Projects

Maintaining safe, well-managed buildings, we deliver a comprehensive security and facilities service across more than 45 South Gloucestershire Council locations. Ensuring service continuity, our approach promotes public reassurance across the estate.

Scope of works

Since 2019, we have provided a seamless, integrated solution incorporating both static and mobile support, including:

• Lock and unlock services at 16 live buildings, including libraries and administrative offices
• Scheduled and ad hoc access management for 14 vacant properties
• Static guarding at core buildings and depots, with trained officers deployed at agreed access points
• Mobile patrols of 18 car parks, recreational spaces and solar farm sites, with verified checks and timed routes
• Alarm response across all council locations, including night-time and weekend callouts
• Fire alarm testing conducted to client schedule, supporting compliance with fire safety obligations
• Portering and logistical support at civic centres, including meeting room preparation and equipment moves
• Secure contractor escorting, providing oversight for works access to sensitive or high-risk sites

In addition to core activities, we support a wide range of civic events and emergency response scenarios, such as:

• Polling station coverage during elections, including overnight static officers and mobile checks
• Public council meetings requiring security presence and access management
• Emergency school lockdowns requiring rapid officer deployment and site control
• Out-of-hours callouts for alarm activations and unauthorised site access
• Short-notice requests for coverage of events, open days and community engagement sessions

Our delivery model is underpinned by a flexible team of trained officers, live scheduling and GPS verification. Maintaining uninterrupted service since contract start, we adapt daily to meet evolving civic needs.

Overcoming key challenges

Demonstrating our ability to maintain consistent service delivery across the contract, we overcame challenges including short-notice event coverage, multi-site deployment and civic asset safeguarding.

Enabling a fast, flexible response to site needs, our solution centres on local readiness and is backed by dynamic rostering. Providing a pool of trained relief officers and using real-time scheduling tools, we deliver responsive coverage without impacting fixed-site schedules.

For example, during a school lockdown, we deployed officers within 30 minutes of the client’s call. Officers secured the perimeter, supported onsite safeguarding leads and logged all actions for client review.

We also faced operational pressure during the COVID-19 period. With reduced footfall and high public concern, we reallocated patrols to focus on remote and vulnerable sites such as parks and solar farms, deterring vandalism and supporting community safety.

To manage seasonal activity spikes, such as elections or summer public park use, we deliver enhanced patrols and officer rotation without reducing service levels at fixed sites.

Delivering success

Maintaining uninterrupted service throughout, we have successfully delivered high project volumes across multiple sites on this contract. Evidencing our success, every year on this contract we have maintained 100% compliance with patrol schedules, lock/unlock requirements and alarm response times.

In addition, as a result of their work on this contract, our Account Supervisor was nominated and shortlisted as a finalist in the Management Excellence category at the British Security Awards 2025.

To support transparency and oversight, we log all site visits using GPS-verified tracking and upload them to our MiSentinel Workforce Management platform and client-facing portal in real time. Supporting effective incident investigation, performance reviews and audit readiness, this transparency strengthens accountability across the contract.

To drive continuous improvement, we conduct regular client review meetings, chaired by the Procurement Manager and covering KPI tracking, escalation reports and service development discussions. To ensure progress is embedded, each meeting generates an agreed action plan that is reviewed at the next cycle.

Demonstrating our success and positive relationship with the client, we consistently receive praise from council staff on our professionalism, flexibility and presence. Our team acts as both deterrent and ambassador, supporting community confidence in council-managed spaces.

“Sentinel Group Security have consistently delivered an excellent service across our sites. They respond quickly and adapt to new requirements without disruption.” – Nick Miller, Procurement Manager at South Gloucestershire Council

Maintaining success with this ongoing contract, we continue to support the council in delivering a safe, functional and accessible public estate while adapting to changing civic demands.