PSSA Newsletter - January 2016

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NEWSLETTER
ISSUE 12
July 2016
– 1 –
p2 Big cats aplenty as hunt for
zoo orders becomes a stampede p6 H2S2 deploy the National Barrier
Asset to protect events in London
NewTechnical Support Service
for PSSA Members
Exclusively for PSSA members a new
Technical Support service will be
available from early July. Following
discussions between Simon Towers
and Red Folder a new online service
is being introduced to provide
technical updates, a telephone
helpline and specialist advice to
member companies.
This is a free service to all PSSA members who will be invited to register.
Following registration members will have access to the PSSA’s new Expert
Services portal containing the latest updates on key business topics plus
details of the new telephone helpline. There will be no charge for an initial
telephone consultation and information provided.
Where required therewill also be a range of additional online services.These
will be tailored to the specific business needs of eachmember company.
This is a new service that the PSSA is trialling to benefit all members. It
is proposes to start with a few basic services and then extend and improve
what is available based on feedback from PSSA’s members.
For further information email Nicholas Harvey on
Newwebsite promotesmembers
Following on from the recent PSSA strategic review
andmy subsequent appointment as Chairman I have
begun working, along with the PSSA Council and
Secretariat, to deliver the action plans in that review
that were approved by the membership at the March
EGM. I ampleased to be able to use this edition of the
Newsletter to bring you up to date on progress so far
Our immediate focus is to develop a new PSSA
website that can be the backbone of PSSAmarketing and promotional
activity, both to the endmarket and to future newmembers. It will also
be the main access hub for a growing number of member services. Work
has already begun on this with a small project teamof myself, Rob Oliver
(Secretary), and Nigel Bullock (Vice Chairman) working along with our
website designers, Enigma Creative, and we aim to complete the site before
summer is out. The website will particularly feature the following:
• A table of independently tested security products that are available from
PSSAmembers, along with direct links to eachmember company. Within
the table we aim to include both the specific test pass information in
‘technical’language plus a‘laymans’description for those readers who
are not fully conversant with testing industry terminology. We intend
tomake this table a useful reference point for end users, specifiers etc
when looking for independently tested high security external perimeter
protection products.
• Highlighting of the PSSAmembership criteria so that potential clients
can better understand the confidence and value they can get by giving
preference to a PSSAmember as a supplier/installer.
• Highlighted PSSAmembership benefits to better encourage new
members to join and to ensure that current members are aware of all the
benefits/services that are available to them via PSSA.
There will also, of course, be all the standard features that you would expect
from a website of this nature and once the website is complete we will
commence marketing it as thoroughly as possible tomaximise awareness of
it to our target audiences.
With the website as our base platform, we will then, come autumn, turn
attention to adding further value to PSSA by actions which will include a
review of the currently on holdVerification Scheme and the re instigation
of the Advisory Panel which previously met with influencers in key client
sectors. We are also now in talks to add other additional membership
benefits such as free or discounted links to services including overseas
exhibition grant aid, dispute resolution, legislative compliance, and training
of various kinds.
In summary, there is a lot of work going on at the moment and our aim is
that by early autumn the PSSA will be providing greatly increased value to
both its members and to relevant parties in the endmarket. I look forward to
updating you on that progress in the next edition of the Newsletter.
Simon Towers, Chairman PSSA
Scheme review underway
– helpers needed
The PSSA’s Verification Scheme was put on hold earlier this year as
a result of our EGM resolution. However, the spirit of championing
tested products has not been lost. In addition to the new website
product and member showcase (see our Chairman’s lead article) we
are now issuing an invitation for volunteers to serve on our Scheme
Review Working Group.
The initial time commitment will be for just one or two meetings over
the summer/autumn and occasional follow up conference calls. The
aim is to produce a report and recommendations by the end of the
year. If you are interested in being part of the Group
(or having input to its work) then please contact the PSSA office or
email
One of the most appreciated parts of the Scheme package was
the technical support helpline – offering guidance on regulatory
compliance. The good news is that a new service to PSSA members
covering this area is set to be launched – see separate article.
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