TSA Insight Magazine Issue 18 - Magazine - Page 27
Spotlight
Introducing Paul Symons, Managing Director of
Teamwork Security and Training Services Ltd.
Paul started at Teamwork Security
and Training Services Ltd. in February
2023 after a successful career in
various security roles.
Paul’s career started in the British
Army at the tender age of 16, Paul
served with 29 Commando Regiment
and passed out of Army training a day
before his 17th birthday and went on
to undertake the Commando course.
He served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia,
Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Iraq.
A very kinetic time which Paul felt
privileged to have experienced.
From leaving the military Paul has
worked in various security positions,
from an offshore security consultant,
where he provided security to
platforms, ships and port facilities in
some of the worlds hotspots, to Head
of Training for a renowned security
risk management company.
For nearly a decade, Paul was in
a busy role of Head of Training
& Development at Securewest
International. This is where Paul found
his passion for ISPS and became the
company ISPS Expert. Undertaking
Ship & Port Facility Security
Assessments globally, writing Ship &
Port Security Plans, engaging with flag
states on behalf of client (which could
be challenging), and was responsible
for the development and day to day
running of all of all the companies
ISPS courses. Further to this, Paul was
also ensuring the 170+ maritime staff
(at the highest level) were compliant
to the ISPS code when deployed on
Shipping sailing through troubled
waters.
Prior to starting at Teamwork Security
and Training Services Ltd. Paul took
a short break out of the security
arena and worked for the Ambulance
Service, as he is medically trained,
and was a security manager at
Babcock in Plymouth, concerned with
the security of HM Submarines when
in dock. Phrases like ‘Continuous at
sea deterrent, nuclear reactor and
dosimetry’ were a normal part of the
working day.
Since joining Teamwork Security
and Training Services Ltd., the
business has doubled in size, both
in staff and client base. The business
has also diversified and is now not
only providing high quality ISPS
consultancy, training, and support, but
now has several ‘boots on the ground’
security contracts with Government
clients at various Port facilities.
to be passed onto our client base
giving us a competitive edge and
commercial advantage.”
When Paul was asked what his
favourite part of the role is, he
commented: “It’s the satisfaction of
seeing our clients, some of which
were under pressure to become
compliant, sail through ISPS audits
and inspections because of our
teams’ efforts. I feel privileged to have
been asked to not only join Teamwork,
but to take over the helm from Chris
Amos, who, over the past 20 years
has done an incredible job creating a
sterling reputation for the company, if
I can do half as good as he has, I know
the company will go from strength to
strength.”
Find out more about Teamwork
Security and Training Services Ltd. at
www.teamwork-security.co.uk
Paul Symons, Managing Director,
Speaking with Paul about the
diversification to provide physical
security he commented: “We’ve
decided to only recruit military
or police veterans for this role,
and seeing as all the feedback,
performance and reports are nothing
but 100% positive, I feel this is the
correct decision to push this project
forward. Another thing we now do is
make the management team ‘work
from home’. This not only allows a
great working culture for the team
but also enables us to keep costs to
a minimum, thus allowing the savings
Teamwork Security and Training Services
Ltd.
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