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5 reasons you must have CCTV on your business site

CCTV is not only a smart investment for your business, it is essential if you are serious about growth and the safety of your staff and clients.

Businesses who fail to install CCTV on their premises are asking for trouble and are taking a significant risk every single day. The most well-known purpose of CCTV towers is to deter criminals and catch them in the act. Whilst this is certainly a huge reason to install CCTV on your premises, there are actually many less ominous uses for CCTV that can help you to optimise your business operations and reduce your stress levels. As one of the UK’s leading suppliers of CCTV towers trusthire.co.uk are more than aware of just how flexible an asset CCTV can be.

In this blog, we will walk you through 5 of the most important benefits of installing business CCTV.

cctv signage

Improved Productivity

No-one wants to be constantly monitoring their staff activity to ensure things are running smoothly. It takes time away from other key tasks and wastes money and assets that would be much better spent elsewhere.

With CCTV in place, you don’t have to. CCTV cameras are proven to increase employee productivity as they are aware that they could be under observation at any time, not only when their boss walks in. It also reassures them that they are protected against external threats, allowing them to relax and get on with their work in peace.

Better Asset Management

If you are in charge of a major site such as a warehouse or construction site, it is easy for tools or equipment to be left lying around not being used. CCTV allows you to keep an eye across your entire site all at once, tracking use of assets and ensuring that they are deployed most effectively. This will result in a further upturn in productivity and make CCTV an even more cost-effective investment.

Prevent Crime

In this article we have discuss a variety of ways CCTV can be used that you might not have thought of.

However, its primary purpose remains to reduce the risk of crime, and this is something that it does extremely well. Having visible CCTV cameras on the exterior of you property will make any criminal think twice before making you a target and any suspicious activity will be caught in HD clarity. CCTV footage often forms the basis of a successful police investigation or insurance claim and will protect you in the event of an emergency.

Settle staff disputes

Never again will you be stuck in the situation where two members of staff have different versions of how an event unfurled and you need to try and determine the truth.

CCTV lets you know exactly what happened and allows you to make a more informed decision.

Lower Security costs

CCTV does the job of many security officers all at once, meaning that you might be able to save some money on your security strategy without compromising on effectiveness or safety.

Why security guarding could be the perfect career for you

There are a lot of things to look for when choosing a new career. Stability, fulfilment, opportunity for growth, variety, and a sense of accomplishment are some of the most important and are all available to those who pursue a career in security guarding.

Security guards are responsible, vigilant, and spend their day-to-day lives keeping others safe. Every single day presents new challenges to overcome and problems to solve and could be the perfect career switch if you are looking for a fresh start.

In this article, we will explore some of the reasons that people choose to become a security guard, helping you to get a better idea if this is a route that you wish to go down in your own life.

security communication

Desire to help others

If you don’t have a desire to do good in the world and keep people safe, security guard probably isn’t the role for you. These professionals spend their daily lives safeguarding people, businesses, property, and assets and no matter if you are stationed in a supermarket or at a major sporting event, this is a lot of responsibility to take on. Security guards don’t always get the credit that they deserve for the crucial role that they play but if helping others is a big part of what you want to do in your life, this won’t matter to you.

Opportunity for advancement

Everyone wants to know that there is room in their chosen career for growth and a chance to progress on to bigger and better things over the years. Some people love being a security guard out in the field, but others use the role as a stepping stone into the security industry and will then move on to management or consultancy roles. Some of our more senior security professionals are responsible for conducting risk assessments on client sites, for example, using their years of experience to identify threats and to help our client’s guard against them.

Learn transferable skills

If you become a security guard and realise that you have found your ideal career, great. If not, you will learn skills during the training process that are highly transferrable and will help you to get ahead in whatever industry you decide to move into.

First Aid, for example, is not a key module in the SIA licencing programme and being first aid trained is an essential skill in many different careers, not to mention incredibly valuable in day-to-day life.

Build relationships

Security guarding is a public facing role and you will constantly be working alongside a variety of different characters. It is a great chance to build your own personal network and work on your communication skills. Again, the teamwork, leadership, and communication skills that you will develop during your time as a security guard are incredibly transferable and will benefit you in the future, no matter what that future ends up looking like for you.

6 tips for a pest free garden

We all dream of a stunning thriving garden, full of flowers, plants, and goodness that we can enjoy and relax in after a stressful day at the office.

Pest pose a serious threat to that dream becoming a reality, but with a few simple tips we can help you, and your green fingers, to keep them at bay.

There is nothing worse than carefully tending your fruit bushes and herbs only for the crop to be destroyed completely by on insect or another. To ensure that this isn’t the case, and that you are able to enjoy the full fruits of your labour and toil, read on as we discuss 7 of the best strategies for keeping your garden pest free, all developed and verified by a professional pest controller Preston.

pest controller
6 pest control tips for your garden.

1)    Plant the right herbs

Herbs are a lovely addition to any garden, giving off a wonderful aroma and working fantastically in a variety of homecooked recipes. Did you know, however, that whilst some plants will be devoured by pest insects, there are several, herbs in particular, that they will avoid at all costs. Peppermint, lavender, basil, catnip, and lemon balm are only a few of the plants that most notorious UK insect pests will stay well away from.

You could also grow some of these plants inside your home on the kitchen window sill, for example, to send any adventurous insects who do decide to venture too close for comfort scurrying back to whence they came.

2)    Move your plants

You have probably heard of crop rotation but might think of it purely as an agricultural term referring to the practices of farmers who move their crops to prevent over farming. Many people don’t realise that crop rotation can also be an incredibly useful tool for domestic gardeners. Not only will it let certain patches of soil recover, but it will also disrupt the lifecycle of certain pests, reducing their population and keeping them under control. The last thing that you want is to provide pests with a permanent home too close to your own and taking this approach to your garden planting will help to keep populations in check.

3)    Install physical barriers

Possibly the most fool proof way to prevent pests from targeting the plants in your garden is to install physical barriers that prevent them from being accessed.

Netting, for example, is highly effective at keeping insects and birds at bay. For slightly larger mammals, such as foxes, and rabbits, fencing around your plants can help to keep pests under control and prevent them from being destroyed.

4)    Clear away waste

Keeping your home hygienic and clean, both inside and out, is one of the most important precautions that you can take to avoid attracting pests.

Make sure that you store any rubbish such as food waste securely in sealed bins if stored outside, and avoid letting leaves, plant matter, and other garden debris from building up. A clean and tidy garden looks great to humans, but is a pest’s worst nightmare as there are very few places for them to hide and build a home.

This doesn’t mean that your garden has to be devoid of insect activity, however, many of us love building a healthy ecosystem in our gardens where plants and animals can thrive, but this can be achieved by planting certain plants and flowers, rather than by allowing organic waste to accumulate.

5)    Consider professional pest control

pest control

Many people have a misconception that all pest control companies are only interested in eradicating pest species, but nothing could be further from the truth. Most pest professionals are animal lovers and will only used insecticides to achieve control. This is actually a legal requirement as some insects that pose pest problems are also protected by law and can only be controlled whilst they pose a real threat to human health.

Pest control firms will have access to all the tools and techniques required to tackle pest infestations in your garden of all shapes and sizes and should be your first port of call if you believe that you have an infestation. Some of the most common garden pests that pest control companies deal with on a daily basis include ants, beetles, flies, roaches, and many more.

6)    Use drip irrigation

Watering your plants is essential to strong growth but doing so in the wrong way can attract pest species. Overhead watering, for example, can create a humid environment in which slugs thrive. Instead of a traditional watering can approach, consider implementing a drip irrigation system that instead feeds water to plants from below ensuring they have everything they need to grow without attracting species intent on their destruction.

Top tips for finding a great gas safe engineer

Boiler servicing, repair, and installation are all vitally important in keeping your home warm this winter and meeting your hot water needs.

All of these services share one thing in common. They must be carried out by a fully trained and certificated gas safe engineer.

Your boiler plays a vital role in keeping your home and family safe and warm and the last thing you want to do is to put this in jeopardy by trying to find an engineer on the cheap. By following the great tips in this guide created by industry experts you will know exactly what questions to ask when interviewing a gas safe engineer to come and carry out work on your gas boiler.

Tip 1: Use the gas safe register

new boiler

The most obvious and most effective place to start your search for a gas safe registered engineer, the Gas Safe register names all those companies and individuals who have trained to become Gas Safe registered and passed all the required examinations.

Tip 2: Ask for a certificate

Any boiler engineer should be able to produce a copy of the certificate they were awarded for becoming gas safe registered upon request. If they are unable to do so, they are not qualified to carry out work on gas appliances and you will likely be invalidating your warranty and insurance by asking them to do so.

Tip 3: Get several estimates

Ask around 2-3 different gas safe engineers for a written estimate for the work that you want them to do. Ask we said earlier, you don’t want to simply choose the cheapest option when it comes to boiler servicing but you don’t want to end up paying well over the odds either and getting a comparison of different quotes will ensure that this isn’t the case.

Tip 4: Check their online reputation

Many of us are wary of online reviews, and with good reason, but there is no better way to get a decent idea of a company’s reputation and hear from previous clients about their experiences that by reading some online reviews.

Many boiler repair companies will have testimonies from previous clients uploaded on their own websites but you should take these with a pinch of salt. They will be handpicked by the company themselves and they are hardly going to publish negative customer experiences on their own site. Instead, look for an independent review website such as Checkatrade or google reviews for your feedback.

Tip 5: Ensure they are reliable

winter boiler breakdown

If you have arranged to speak to a gas safe engineer over the phone or they have agreed to come round to your property to give you and estimate and they don’t show up on time, this isn’t a good sign. Of course, these are busy professionals who may well have been held up on another job but the last thing you need is for your engineer to be unreliable and take the day off work to wait for their arrival only for them to cancel at the last minute. You should be able to get an idea of whether this is likely to happen from your initial consultation and by reading online reviews.

Tip 6: Ask your neighbours

The chances are that most similar properties to yours in your area have a similar heating system installed and someone you know has almost certainly had work carried out on their boiler in recent times. Ask a family member, friend, or trusted neighbour in your area which local gas safe engineer they used for their boiler needs and whether they would recommend them. They will be able to tell you what work they had done, whether they we’re satisfied with the results, whether they have had any further problems since, and what the engineer was like to work with as well as answering any other questions you might have.

Tip 7: Ask for a registered number

If anything goes wrong with your boiler installation or repair it is crucial that you are able to track down the gas engineer responsible. Before you have any work carried out on your property ask for a registered office address and number from the engineer in question. If they refuse to provide this promptly, steer clear and look elsewhere, it simply isn’t worth the risk with so many competent engineers out there.

If you live in the Glasgow area and want to save yourself the time and trouble of endless research looking for boiler repair companies in Glasgow, get in touch with CHS Glasgow today. Our team of expert gas safe engineers carry out domestic and commercial boiler installations, repairs, and servicing on a daily basis with customer satisfaction and safety a hallmark of each and every job we complete.

10 tips for finding the perfect double glazing company

Quality double glazed windows and doors will last upwards of 25-30 years in many cases and finding the right installer with the best quality products is essential to your experience over the decades to come.

Choosing the right installer for your uPVC double or triple glazing can be tough, especially considering that most of us only do this a couple of times in our lives and are unlikely to have a ‘go-to’ installation company to call.

This is a big decision to make, and one that you will have to live with for many years, so it is important to carefully weigh up all your options before making a decision. How can you tell if their products are quality? For example, and how do you know that they will be honest and upfront with you?

Double glazing installation should be an exciting time, leading to increased security and energy efficiency in your home and saving you money for decades to come, but it can quickly become a nightmare if you don’t choose the right installer.

Fortunately, at theadvancedgroup.co.uk, we are here to help, with a guide to the 10 best tips for finding the perfect local double glazing installation company for your needs.

beautiful new windows

1)    Hear from previous customers

The easiest way to find out what sort of experience you can expect from a double-glazing installer is to look at the experiences of previous customers. Read some independent online reviews of their work and ask for some testimonies before you agree to anything.

If you are using a local installation company, there is a good chance that your friends or family in the area may have used them in the past and this is another good source of referrals/recommendations. If you have just moved into the area, why not ask on the local Facebook group? This is a good way to hear from local people and introduce yourself whilst still getting the information that you need.

2)    Don’t forget the fine details

The glass itself is just one part of what makes a quality window product and the frame, locking system, handles, and hinges also play an important role in window security and efficiency.

Check the materials that are used in all aspects of a window product prior to purchase to make sure that the company is not cutting costs on the fine details that could end up causing big problems.

3)    Check their accreditations

The first place to start when looking for a window installer in the UK is FENSA. FENSA is the industry quality standard for double glazed products and is trusted by Governments, local authorities, and industry experts alike.

Ask to see your installer’s FENSA certificate and steer clear is they are unable to or fail to provide it.

4)    Security Features

Modern double glazing is a powerful security feature in itself, putting an added layer of glass between you and potential intruders. For maximise protection for you, your home, and your family you should also look for units with additional security features such as reinforced glass and multi-point locking systems.

5)    Do you need doors as well?

Most double-glazing companies provide both uPVC windows and uPVC doors, allowing you to match the two and create the perfect home aesthetic of your choice.

If you are having your windows and doors replaced at the same time it makes sense to use an installer that offers both services, both for aesthetic reasons and because it will save you a huge amount of stress, time, and money.

6)    Visit their showroom

Many installers will have their very own showroom where you can go and look at their products in person and meet the people behind the brand.

new window showroom

This is a great idea and will not only reassure you that you are making the right choice but also that you are entrusting your installation to professionals who know what they are talking about.

7)    Stay local

If possible, choose a double-glazing installer in your local area. They will likely have products that match the style of property in the region and will be used to meeting the needs of local people such as yourself.

8)    Get the longest guarantee possible

All respected window installers offer a double glazing guarantee on their products, protecting you against accidental damage and malfunctions.

The industry average is around the 10–15-year mark, but the longer the guarantee is the better.

9)    Get a site survey

A site survey is a chance for the installer to get a grasp on the extent of the project and give you an accurate quote. It is also a good chance for you to get to know them as a company and get an idea of what they will be like to have working on your property.

10) Trust your gut

If something feels wrong about an installer, simply move on, and choose someone else. This is a major financial decision that you will have to live with for many years and not one that you want to make on a whim

What is the role of a human rights lawyer in promoting social justice?

Human rights lawyers work incredibly hard to defend the basic rights and freedoms that as humans we are all entitled to.

By defending those who have seen their rights breached, regardless of their gender, race, age, or occupation, human rights lawyers play an invaluable role in promoting equality within society and ensuring that social justice is served.

This article will look at all the ways in which human rights law firms do just that on a day-to-day basis as well as some of the key characteristics of a great human rights lawyer that you should look for if you ever find yourself in a situation where you believe your rights or freedoms have been breached.

human rights lawyer

What is social justice?

Social justice refers to efforts made to create a society that is as fair and equal as possible. In order to so this, social barriers must be broken down, and the basic human rights that we all possess must be defending ferociously.

Human rights lawyers are the soldiers in this fight, working tirelessly to uphold the rights of their clients and protecting them from discrimination and oppression at all times.

Human rights lawyers work for everyone, not only the rich and famous, earning significantly less than other types of lawyer and regularly taking pro bono cases. They defend those in poverty, refugees, immigrants, and other groups that see a higher than average number of human rights breaches against them.

Some of the most common rights defended by human rights lawyers in the UK include the right to healthcare, education, and freedom of speech, but the range of issues they are experts in is vast and far-reaching.

How do human rights lawyers promote social justice

Besides representing their clients in human rights violation cases, and holding institutions to account when it comes to protecting the rights and freedoms of every human, human rights lawyers help to promote social justice in a number of different ways.

They don’t only defend the law, they help to create it, holding the Government and other law creating entities to account by ensuring laws and policies do not threaten to put human rights in jeopardy.

Should Government actions fall outside the International standard for human rights, they will challenge them, keeping all those in positions of power accountable for their actions.

No one is above the law, and everyone must be subject to the same rules when it comes to human rights. Human rights lawyers are there to ensure that this is the case.

They also work to highlight and address inequalities within society including systemic issues that regularly threaten human rights. This may include challenging policies that companies or organisations put in place that are in conflict with the human rights of those they affect and use their platform to be an advocate for social change.

Human rights lawyers have already made a huge impact on the society that we live in today and without them there would be a huge amount more systemic discrimination that their already is.

How do human rights lawyers represent their clients?

The main duty of a human rights lawyer, besides their social impact, is to represent those who have experienced human rights violations. They will represent them in court if things go that far but also in negotiations outside of court, working to ensure that they have access to the justice that they deserve and can seek redress for damage caused.

They will also draft legal documents on behalf of their clients, many of whom may not originally be from the country and may be unaware of the legal process and unable to seek justice without professional expert assistance.

Human rights lawyers will use their extensive experience in the field to provide the most appropriate legal advice at any time, advocating for the action that will result in the best possible chance of their client receiving the justice that they deserve.

Being a human rights lawyer requires a person to have a real drive for justice and be able to work in highly charged emotional circumstances, not to mention having an extensive and ever growing knowledge of the law and human rights legislation.

If you are seeking a human rights lawyer, or know someone who is, these are just some of the qualities that you should look for.

Aamer Anwar Lawyer

The importance of human rights lawyers

Overall, human rights lawyers play a critical role in creating a fairer society and ensuring the fundamental rights of their clients and the public at large are defended in the strongest possible way.

They hold Governments and other major institutions to account and represent those who have had their rights violated in any way. Without them, there would be fair fewer advocates for change and systemic causes of discrimination would be far more widespread.

Manned guarding vs security technology

Security technology is improving at a frightening rate. If you are looking for a security system to help you protect your business site, you have an incredible range of different options from AI CCTV towers to motion detection alarm systems.

Sometimes, it can be hard to keep up with it all. But has technology advanced so far that it has mitigated the need for manned guarding services altogether?

Security is certainly better when you embrace technology, but are security guards themselves still as valuable as they always have been or is your business site just as safe protected solely by security technology?

The answer is that it very much depends on the size and location of your size and the nature of your operations. One thing that can not be argued is that businesses do need security as business assets are commonly the victim of theft and vandalism across the globe. But what form exactly should your security take?

Manned Guarding

security on construction site

24/7 manned guarding is an incredibly effective way to protect your business from crime. Security guards have been the heartbeat of the security industry for many years and remain so to this day.

Advantages of Manned Guarding

Just some of the many benefits of having highly trained SIA licences security officers protecting your property include:

A visible crime deterrent

Your alarm system might be able to detect an intruders movement once they are on your site, but the highly visible presence of manned guarding will often deter criminals from targeting your property in the first place.

Lower risk of false alarms

Security technology has improved to such an extent that false alarms are rare, but they are still possible, and much less likely when your security is provided by human guards.

CCTV and Alarm monitoring

So far, we have looked at manned guarding and security technologies as two separate options but the fact is that the most effective security systems combine the two.

Security guards can use CCTV to identify threats in real time and use the information they have observed to intercept intruders before they do any real harm.

Disadvantages of manned guarding

There are a few possible reasons why manned guarding might not always be the best option, however.

Cost

By far the biggest factor in many commercial sites moving towards a technology only security model is to save money. 24/7 manned guarding isn’t cheap, there is no way around that, but being the victim of a crime isn’t cheap either, and in the long-run on large-scale sites, manned guarding has been proven time and time again to be a cost-effective choice.

Security guards cannot cover the entire site at all times

No matter how good your security guards are, they will never be able to monitor activity across the entire site at all times, as effectively on their own as they are able to when utilising CCTV.

You need to trust your security guards

Putting your faith in a manned guarding service requires a huge amount of trust that you have picked the right security guards to protect highly valuable assets that are crucial to the future of your business.

Security Technologies

security guard watching cctv

In the modern world, the list of security technologies is almost endless from CCTV systems to biometric access control gates that use fingerprint or facial recognition to verify the identity of those entering the site.

Benefits of security technologies

24/7 coverage

CCTV and alarm systems will keep your property protected at all times of the night and day. Modern systems can even be monitored via your mobile device allowing you to check up on your site whenever you feel like it, or an alert is detected.

Cost saving

Security technologies allow you to save money on your security costs, without compromising the security of your site or the safety of your staff.

Can be used to gather evidence

Should the worst happen and a crime is committed on your property, CCTV will capture the entire event. This footage will be incredibly useful for the police in tracking down the culprit and can be used as key evidence in both court and insurance claims.

Disadvantages of security technologies

False alarms

They are rare, but false alarms are an ever present possibility with a technology controlled site, even with the most modern of AI technology.

Humans are still required

Whether they are on site 24/7 or remotely monitoring CCTV from afar, human security guards are still essential if you want a real-time response to security alerts detected by your security technologies.

Overall, the most effective of all security systems are created from a combination of BOTH manned guarding and security technologies with security guards utilising technology to aid them in the task of keeping your property safe and secure at all times.