Far too often, security is left to the last minute when it comes to planning corporate events.
Security should, instead, be one of the first things that you consider, with your security team responsible for the smooth running of the event and that all attendees are fully protected throughout.
The corporate world is a highly charged environment and as such there are many different reasons why individuals would look to cause trouble at high-profile events, from political protests to interruptions from disgruntled former employees, and it is vital that your security is primed and ready to deal with any incident that may occur.
The type of security required will vary on an event by event basis, from a corporate retreat for top executives only to a much larger full scale conference, but the careful planning process and the seriousness with which security should be taken will never change.
If you are planning on hosting a corporate event in the near future, here are 7 of the most important steps to take to minimise risk and protect attendees.
1. Use a professional security firm
Using the services of an experienced professional security firm is the best way to maximise security at your corporate event.
Here at Prime Secure, we have many years’ experience ensuring events of all shapes and sizes run as smoothly and safely and will work alongside you, the venue, and your staff to create a secure environment for all attendees.
2. Analyse risks
The very first thing you should do when planning security for a corporate event is to conduct a risk assessment, identifying everything that could go wrong in relation to the venue and the nature of the event itself.
This is one of the areas where having a professional security team by your side can be invaluable as they will know exactly what to look for based on previous experience and will identify risks that the average event planner may not.
They will also be able to recommend the best possible security measures that should be put in place to mitigate the risk and oversee their implementation.
3. Control Access
Ensuring that only authorised attendees are able to gain access to your event is the key to creating a secure environment.
Your security team should handle the task of checking IDs, conducting bag searches if required, and manning entry points at all times.
You should identify your access points well in advance of the event to allow an effective security plan to be put in place.
4. Plan for protests
Many corporate events are the subject of one protest or another, especially conferences that are focussed on controversial policies.
Events are seen as the ideal time to gain media attention for protest groups so informing your security team of any individuals to keep an eye out for who may look to instigate trouble is a good idea.
5. Communicate
Corporate event days are fast paces and can quickly become chaotic without the right communication between organisers.
There will undoubtedly be last minute questions that need to answered and unforeseen situations needing to be resolved so make sure that your security team are in constant communication and can get in touch with event organisers if required.
A good way to do this is to designate a point person for both security and corporate teams that will help answer any questions either group may have.
6. Inform attendees of your security
Although they are only there for their protection, a high security presence can be off-putting to attendees so make sure that they are aware of the security measures that will be put in place.
By giving guests advanced warning that they may be asked to show credentials or hand over their cell phones so no pictures or video can be taken inside, you will avoid any awkward conversations or upset on the day of the event.
7. Budget appropriately
Unfortunately, security is often left to the last minute when planning corporate events, and by the time you have got round to it you may find that your budget is dwindling.
However, security hire for events is such an important aspect of event planning that you should make sure to allocate the appropriate time and money to making sure it is as effective as possible.
A lack of security can result in publicity stunts that could have a major impact on your company’s reputation or, much more seriously put attendees in serious danger, so this is not something to take lightly.
Your corporate event deserves nothing but the best security measures available, so allocate resources to hire a professional and experienced security firm who will help make the process smooth and successful.