The protectors

It’s official: the Protec team are approved contractors. Elvin (second left, back row) displays the certificate

Security company secures top rating
PROTEC Security has gained Approved Contractor status with the Security Industry Authority, an award held by only a quarter of security companies operating in this country.

The award follows a rigorous assessment of all the company’s operations in June of this year.

Based at Primrose Works, Primrose Bank, Oldham, Protec Security has been operating for seven years and recruits virtually all staff from the Oldham area.

Founding director Elvin Lucas, who lives in Oldham, said: “This award means that Protec Security Ltd is an organisation which has distinguished itself as being among the best providers of private security in the UK.”

Elvin and three colleagues, Martin Ascot, Ian Clifford and Paul Hobday, all from Moorside, worked together before setting up Protec Security to provide security services, including static guarding, door supervision, mobile patrols and key holding to a wide range of clients in Oldham, Bolton, Tameside, Rochdale and Manchester.

Elvin said: “We provide a thoroughly professional service. All our personnel have first-aid certificates and are trained to NVQ Level Two in customer service.

“The secret to good security is communication and explanation.

“We find that if you talk to people, in a confident and non-confrontational manner, they will respond.”

The company, which spent several months undergoing the rigorous procedure, which includes 150 elements to achieve the Approved Contractor status, has 35 full and part-time employees.

Tony Knowles, the company business development officer, who has worked in Oldham for 30 years, said: “Our employees are the face of the company and it is important that they all trained to a high standard.

“Everyone has bought into the process — what they do on the job reflects the face of protect and our reputation which is why we are continually looking top improve our standards.”

Elvin added: “We want to continue to work in partnership with social enterprise schemes, local job clubs and partnerships such as J21, the job initiative between Oldham and Rochdale Council.

“There are many lads in Oldham who have experience of our industry but are out of work and we want to get these local people back into local jobs.”