STANLEY Security - Experts & Thought Leaders

The pandemic has made it difficult to predict demand from one month to the next, when it comes to field service engineering. This makes the flexibility of employing contractors even more attractive. In Autumn 2020, STANLEY Security Solutions approached the Zitko contracts team with a considerable challenge: resource a group of 8 – 10 contractors to support the company’s operations in various UK regions. The requirement was for an immediate start and the specification was strict: multi-skilled Fire & Security Engineers, who could deliver outstanding first-fix rates on sophisticated systems. Zitko's approach Zitko was able to resource half of the positions from contractors already registered with them, who had the necessary availability and skills. For the remainder - it went to market, using search techniques to gain referrals and identify promising candidates. Zitko has an excellent reputation in the contracts world, both for pay rates and for treating people well, and this made initial approaches easier. With offers in place, its fast, efficient vetting systems then came into their own, enabling them to confirm certifications and clearances to the tight timescales required. As a result, these new contractors are deployed typically within 3 days. Zitko's outcome Zitko offered the client a volume discount for the assignment, recognizing the strong partnership Zitko was able to resource the full complement of contractors. Some contracts were for around two months’ duration, while others are ongoing. The contracts team is in regular contact with the contractors and their line managers to ensure things are going well and that any issues are promptly addressed. To provide maximum value for money, Zitko offered the client a volume discount for the assignment, recognizing the strong partnership it has with Stanley Security Solutions. One contractor moved to permanent employment Zitko placed one contractor, Ricky, with the London Regional team. He started work on October 19th, servicing and maintaining fire and security systems at commercial and retail sites across the capital. Great client feedback and a high work rate persuaded his line manager that he’d make an excellent permanent team member and he was offered a position in early November. This was ideal for Ricky as he’d been looking for more job security, and good news for the client, who had been searching for the ideal candidate for a while. contractor terms Zitko contractor terms don’t include draconian penalty clauses to ‘protect’ against this kind of situation Unusually in the contracting world, Zitko also regarded it as a ‘win’. Zitko contractor terms don’t include draconian penalty clauses to ‘protect’ against this kind of situation. Instead, it just asks the employer to pay the standard permanent placement fee. Zitko supported the salary negotiation phase to achieve a mutually acceptable outcome. Ricky will start as soon as the paperwork is completed. In the meantime, he’s continuing to impress as a contractor. Proactive approach “I’ve been so impressed with Zitko and their recruitment services. Since we partnered with them earlier this year, they’ve been instrumental in helping us recruit for all manner of technical and non-technical roles within the Security Industry," said Stephen Hodgkinson-Soto – Service Director – STANLEY Security UK. He adds, "The entire team has been proactive and thorough in their approach. Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, they’ve managed to stay ahead of the curve, and have kept us informed of industry trends and market changes." Stephen Hodgkinson-Soto continues, "We’ve been impressed with the caliber of candidates they have supplied both for sub-contract and permanent labor. As a result, we have made several placements this year, and will continue to make them our recruitment partner of choice for 2021.” Ricky's comment Ricky stated, “Since joining Zitko less than 3 months ago, they managed to find me work within a couple of days. In the current situation with COVID-19, I was amazed. Ellie placed me with Stanley Security and I have been working with them 5 days a week ever since and have been offered a full-time permanent position which I am over the moon with." He adds, "Ellie, Laura, and the rest of the Zitko team are brilliant and the communication is second to none. Thank you to all of you!”

When one of the UK’s major Fire & Security companies needed to hire a number of hard-to-find field engineers, Zitko was their first-choice partner. They were awarded the assignment on an exclusive basis, with a brief to find engineers skilled and certified in both Fire and Security technologies. Engineers tend to specialize in one or another field, so the assignment was challenging, especially with the additional requirement to fill the roles urgently across various locations. Building on the contacts Zitko Consultant - Abby Forman led the project and immediately went to work, contacting her network, to generate both interest and recommendations. This not only involved making one-to-one contact but also posting video callouts via LinkedIn. These proved extremely effective, thanks to Abby’s high profile on the platform. These proved extremely effective, thanks to Abby’s high profile on the platform They attracted a number of promising candidates but given the scale of the assignment they involved Zitko’s central Resourcing team. The team includes highly experienced researchers and recruiters, whose forte is to identify, qualify, and engage with candidates typically outside of Zitko’s current networks. This, combined with targeted advertising, yielded further highly qualified candidates and contributed to a high-caliber shortlist. Outcomes STANLEY Security Solutions was able to fill all of the open positions UK-wide from the initial shortlist. The engineers are successfully onboard and doing well. They also attracted additional excellent candidates, who are interested in joining the company when suitable openings arise. Abby is keeping in regular contact with them, as well as with the client, to make sure that these additional hiring opportunities are taken up when the time is right. Adding value to the process They also carried out a salary survey to check on the firm competitiveness for key field posts As part of the assignment, they also carried out a salary survey to check on the company’s competitiveness for key field positions and advised on market expectations.  This intelligence-led approach is a vital aspect of what they do, enabling them to ‘stress test’ requirements, refine specifications, and create the optimal resourcing strategy. Industry trends and market changes Stephen Hodgkinson-Soto, Service Director, STANLEY Security UK, said “I’ve been so impressed with Zitko and their recruitment services. Since we partnered with them earlier this year, they’ve been instrumental in helping us recruit for all manner of technical and non-technical roles within the Security Industry. Abby and the entire team have been proactive and thorough in their approach. Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, they’ve managed to stay ahead of the curve, and have kept us informed of industry trends and market changes." He adds, "We’ve been really impressed with the caliber of candidates they have supplied both for sub-contract and permanent labor. As a result, we have made several placements this year and will continue to make them our recruitment partner of choice for 2021.”

International security system integrator - Northland Controls has appointed Zitko to deliver their recruitment managed service (RPO) for its North American operations, including its global HQ in Milpitas CA. This will cover all the main recruitment functions, including employer and job marketing, talent mapping and pooling, enquiries and application management, initial screening, and detailed shortlisting.  Zitko will be sourcing highly skilled engineers, project control specialists, and technicians across the USA; people who can live up to Northland Control’s widely acclaimed technical and service standards. Tallie Guy Tallie Guy will be the key account manager running the North American managed service Tallie Guy will be the key account manager running the North American managed service. Tallie joins us from leading global RPO provider, BPS World, where she delivered the company’s RPO services for prominent international tech clients, including Stanley Security. Initially, Tallie will be UK-based to best leverage Zitko’s sector-pioneering expertise, network, and infrastructure in Fire & Security resourcing. Her brief is to build on Northlands’ profile as an employer and with it a robust talent pipeline. She will be working alongside EMEA Account Manager Nadine Jones, whose efforts and results on behalf of Northland Controls have been a key factor in securing the North American contract. Zitko managing recruitment Pierre Trapanese – CEO of Northland Controls, said: “Since 2014, George and his team have worked tirelessly with us to meet demand in the EMEA region. Finding top talent continues to be one of our most important strategies, and it was a very logical and simple decision to extend our partnership with them to the USA." Pierre Trapanese adds. "We’re expanding in the US and EMEA and are excited about Zitko managing recruitment so that we can meet our clients’ and market demands.” North American operation George Zitko – MD Zitko, said: “I’m very excited to be launching our North American operation with Northland Controls and renewing our working relationship with COO Ed Wears. Our two companies share many of the same values and it’s a genuine pleasure to be a part of the Northlands story.”