7 minute read
Meet the installer
Meet the installer Security life with James Twigg of TIS (Total Integrated Solutions)
What would be a typical project for you? We design, install and maintain converged life safety, security and communications systems that protect a range of people, places and spaces. One of our main customer sectors is retirement villages but we also work with universities, the Ministry of Defence and local authorities protecting public spaces such as town centres. We work at the initial consultation stage, helping to define the brief and requirements, through to designing, installing and maintaining integrated systems that are easier to manage. In an industry that often still relies heavily on analog technologies and siloed systems, we’re leading a digital transformation, creating digital ecosystems of smart rooms, smart buildings and smart cities.
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Projects vary greatly but we use next generation technologies to create tailored newbuild systems or transform existing legacy infrastructure. We deliver intelligence, reliability and resilience so that our customers can operate more safely and securely in a rapidly changing regulatory environment.
Do you have any ‘go to’ technology and manufacturers? As an independent systems integrator, we’re dedicated to curating the most suitable technologies from around the world to create the very best smart protection systems for our customers.
Where other systems suppliers are perhaps tied to specific manufacturers or their own proprietary technologies and solutions, we can be agile, objective, and remain open to sourcing the most suitable technology for the job. By staying at the forefront of sector innovation and understanding the widest range of possible technologies and solutions, we can design solutions around our customers and the lives of their stakeholders – rather than the other way around. It’s our belief that customers shouldn’t be locked into proprietary technology that offers little to no flexibility.
What is the best thing about working in this industry? The most exciting thing about the industry is the level of technological innovation and development we’re experiencing at the moment. It’s very fast moving. When I joined 15 years ago, our industry was still very analog (and still is very much so in certain aspects), but since the rise of smart technology and home systems alongside the industry’s and governmental response to heartbreaking incidents like Grenfell, technological innovations in the security and safety sector are moving at a rapid pace. We’re very much at the forefront of the movement and see it as essential in ensuring TIS helps to protect our customers’ people, places and spaces. Is third party accreditation beneficial to you? We’re working in heavily compliance-orientated industries such as retirement villages, universities and council buildings and public spaces so accreditation is very important, yes. We go above and beyond when it comes to regulation as we know how important it is for our customers, and the people and spaces they are protecting, to know we’re a company who takes regulation extremely seriously.
Do you think there is an engineer skills shortage? Any trouble recruiting? Absolutely. In order for us to be the best in the business we need to have multi-skilled engineers but they are incredibly hard to find at the moment. That’s why we’re launching the TIS academy, a training programme which nurtures young talent in engineering. We’re recruiting apprentices and recent graduates through our
Name: James Twigg Job title: Managing Director Time in security/fire: 15+ years Company: TIS (Total Integrated Solutions) Location: TIS has over 140 staff operating nationwide from five UK office locations
Areas of expertise: Life safety, security and communications systems integration. We specialise in design and consulting, technology and regulatory compliance for smart rooms, smart buildings and smart cities Accreditations: JSCAR, EMS, QMS, BAFE, NSI Gold, NSI Fire Gold, NIC EIC, Cyber Essentials, iiE, ADS, Safecontractor, Gate Safe TIS and a member of CHAS
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programme and have recently onboarded three new members of staff through the Government’s Kickstart Scheme. It’s important to me that we’re investing in young talent and giving people the best possible start to their careers, particularly given the rates of youth unemployment following the pandemic.
Are there any common requests from customers that give you problems? (ie impossible expectations) We manage expectations and understand what customers want in-depth during the consultation phases so that there will never be any nasty surprises at any stage of the project. Our customers know they can call me or the wider team at any given time. I believe if you keep open, regular and honest communication - even in the rare instance that it’s bad news - people tend to be happy.
What is the security/fire industry’s biggest myth? I think people sometimes underestimate the level of technological advancements in the sector, which leads to a slight misconception about what we do. Often, people think we just offer manned security or install fire alarms and sprinklers. For TIS, it’s much more about smart technologies and other high-tech integrated solutions. I’ve found that our customers and potential customers get pretty excited when they learn about what we can actually do for them.
What impact has smart/home automation had on your business? Smart technology has had a hugely positive impact on our business. Take retirement villages, for example. We’re able to offer a range of technological solutions to everyday problems by installing things such as sensors to check whether a resident has opened their medication cupboard to take their meds each morning, or has pressed the “I’m Okay” button rather than requiring someone to physically go and knock on their door and check on them. We’re also rolling out wearable tech, like smart watches, so that residents can access support or check-in in a much more user friendly way. Smart technology is giving residents much more freedom and the retirement villages the ability to spend their money much more effectively.
What would make your job easier? More staff! We’re growing fast and we need to build out our team with the very best in engineering to support that growth. Over the years we’ve invested a lot into making TIS a supportive and exciting place to work so we get a lot of inbound interest from potential candidates. We’re focused on bringing in the best new talent and continuing the training of those who have had their skin in the game a little longer. If any of your readers are interested they should check out the careers page on our website.
What is your ultimate/fantasy electronic security/fire product? I’m really excited about a new product that our engineers and designers have been busy developing in-house. Sentinel is a new product for retirement villages which offers a cutting edge, multi-function, smart home hub to residents in assisted living emergency call units. The device uses both multimedia communication and voice activated smart devices. Either wall or table mounted, the Sentinel smart home hub provides fully customisable enhanced security and communication, helping residents of
retirement villages and care homes maintain their independence and live happy and fulfilled lives while saving retirement villages staff costs.
What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself? To stay focused. When I was starting out in my career I wanted to do everything and explore every potential business opportunity. As I’ve progressed though, I realised it’s far more efficient and effective to focus on what your team is good at, what the market needs and then stick to your strategy. It’s all about doing a few things very very well, as opposed to more of a scattergun approach.
Will England ever win the World Cup again? What I love is that football in this country, both men’s and women’s, is progressing in the right direction. We’ve got strong men’s and women’s teams and I’d obviously love them to go all the way and win a World Cup. However, I’ve been stung one too many times to commit. My heart’s in it though!
If you won £25,000 what would you do with the money? Treat the team to a huge party (when we can do that again) to say thanks for their absolutely incredible work this year. Because we work directly onsite with retirement villages, care homes and universities our team are deemed essential key workers. The team did everything they could to ensure our customers and their spaces were COVID-19 secure as quickly as possible and they did so with kids at home at a very unusual time. Needless to say, we’ll be throwing a party when we can all gather again.
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