It is almost the night of The Security & Fire Awards for Excellence, where we have been nominated across five notable categories.
Firstly, as finalists within the Industry Choice Security Guarding Company and Security Guarding Company of the Year over £35m, these notable nominations evidence the work behind the scenes of our support teams to build a robust operation.
As pioneers of subcontracted labour removal, our teams have never been stronger following the choice to implement this solution. With the removal of subcontractors from the business, our teams have been able to verify and vet all staff members proportional to their roles, removing concerns of the legitimacy of qualifications, ultimately improving staff preparedness, as our teams are vetted in accordance with SIA standards.
Alongside our adoption of the Real Living Wage, as a recognised service provider, we are proud to raise the standards within our client base as we work to ensure that all staff members are provided with the living wage, which improves employee morale, retention and progression opportunities.
These initiatives solidify our commitment to excellence as client retention remains at an exceptional 98.5%, which exemplifies our commitment to providing quality solutions to our clients.
SECURITY MANAGER OF THE YEAR
At an individual level, we have been extremely fortunate to have three nominations within the Security Manager of the Year category.
FAHAD AMIR | GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL
Starting with Fahad Amir, our Security Contract Manager at our Great Ormond Street Hospital contract. Leading a high-performing, excelling team, Fahad has established his team as front runners in security by blending operational oversight with hands-on team engagement. With a clear commitment to our company value of creating Sector-Based Experts, Fahad ensures staff are trained to use security technologies effectively, including CCTV systems, access control tools, and incident management platforms. Actively participating in tabletop and live simulation exercises such as lockdown drills, missing child scenarios, theft, and bomb threats / suspicious packages responses. Utilising these real test experiences, the team have been able to utilise technology in tandem with physical response strategies, embedding readiness and confidence within his team. With high standards of communication, whether verbally or within his detailed client reports, Fahad maintains a solid partnership with his client.
RIAZ ISMAIL | IQ STUDENT LIVING
Over at IQ Student Living, Contract Manager Riaz Ismail demonstrates exemplary capability in managing both people and systems across a demanding, multi-site private sector contract. Overseeing ten IQ Student Living properties in London, he leads a team of over fifty officers, using a consistent, scalable approach to ensure operational quality and service excellence. Riaz leads with a people-first approach, ensuring officers are trained, supervised, and supported to use these tools confidently and responsibly. Riaz stands out from his peers for his human-centred leadership, his commitment to officer well-being, operational scope and consistency and the trust provided by his client following consistently meeting and exceeding their expectations.
ROBIN GORMLEY | CAMDEN COUNCIL
At Camden Council, Robin Gormley’s leadership approach represents a gold standard in transformational contract management and security service delivery. Joining Carlisle when he tuped over with the contract, Robin has steered the Council’s security operations from good to truly great, embedding operational excellence, achieving outstanding key performance metrics, and delivering real value to the community. Managing one of Camden’s most complex and high-profile security contracts, under his stewardship, it has become a benchmark for performance. Standing out for his transformational impact, strategic foresight, and values-driven leadership. Robin’s ability to align operational delivery with Camden Council’s broader ambitions, such as social value, sustainability, and community engagement, sets him apart as a modern, holistic security leader. Where he doesn’t just maintain standards, he elevates them.
SECURITY OFFICER OF THE YEAR
For the Security Officer of the Year category, we are fortunate to have had three frontline employees recognised as finalists for their outstanding commitment to their roles and safety.
With a potential of £1,500 for the winner and £500 for the runner-up, this category takes an important step towards recognising the outstanding acts of our frontline Security officers.
KARL WESTERHOLM | TESCO
Starting with Karl Westerholm, from our Tesco security contract. Karl is an individual who does not hesitate to act, with an instinct to help, no matter if it is dealing with crime or stepping in to save a life. Recently, Karl was awarded a lifesaver award after helping a young child who was choking on a sweet in-store. Using his first aid training, Karl remained calm under pressure as the incident escalated. After two failed attempts with back slaps, Karl was prepared to carry the child to a nearby medical centre, but thankfully, on the third try, he successfully dislodged the sweet. For Karl, this experience was just part of the job, downplaying the moment, seeing this as simply doing what anyone should do, even though his actions likely saved a life. As a 30-year veteran in the Royal Marines, Karl brings this discipline and mindset to his role in private security, showing up each day immaculately presented and giving 100%. Customers often say Karl exceeds every expectation they have of security. His presence not only reassures them but makes them feel genuinely safe. It’s this mix of professionalism, humility, and real-world impact that makes Karl truly stand out from the rest.
MOHSIN KHAN | IQ STUDENT LIVING // SOUTHWARK COUNCIL
At our IQ Student Living contract, Mohsin Khan consistently demonstrates a level of professionalism, initiative, and composure that sets him apart from his colleagues. His approach to security goes beyond routine duties, marked by a genuine commitment to safety, quick decision-making under pressure, and a desire to make a positive change. With a genuine connection with residents, client management, and external stakeholders such as the local police has fostered a culture of trust and cooperation. During a recent patrol, Mohsin witnessed a distressed young teen attempting to jump from a 7th-floor window to escape his mother, whom he was shouting was attempting to harm him. Without hesitation, Mohsin contacted the emergency services and engaged the boy from outside to calm and reassure him that help was on the way. Rushing to the flat in question, Mohsin was able to de-escalate the situation and intervene just in time to ensure the boy’s safety. Despite the mother’s reluctance to allow the child to exit, the boy ran towards Mohsin, who ensured his safety, secured the window, and stayed with the child until police arrived minutes later, followed by social services. His quick thinking helped ensure the young boy’s safety, potentially saved a life and prevented a tragic incident.
SHAUN MAUDSLEY | ALDER HEY NHS TRUST
Nominated from our Alder Hey NHS Trust contract, Shaun Maudsley exemplifies our Carlisle values to a “t”. Understanding the importance of not only providing excellent customer service, Shaun understands the need to help the hospital’s most vulnerable residents feel comfortable and safe when in an unfamiliar environment, and for the past six years, he has found a unique way to do just that. As a talented and passionate artist, Shaun has created and handed out hundreds of his own drawings of popular characters to children and young people across the wards and A&E to bring a little joy and comfort to those who need it most. Shaun’s casual kindness in providing ill children with something that boosts their morale as they deal with difficult situations emphasises our core values of caring passionately for all and having the customer at heart. Moments like this provide our clients and their customers with positive interactions and experiences that they will remember for the rest of their lives.
SECURITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR
SOUTHBANK CENTRE SECURITY AND EVENTS TEAMS | OPERATION BLUEBELL
At a project level, our Southbank Centre, Security and Events teams have been nominated for the Security Project of the Year for Operation Bluebell, which was created to manage the potential threat when hosting a high-profile client at Southbank Centre’s Literature Festival. In advance of the event, the security team received an unprecedented range of vulnerabilities and threats in the lead-up to Operation Bluebell, an event that was not only politically charged and internationally significant but also carried a credible risk of state-sponsored interference, targeted protest activity, and reputational damage. With Intelligence briefings from the Met Police and national security services indicating an elevated threat level, the event was anticipated to be one of the most scrutinised public critiques of the Russian regime in the UK that year.
Ultimately, these nominations are a testament to the incredible work that our teams do for our clients and showcase personal excellence, teamwork and collaboration. With the event taking place soon, we would like to wish our finalists all the best for the Security and Fire Awards for Excellence on Monday 1st December 2025.
Carlisle Support Services announces the appointment of Chris Wright as Head of Operations (South) for the Arts & Culture client portfolio, strengthening the company’s leadership team
Carlisle Support Services (Carlisle) achieved member status in the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, in recognition of its sustained commitment to fair, inclusive, and progressive employment
Thousands of colleagues at Carlisle work across different locations, different sectors and shift patterns throughout the UK. Many spend their working days looking after others,
Providing flexible, on-demand support to help organisations build resilience, mitigate risks, and adapt to the ever-changing political, socio-economic, and environmental landscape to deliver seamless event experiences.
Managing trees and vegetation for the UK’s public infrastructure and commercial spaces.
Delivering aesthetically pleasing environments whilst eliminating potential hazards and operational disruptions caused by vegetation.
Provide fully vetted, accredited officers equipped with the latest technologies to secure and protect your people, premises, assets and the wider public.
Providing bespoke services that identify site specific vulnerabilities and address complex challenges to mitigate risks.
Maintaining high facility standards and minimising service disruptions across the UK rail network.
Delivering exceptionally clean environments at optimal cost and positive environmental footprint with unrivalled quality control across nationwide operations.
Delivering seamless passenger experiences whilst protecting revenue and achieving operational excellence.
Providing flexible, on-demand support to help organisations build resilience, mitigate risks, and adapt to the ever-changing political, socio-economic, and environmental landscape.
Deploying balanced crowd management strategies for optimal safety and seamless visitor experiences.
Delivering seamless visitor experiences across the UK’s biggest venues, stadiums and exhibition centres.
Transforming customer journeys with innovative car parking solutions that maximise operational control and revenue.
Enhancing and maintaining site aesthetics for optimal nature, commercial infrastructure, and community harmony. We aim to deliver beautiful scenery whilst eliminating potential hazards and operational disruptions caused by vegetation.
We streamline cleaning and facilities services that help organisations maintain exceptional standards across single and multi-site operations.
We offer a total turnkey solution from initial design and product selection through to installation and commissioning. Our customers benefit from benefit from around-the-clock protection for optimal peace of mind that comes from working with a trusted alarm monitoring service.
Our range of fire life safety solutions are designed to prevent, detect and contain fire and where necessary enable a safe and timely escape.
From the initial Fire Risk Assessment through to the design and installation of fire detection and fire suppression systems and ongoing maintenance and monitoring contracts, we provide you with a one stop fire protection solution.
From security-cleared operations with MOD-affiliated organisations to supporting the UK’s rail infrastructure and securing the Highest Court of the British Isles alongside countless major venues across the UK, we provide fully vetted, accredited officers equipped with the latest technologies to secure and protect your people, premises, assets and the wider public.
Fulfilling the most complex single and multi-site cleaning requirements at an award-winning standard for over 30 years.
Providing an extensive range of Soft and Hard FM services to help you streamline management and eliminate operational disruptions.
Undertaking routine cleaning to maintain the highest standards in cleanliness and hygiene for exceptional environments.
