Since August 2017, we have delivered security and reception services for Leading Food Manufacturer. We support the client to maintain high food safety and compliance standards through providing operational security, site access control and audit readiness.
Leading Food Manufacturer is a leading food supplier to UK grocery retailers, which is now a part of Major UK Food Producer, a major food producer in the UK and Ireland. We began delivering services for Leading Food Manufacturer’ Highbridge office in Somerset in 2017, and their Devizes site in Wiltshire was added to the contract later in 2020.
Services we deliver
On this contract for both the Highbridge and Devizes sites, we provide gatehouse and reception-based security services. Our Officers act as the first point of contact for visitors, contractors, agency staff and delivery drivers, ensuring that we appropriately authorise and record all access.
Our core responsibilities on this contract include:
- Booking in visitors, contractors and agency staff
- Directing delivery lorries to the designated loading bay
- External and internal patrols of sites
- Keyholding services, including issuing/controlling keys and unlocking/locking designated site areas
- Supporting with customer audits by providing a meet and greet service and signing in auditors on site, This included support for Major UK Supermarket, Major UK Supermarket and Major UK Retailer inspections
- Ensuring all documentation is up to date, including assignment instructions, risk assessments, training matrices, handover logs and weekly key checks
Beyond the traditional guarding model, our service forms an integrated part of the client’s daily operational processes to maintain strict adherence to site procedures, H&S regulations and customer audit requirements.
Overcoming key challenges
A key operational challenge during the early phases of this contract at the Highbridge site has been staff continuity, due to some staff unexpectedly leaving the business. We responded immediately in these cases to ensure there were no disruptions to service delivery and continuity:
- When the initial Team Lead left the business without notice, we immediately reallocated an experienced night shift Officer to cover vacancies in daytime duties
- When another Officer departed to pursue a different career opportunity, we were able to efficiently address this by appointing a permanent Officer to Friday-to-Sunday duties. This strengthened weekend resilience and stabilised our rota structure for the contract
Following the professionalism and resilience we demonstrated as above at Highbridge, the contract was expanded to also cover the client’s Devizes site. While this contract expansion to Devizes initially began as a temporary COVID-checking function, this developed into a full reception and gatehouse operation, replicating the Highbridge service model and standards.
Delivering success
The longevity of our contract with the client, including the successful expansion to their Devizes location, demonstrates Leading Food Manufacturer’ confidence in SGS’s service delivery.
Evidencing our strong performance and the high calibre of our personnel deployed under this contract, our Officers have been recognised through the following awards:
Claymont Merriman, assigned to the Highbridge site, was a highly recommended award winner at the British Security Awards (BSIA) in May 2024
Antonio Dsouza, assigned to the Devizes site, was recognised internally by Leading Food Manufacturer with an award for exceptional performance
