Orbis partnered with a leading commercial real estate provider to deliver a cost-effective, tailored security solution for a 1.5 million sq ft site scheduled for closure. By replacing expensive 24/7 manned guarding with a phased plan using solar-powered surveillance, physical barriers, and a Security in Residence team, costs were significantly reduced.
Over 18 months, the strategy has proven highly effective, with minimal intrusions and swift incident response driven by advanced technology.
As the site prepared to close due to rising costs and reduced commercial viability, our client – responsible for managing the sale – required an experienced security provider with the capability to secure vast sites. The 1.5 million sq ft facility, once employing over 400 people, posed significant security risks due to its rural location and valuable on-site assets like copper cabling and industrial machinery.
As the client’s preferred supplier, we were invited to meet with senior management and propose a tailored post-closure security plan, in contrast to the existing provider’s costly 24/7 manned guarding solution, estimated at £900,000 to £1.1 million annually.
We proceeded to conduct a thorough on-site security assessment, carefully evaluating the scale of the facility and our client’s objective to reduce post-closure costs. We developed a phased security strategy to effectively protect the site, considering its size and unique security challenges, while remaining cost-efficient.
The proposed package included the following key components:
Technology
Physical Security Measures
Security in Residence Service
Our proposed security solution was quoted at £30,000 per month, equating to £360,000 annually, offering a significantly enhanced security package and saving up to £700,000 per year against man guarding alone.
The client was highly satisfied with the proposal and proceeded to implement the comprehensive plan through a phased approach aligned with the site’s closure timeline.
Orbis has now been engaged on the project for over 18 months. During this time, site incursions have been minimal. On the rare occasions intrusions have occurred, the advanced monitoring system quickly detected the breach, allowing the SIR (Special Incident Response) team to be deployed immediately. This rapid response has consistently led to intruders being detained, arrested, or removed from the premises.
In addition, thanks to the use of solar and battery-powered equipment, the client was able to isolate all electrical and plant services across the site. This eliminated the need to maintain power solely for monitoring the existing CCTV infrastructure, as originally suggested by the incumbent provider. As a result, the client has saved thousands of pounds in electricity costs while enabling the safe and efficient removal of machinery and plant assets.
Despite challenges such as severe rainfall and localised flooding, the project has been a resounding success. Our team demonstrated flexibility and resilience, quickly adapting to changing conditions and relocating equipment as necessary to ensure the site remained fully secure and continuously monitored.
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