News
New hi-tech security hub to protect UK businesses opens
April 2011 by Marc Jacob
The UK’s newest hi-tech security hub, designed to protect some of the world’s largest companies, has opened today in Craigavon, Northern Ireland.
MiTec is one of the most advanced security hubs in the UK and will help businesses protect their personnel and premises through a suite of services.
These include 24 hour remote monitoring of sites and buildings, lone worker protection and real time vehicle tracking, all with close co-operation with the police and other emergency services.
The centre, which has created 38 new jobs in Northern Ireland, has been built by MITIE, a FTSE 250 strategic outsourcing and energy services company, which has itself invested more than £2m in its development.
It was officially opened today by Ruby McGregor-Smith, chief executive officer of MITIE, and Alastair Hamilton, chief executive of InvestNI, Northern Ireland’s economic development agency.
Over 60 people from the security industry and MITIE’s clients attended the official unveiling including representatives of Capgemini, Capita and Eurostar.
As well as monitoring facilities, MiTec provides real time response to incidents via “call outs” to local police forces and MITIE’s mobile security personnel. The seamless integration of these services makes it unique amongst security providers in the UK.
It is also the first time that this range of services has been brought together under one roof and MiTec has been ‘future-proofed’ to ensure it can upgrade as technology advances and clients’ needs change.
The centre has been designed to stringent BS 5979 Category II standards and is protected by high tensile steel walls and vibration detectors throughout.
MITIE has revenues of £1.7bn and over 60,000 employees in the UK and Europe. It is a leading security provider in the UK, employing 12,000 officers and delivering 4,000 security contracts across 10,000 sites.
Ruby McGregor- Smith, chief executive of MITIE said: “MiTec is an advanced security centre operating to world-class standards and allows us to protect our clients’ properties, information and personnel in the most cost effective way.
“We decided to open MiTec in Northern Ireland because there is a talented and motivated workforce and I am very excited to be here today.”
