Small wins, big cheers…

“Recognition is not a scarce resource. You can’t use it up or run out of it.”

Susan M. Heathfield

Order has finally been restored! If you read my article last week, you’ll know I was buried in boxes after the big house move.
Well, I’m pleased to report the aforementioned boxes are almost gone (much to Esme’s disappointment – I think
she’d grown quite fond of her new cardboard hideout!). Oh, and the broadband is up and running too, so no more relying
on my phone’s sketchy 4G! But this week has been a winner for other reasons too – not least because Advantage One has been named the official guarding partner of Retail Risk – Leicester and the Fraud Awards ’24. Cheers to that!

It’s our first time attending the Awards. And along with my partners-in-crime, Scott and Craig, I couldn’t be more excited. Word on the street is that it’s a night to remember; glitz and glamour, and all that jazz. Now, my biggest dilemma? Finding a dinner jacket! I’m a jeans and t-shirt kinda guy, so this could be interesting… One thing I certainly won’t be sweating over is the
security..! I have full confidence our team will keep this prestigious event safe and secure. After all, it’s what we do best. Our
officers aren’t just highly trained; they’re genuinely passionate about protecting people, whether that’s in a shop or a huge venue like the King Power Stadium.

Speaking of which, one of our security guards has just received a commendation from a leading retailer. The customer was so impressed with his work that they wanted to show their appreciation. Much like a proud parent, the moment I saw the photo of him being handed his award, I instantly shared it in the team WhatsApp chat! And this kind of thing isn’t a one off. Customers regularly reach out to praise our team’s exceptional work. In any line of work, recognition is everything. It’s all too easy to pounce when something goes wrong, but we mustn’t forget to celebrate the good stuff.

This is a mantra we live by at Advantage One, and it’s one of the reasons our officers are so motivated to show up day in and day out. We recognise hard work, we appreciate it when someone goes the extra mile, and we celebrate the wins – no matter how small. Our ‘Officer Of The Month Award’ is proof of that… Every month, we select three security officers who have gone above and beyond. Each one receives a prize and a well-deserved pat on the back. Sometimes we’ll even extend it to four officers because the competition is so fierce! Of course, recognition isn’t just about dishing out awards, just a simple phone call to say ‘well done’ or ‘good job’ is enough to make someone feel valued and appreciated.

A member of the management team also visits every officer monthly to say ‘hello’ and let them know when they’re doing an outstanding job. And we’re not shy about singing their praises to others too. We regularly remind our retail customers about the fantastic work the in-store officers are doing. Sure, they probably already know, but it never hurts to bring it to their
attention every now and again! As for the guards themselves, their biggest satisfaction comes from making people feel safe. Don’t get me wrong, awards are always a welcome bonus – but what really drives them is the sense of security they bring to others. It’s just the type of people they are, but letting them know that their efforts have been noticed and those they are protecting are grateful, goes a very long way to keep them doing that great job!

And what better stage to showcase this dedication to everybody than at the Oscars of the retail risk management industry? Plus, those guards we have chosen and spoken to about coming along in October have taken it as a compliment that we feel they would be great ambassadors for the business at such an event.

Roll on 3rd October and the Fraud Awards!