE ! If you need help with compliance with the ACS then I can help - but don't try to do too much too soon, for the reasons I have posed above. Best thing you can do in the meantime is download a copy of it from the SIA's own website - read it yourself and make your own judgement. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS ! - SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2005 NEW PD 6662: 2004 standard / code of practice for SECURITY SYSTEMS INSTALLATION INDUSTRY I have been asked by several security systems installers about this new standard. It takes effect on 1st October THIS YEAR. However, the guidance I have seen so far on this indicates that there is a lot of work to be done by the certification bodies (particularly NACOSS/NSI and SSAIB) to decide exactly how best to inspect / comapnies against this new standard which is supposed to replace some existing parts of existing standards e.g. BS 4737 and the EN 50000 series while embracing those that won't be replaced for a while yet - as new standards are in the process of being written. PLEASE BE ASSURED - all my advice and guidance will take into account PD 6662 but please also be aware that there will probably be a period of some months while NACOSS/NSI, SSAIB and the like get their act together on how to interpret the new requirements. UPDATE ON PD662 - as at 23/09/05 - I have read the PD6662 document which I now have in my own library and can provide detailed guidance on its contents based on my own knowledge and experience. LATEST NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2005 TWO NEW SECURITY SYSTEMS INSTALLATION COMPANIES ON BOARD WITH JLBC ...and TWO NEW ALARM RECEIVING / REMOTE VIDEO RECEIVING CENTRES ON BOARD - more information to follow. LATEST NEWS - JULY 2005 MARTINE SHANAHAN NOW MORE ACTIVELY SUPPORTING JLBC's RAPIDLY EXPANDING CLIENT BASE IN IRELAND. Martine has been working in a supporting role to John Lane since 1992 but is now taking on a semi-consultancy role alongside John Lane for our Clients in the Irish Republic - and particularly those in the Security and Construction sectors where the recently introduced Acts for the security* (see next news item below for more details on security regulation) industry and for health and safety have greatly tightened up Ireland's overall business regulatory environment. IRISH REPUBLIC: PRIVATE SECURITY SERVICES ACT 2004* Irish Govt. sets DEADLINES FOR SECURITY COMPANIES TO GET LICENSES or be subject to PROSECUTION - LESS THEN A YEAR FOR MANY FIRMS TO MEET LICENSE REQUIREMENTS: - SECURITY GUARDING, DOOR SUPERVISORS, EVENT SECURITY: 1st APRIL 2006 - CASH-IN-TRANSIT: 1st JUNE 2006 - ALARM RECEIVING CENTRES, INTRUDER ALARM INSTALLERS: 1st AUGUST 2006 Do you know how to prepare ? My 13 years of UK experience indicate that the Irish Private Security Services Act is (in some ways) far ahead i.e. far more restrictive than its UK equivalent. The UK's SIA (Security Industry Authority) has (in my opinion, foolishly for the good of security as a whole) opted for a voluntary-only approach to the licensing of UK security firms whereas the Irish Private Security Authority has made licensing MANDATORY for relevant firms. However, I have analysed the Irish Act, the requirements of the Irish Government's PSA (Private Security Authority - the UK equivalent being the SIA) and those of the ISIA (the Irish Security Industry Association - the opposite number to the UK's BSIA) and the SGS 'Qualicert' scheme that appears to be an exclusive requirement for ISIA membership. My considered opinion of all these requirements is given below. The Irish company licensing scheme is FAR LESS restrictive than its UK equivalent. The UK version is virtually ISO 9001: 2000 PLUS elements of ISO 14001: 2004 (YES - that's right ! - the environmental standard) PLUS elements of BS 7499; BS 7858 and other Brirish / European Standards that are relevant to the security industry. The Irish version is much, much simpler although of course it does retain appropiate criminality checks and requirements for legal trading, etc. and appears to relate to the recently introduced Irish Security Standards, including IS 999. The 'Qualicert' scheme (currently only the 2003 first draft version is available through the informative ISIA web site) is, strangely, a MUCH WATERED DOWN version of ISO 9001: 2000 and other relevant security industry Irish standards. The 'Qualicert' scheme is ONLY operated through the ISIA by SGS. SGS is an international certification, inspection and testing body. My opinion is that it is highly uncompetitive when only ONE certification body is allowed to audit / assess and issue certificates / registrations against a particular standard but because it is NOT of itself an official Irish or international standard then there is nothing to open it up to competition. This means that SGS can CHARGE WHATEVER IT LIKES ! - do you think this is a good idea ? The idea behind the ISIA is of course a good one - an industry should have some kind of representation and particularly when it needs to negotiate with Government. It also needs to be open and receptive to the needs of smaller players in the industry. In the UK, the BSIA has been shunned by many suchplayers because it has often given the impression (perhaps unintentionally) that it a club for the 'Big Boys' only. I have spent a great deal of time working with UK Manned Security Businesses, Security Systems Installers / Maintainers and Alarm / CCTV Monitoring Centres. All the relevant businesses are gearing up for security personnel licensing which is of course also mandatory in the UK. BUT because the UK Govt. has backed away from mandatory COMPANY licensng, the situation has become almost farcical. The Irish approach to licensing of Companies seem more sensible BUT because the requirements seem a great deal 'looser' than those of the UK voluntary scheme, this should NOT PRESENT A MAJOR PROBLEM TO ANY WELL-FOUNDED IRISH SECURITY BUSINESS. As alway, though, as was the case with ISO 9000 and its predecessors, THERE ARE OFTEN EASIER WAYS TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE than may at first seem to be the case. IT PAYS TO GET ADVICE from those that have already been through the loop or those that have spent some years helping other Companies gain legal and voluntary regulatory compliance in the industry. There ARE simpler and more COST-EFFECTIVE and TIME EFFICIENT ways of achieveing many of the legal and regulatory requirements - CONSULT WITH AN EXPERT before trying to do it all on your own ! JOHN LANE & MARTINE SHANAHAN WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INITIAL FREE CONSULTATIONS IN IRELAND DURING SEPTEMBER, 2005. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS - MAY2005 Sorry for the 9 month delay in this update - have been unbelievably busy since advrertising in Yellow Pages, Yell.Com and in Trades Journals. 1. BIG DEMAND FOR EMPLOYMENT LAW SERVICE I am increasingly being asked to provide EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS and advice either as a stand-alone service or as an integrated part of a HEALTH & SAFETY/ general legal compliance service - including INFORMATION SECURITY in line with the Data Protection Act. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LATEST NEWS - AUGUST 2004 1. TWO NEW SECURITY SYSTEMS CLIENTS ON BOARD WITH JOHN LANE This Summer I have been privileged to have been given ongoing contracts with 2 new electronic security systems companies: ONE specialises in INSTALLING a variety of systems including intruder alarms and CCTV while THE OTHER provides a REMOTE CCTV MONITORING STATION service - specialising in DETECTOR-ACTIVATED CCTV MONITORING. The INSTALLATION company has asked me to assist with the ongoing internal auditing and maintenance of their ISO 9001 approval with NACOSS. In fact, I had previously helped this particular company a year or so ago to put together some generic HEALTH & SAFETY Plans, Method Statements & Risk Assessments to satisfy its larger Customers' H&S compliance requirements under the CDM regulations for new-build and refurbishment projects in which it installs systems. The MONITORING STATION company has asked me to help develop and implement ISO 9001 AND the full range of applicable British & European Standards applicable to its business - including those requiring a wide range of DATA PROTECTION processes to be in place - this has been initially planned as a 12 month to 18 month project. I will also be helping this business with other issues including EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS; HEALTH & SAFETY COMPLIANCE and SALES / MARKETING issues. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NEARLY NEW NEWS - JUNE & JULY 2004 1. SECURITY INDUSTRY UPDATE: - INSURANCE INVALIDATED BY LACK OF OR POORLY DONE VETTING If you are, particularly, a manned security services provider e.g. manned gaurding, then your insurance cover will ALMOST CERTAINLY require that you carry out vetting (security screening of all your staff). Your policy will probably state that for it to be valid, the vetting must be for the FULL 10 YEAR period immediately prior to the person joining your company. BEWARE - I have heard of security firms who HAVE LOST MAJOR CONTRACTS / CUSTOMERS because it has come to light that the vetting has NOT BEEN DONE or NOT DONE PROPERLY or NOT AS SOON AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. What this means is that YOU SHOULD FOLLOW the requirements in BS 7858: 2004 (this standard was updated in March of this year, over the old 1996 version which has now been withdrawn). Even if you DON'T go down the ISO 9001 / BS 7858 / BS 7499 etc. CERTIFICATION or BSIA membership routes, YOUR INSURANCE IS LIKELY TO BE INVALIDATED if you have NOT done you vetting properly. - If you aren't sure of your position on vetting - call John Lane for advice now ! 2. JLBC NOW PROVIDING SERVICES TO FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY In June 2004, John began providing a Health & Safety support service including carrying out a risk assessment for its new premises and producing follow-on policy and arrangements. etc. documentation and advice for an independent financial services partnership. This is a NEW INDUSTRY SECTOR for John Lane / JLBC - and a NEW CHALLENGE ! 3. FINE ARTS PACKING, WAREHOUSING & SHIPPING Also in June 2004, John Lane was commissioned to help a fine arts packing, warehousing and shipping house to bring up to date its existing Health & Safety arrangements and to prepare a Health & Safety preparedness submission to one of its potential clients - a government department in order to help gain approved supplier status. Although John has done quite a bit of work in warehousing and distribution since 1983, this is certainly a departure i.e. to be working in the fine arts field - which requires a completely different set of disciplines to 'normal' packing and shipping. ___________________________________________________________________________ NEARLY THE LATEST NEWS! - MAY 2004 SECURITY INDUSTRY UPDATE The SIA (Security Industry Authority), the UK government's regulatory body for manned security services, is saying that licensing of individual security officers / guards will take effect in 2005. My own view is that this is an overly optimistic view given that it seems that an intended trial run THIS year has not yet even started. Nevertheless, the licensing of officers is looming, as is the licensing of security firms. Until now, my advice to all who have asked, is don't do anything until the SIA has made it crystal clear exactly what is required of officers and firms otherwise you could be wasting time and money. The training course for officers as advocated by the SIA appears grossly over the top in terms of classroom training time with no room for flexibility depending on numbers of students in each class. I think, then, that 2005 is unlikely to be the year of mandatory licensing. However, be aware that YOUR LARGER CUSTOMERS may be at least as knowledgeable as YOU about what's going on in the industry. HOW WOULD YOUR BUSINESS STAND UP TO A CUSTOMER AUDIT OF YOUR VETTING PROCESS (do you HAVE ONE ?) - IF YOU DON'T then you are risking YOUR OWN business even more so than than your Customer's. I strongly recommend that you put the BS 7858: 2004 requirements into action NOW - how sure are you that all of your staff are working in the UK LEGALLY ? - JUST ONE DAY OF MY TIME AND THE STANDARD FORMS AND LETTERS I CAN PROVIDE WILL GET YOU UP TO SPEED ON INDUSTRY BEST-PRACTICE SECURITY SCREENING. Yout DON'T need to do a more expensive, all-encompassing ISO 9000 project, JUST to get YOUR VETTING STRAIGHT. Don't cut corners on vetting - it WILL hurt you in the long run and there ARE security firms out there who have been nearly closed down over this issue. DO VETTING PROPERLY - AND MAKE IT A UNIQUE SELLING POINT ! __________________________________________________________________________ NEARLY LATEST NEWS! - APRIL 2004 DAIRY PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING & DISTRIBUTION INDUSTRY NEARING COMPLETION OF A MAJOR HEALTH & SAFETY PROJECT FOR A DAIRY (MILK PROCESSING) AND ASSOCIATED DISTRIBUTION BUSINESS IN WEST LONDON I am nearing completion of a major, comprehensive and in-depth health and safety management implementation project for this company. The most significant part of the exercise has been to complete a site-wide and business-wide risk assessment that will stand up to scrutiny by local and national government health, safety and environmental authorities and the local fire authority. The nature of this type of business means that there is a strong food and drink hygiene element involved in the processing / manufacturing processes as well the general fire and safety issues concerning any business, manufacturing and distribution premises and the activities of personnel working outside of the company's own premises. More news on this later... ___________________________________________________________________________ NEARLY THE LATEST NEWS! - FEBRUARY 2004 DEAL SIGNED TO PROVIDE TOTAL CONSULTING SUPPORT TO GROWING HVAC & MECHANICAL SERVICES CONTRACTOR I have just agreed a two year renewable contract with an existing client with whom I have been working since 1996. The difference is that until now all the work has been done on an 'as and when needed' basis (i.e. quality management - ISO 9001; health & safety management; environmental management - ISO 14001) with the associated variable annual costs. The new agreement combines all the services previously provided PLUS an EMPLOYMENT LAW advisory and EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS writing & update service. This deal has cemented and expanded the excellent working relationship enjoyed with this company for the last 9 years or so whilst providing the certainty of a fixed cost for the wide range of work carried out along with a guaranteed advisory / support telephone / fax / e-mail based 'hot line'. DEAL SIGNED WITH SPECIALIST CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE OPERATING & MAINTENANCE MANUALS FOR HIGH-PROFILE LONDON WEST-END RETAIL & DOMESTIC REFURBS The 'NEWS' element of this new deal is that until the end of 2003, O&M Manuals have just been a sideline for JLBC. We have now secured a deal to provide all the O&M Manuals for this long-established company (a completely NEW client to JLBC) specilaising in upgrading old retail and domestic dwelling buildings in London's high-profile West End area. O&M Manuals are really no big deal as such but we beat the competirion on this area by doing the work quickly, to the client's timsecales - even if only a week's notice is given, whilst still providing a top quality, attractive and user-friendly manual packed with colour instead of the 'usual' poor quality monochrome photocopies. A similar deal was established a year ago with one of older clients, an electrical contractor specialising in embassy, hospital and local authority installation and service refurbishment works. It was the success of this arrangement that has led to offering an O&M Manuals service to ANYONE who requires it ! ___________________________________________________________________________ NEARLY THE LATEST NEWS ! - SEPTEMBER 2003 BUSINESS PLAN FOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WINS PRAISE ! Following receipt of one of my mailshots a local chartered building company decided first to try out my O&M (Operating & Maintenance) Manual production service. After producing two manuals, well received by the end 'client', I was asked to write a business plan for the company to help with the company's plans for growth. I worked closely with the Company's Director and Management Team to put together a closely customised business plan that won considerable praise and which has already begun to reap for the Company, the targeted rewards. ___________________________________________________________________________ ALMOST THE LATEST NEWS ! - APRIL 2003 TOTALLY FLOWCHARTED QUALITY SYSTEM GAINS CERTIFICATION I received a phone call from one of my manufacturing clients in the first week of April, informing me that their updated ISO 9001: 2000 quality system had just undergone a totally successful certification visit from SGS Yarsley. This was the expected, but none the less pleasing conclusion to a complete 'dumping' of the original 'written' system in favour of a totally flowcharted one - that I had been commissioned to do last year. Very few of my clients have considered totally flowcharting their quality (er, sorry, 'business management') systems. This particular company, a specialist construction cements and grouts manufacturer was absolutely delighted with the result as for some years they had wanted to move away from an overly top-heavy 'paperwork' oriented system - and to gain the UKAS accredited seal of approval, after running the new system without difficulty for nearly 9 months was the 'icing on the cake' ___________________________________________________________________________ *NEARLY THE LATEST NEWS ! - FEBRUARY 2003* Attention: SECURITY FIRMS (MANNED SERVICES & SYSTEMS INSTALLERS / MAINTAINERS) - You may have seen my advert in SMT (Security Management Today). Please note: I am currently compiling some information on the security systems sector which has not yet found its way into this web site. Specifically, once published I will be explaining in more depth what I can do to help you with gaining or maintaining your existing NACOSS or SSAIB registration. This will include help with issues such as BS 7858 (security screening of personnel), a requirement common also with the MANNED security sector. I have just completed a 1-day only assignment to help a new client in the security systems sector (who came to me through the SMT advert) to set up and to complete the vetting on all existing employees, including ALL necessary documentation (checklists, forms and MOST IMPORTANTLY the records i.e. EVIDENCE. The client was left totally satisfied with what I had done for him becaiuse I took the trouble to spend the whole day to help him DO the vetting as well as explaining what / how and why we did what we had to do. A major competitor wanted to charge virtually the same fee to just send him a package on disk with a brief visit from a consultant plus free telephone advice. I am providing the free follow-up telephone advice also but spent probably more than 4 times the amount of time with the client to reassure and explain and help DO the job instead of leaving it ALL FOR HIM TO DO ON HIS OWN ! ___________________________________________________________________________ *NEARLY THE LATEST NEWS ! - JANUARY 2003* ISO 9001: 2000 UPGRADE - FIXED PRICE OFFERS EXPANDED NOW, ALL SIZES OF BUSINESS ARE COVERED WITH HIGHLY COST-EFFECTIVE FIXED PRICE, ALL-INCLUSIVE CONSULTANCY DEALS THIS IS A SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER - DON’T DELAY ! -* The prices shown APPLY ONLY to orders received UP TO 31st JANUARY 2003 I provide all the necessary new documents, document updating / re-writing, advice and hands-on help that you need to ensure you DON’T MISS THE BOAT and achieve your certification upgrade without any extra certification body charges and with the MINIMUM of input on your own part ! What size is your business or organisation ? MICRO BUSINESS - No more than 5 people employed: £ 420 VERY SMALL BUSINESS - Between 6 and 20 people employed: £ 630 SMALL BUSINESSES - Between 21 and 50 people employed: £ 840 MEDIUM SIZE BUSINESSES - Between 51 and 100 people employed: £ 1050 LARGER BUSINESSES & PUBLIC / GOVT. ORGANISATIONS - More than 100 people employed: £ 1260 ** see below * * Subject to survey but this may vary depending on the size, geographic spread and complexity of those parts of your organisation covered by your ISO 9000 scope. * All fixed price projects exclude my attendance at visits by certification bodies. All fixed price projects fully inclusive of expenses based on my visiting your locations if within reasonable daily commuting distance. If you require fully Flowcharted / Process Mapped Quality / Business Management Systems, I will quote for these larger projects separately. THIS IS A SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER - DON’T DELAY ! - The prices shown APPLY ONLY to orders received UP TO 31st JANUARY 2003 BUDGET FOR POSSIBLY UP TO 100% EXTRA on the above prices for orders received AFTER 31st JANUARY, 2003. ___________________________________________________________________________ ARCHIVE NEWS - September 2002 CLIENT CASE STUDY: MAGENTA SECURITY SERVICES LTD. JOHN LANE'S ADVICE & SUPPORT WINS FIRST ISO14001 CERTIFICATION IN UK PRIVATE MANNED SECURITY INDUSTRY SEE ALSO Recommendations On 18th September, 2002 David Dickinson of the BSIA (British Security Industry Association) lent his organisation's acknowledgement and support to the presentation by the BSI (British Standards Institute) of the ISO14001: 1996 UKAS accredited certificate to Abbey Petkar, Managing Director of Magenta Security Services Ltd. Why is this so significant ? Magenta is the FIRST UK manned security business to gain this award AND this is John Lane's FIRST client ISO 14001 project and of course, successfully completed ! ISO 14001 registration with a properly accredited and recognised body such as BSI is a prestigious award with environmental issues coming more and more to the forefront in internation, national and local news. It means that a business or organisation of any type can now PROVE, through this independent and internationally recognised certification, that it is ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY or a GREEN THINKING & ACTING type of concern. Many of Magenta's clients are environmentally-concerned organisations and have welcomed this security provider's pro-active approach. Its clients have contributed to Magenta's environmental programme and now the company can provide thanks for that assistance by providing a more environmentally (i.e. resource-saving and cost-reducing) service in return. The BSI was selected to carry out the assessment and registration process - NOT the easiest UKAS accredited and worlwdide recognised certification body to please ! Choosing the BSI was , however quite easy because Magenta wanted there to be ABSOLUTE CREDIBILITY attached to its real, practical environmental improvement work. For John Lane, whose first experience with environmental management began with being invited by BP to develop an approach to implementing BS 7750 at its South Wales operation in the UK, this has been a major, if long-awaited achievement. Many businesses and government / public authorities want to be thought of as environmentally friendly but when it come to the crunch, only the brave few are prepared to be ‘tested’ against an environmental standard and to put hard cash into it ! When you are working for major international corporations who have major environmental commitments - to be a supplier TO those organisations means you HAVE TO BE SEEN TO FOLLOW IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS to WIN and KEEP their business ! This exercise also proved beyond any doubt that there is NO SUCH THING as a company or organisation that does NOT NEED to make environmental improvements or that can say ISO 14001 does NOT apply to us ! ________________________________________________________________________ ARCHIVE NEWS - August 2002 TOTALLY PROCESS MAPPED & FLOWCHARTED QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM GAINS CERTIFICATION BODY INITIAL APPROVAL WITHOUT NONCOMPLIANCES Between March and July of 2002, John Lane authored a completely new approach to a specialist cement, grout and industrial flooring manufacturing firm's quality management system at their request. John was approached by this firm based on earlier work that he had done to advise on their health and safety management system. The entire existing documented quality system was disliked by the entire company team as it was far too heavy weight for its purpose and had become difficult to maintain or to follow. SGS Yarsley's assessor reviewed the new, totally-charted, full-colour system in August and was happy to 'sign it off' as being totally compliant with ISO 9001: 2000 as well as being totally appropriate to the company and its current needs and requirements. Approximately 20 days' work was put into this project by John Lane. Every chart produced from the project was reviewed and agreed with every relevant employee in the company so that there was a total 'BUY-IN' to the finished result. Process mapping and flowcharting are tools that John Lane has been using since his early career in the 1970s. Bringing these techniques into play today is still good fun because they really do help to highlight the inefficiencies and unnecessary duplication in the way people do things, even though they do not always recognise this is happening. In fact, this particular client KNEW it had room for improvement and was very pleased with the outcome. John was commended for meeting ALL the project objectives by the company's local and parent group management (a German based manufacturing group).