Westminster Group
The Westminster Group plc is a worldwide security company operating through two divisions – Technology and Services – which specialise in providing security products and services for Land, Sea and Air. The firms' headquarters are located in Banbury, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.
 | |
| Type | Public limited company |
|---|---|
| LSE: WSG | |
| Industry | Security Products & Services |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Westminster House, Banbury , |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Website | www |
The group operates through a global network of agents and international offices in over 50 countries, with a growing customer base consisting of predominately: governments and government agencies, embassies, non-governmental organisations and blue chip commercial organisations.
The group also formed its own charitable arm in 2014, the Westminster Group Foundation, which works in developing countries across the world to deliver poverty relief, education and healthcare.
Corporate history
Westminster was founded in 1988 as a security systems business, Westminster Security Systems, supplying systems and equipment to the UK domestic and commercial marketplace.
In 1990, Westminster Security Systems was acquired by Menvier-Swain Group plc, at which time Peter Fowler joined the group as Managing Director.
In 1996 Peter Fowler led a management buyout and in 1999 acquired London-based business, CSG (Fire and Security) Ltd. A restructuring in October 2000 resulted in the sale of Westminster Security Systems and its holding company, Westminster Security Group, to Chubb Electronic Security. The Westminster Group's land, buildings and manufacturing business, Westminster Technologies Ltd, were retained and transferred over to the new Westminster Group Plc. In 2007, Westminster Group was then listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Westminster has had a number of notable achievements over the years, from being the first security company to achieve NACOSS (National Approval Council for Security Systems) approval and a SITO (Security Industry Training Organisation) training award; one of its subsidiaries winning an International Achievement Award at the 2013 Security Excellence Awards; as well as certification to BS 5750 Quality Assurance and the ISO9001 Quality Management Systems standard. Since 2019, Westminster was also graded as ‘Outstanding’ in all areas during the Civil Aviation Authority audit for all registered Aviation Security training providers. In 2020 Westminster was recognised as one of the ‘1,000 companies to inspire Britain’.
More recently, in September 2021, Westminster Group won the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade and served as hosts for the Award’s Presentation and Open Day at their headquarters. Guests of the day experienced live demonstrations of K9 detection and guard dog capabilities by HMP’s National Dog Technical Support Group, as well as live demonstrations of drone and anti-drone systems, radar, advanced CCTV surveillance and perimeter detection.
Divisions
Technology division
The group has multiple revenue streams, including:
- Product sales – An extensive range of security and safety equipment
- Design and implementation of systems to protect infrastructure, borders and buildings
- Maintenance of installed equipment
Services division
Westminster provides additional manned services, such as:
- Managed services, within port and airport contracts
- Guarding and manned services – Mobile patrols and concierge services
- Special services – Such as air operations and dispatch, humanitarian logistics and ground handling
- Training – Accredited training services in aviation security and a range of other areas
Recent activity
Westminster Group has secured many high-profile international contracts in the years following its restructure. Alongside the sale of products, many of the contracts include the addition of product maintenance, training and manned services.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic breaking out in late 2019, the group’s global reputation continues to grow. In the years following the outbreak, Westminster has provided advanced fever detection solutions for the screening of people around the world, including facilities in the USA, Sierra Leone, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Iraq and Israel.
Closer to home, the security of a number of iconic British landmarks has been entrusted to Westminster – most notably a 5 year contract with the Palace of Westminster to provide, replace and maintain all security screening equipment; and later on, including the Tower of London and Scottish Parliament.
Westminster also supports the Martyn’s Law campaign, which follows the Manchester Arena Bombing in 2017, along with the Protect Duty initiative, which aims to improve the security at events within public spaces to prevent terrorist attacks.
Corporate sub-structure
Westminster Group Plc has a number of subsidiary companies, including:
- Westminster International Ltd – Provides the Group’s technical expertise and supplies the equipment for any of the Group’s projects from their global suppliers
- Westminster Aviation Security Services Ltd – Provides the Group’s airport and aviation knowledge and expertise; with staff qualified through ICAO and UK DfT
- Keyguard UK Ltd – Provides the Group’s manned security services, from static guarding through to fully trained security search teams
- Longmoor Security Ltd – The Group’s training division, who manages training courses and teams, both at their training facility within the UK and across the globe
- Westminster Arabia – Provides security services from across the Group through the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East
- GLIS GmbH – The Group’s German operation, providing services to German-facing countries across Europe and Africa
- Euro Ops SRL – The Group’s French operation, working across the world to provide Westminster Group services to the French-speaking world
Board members
The 2021 board of the Westminster Group consists of:
- Rt. Hon. Sir Tony Baldry – Executive Chairman
- J. Mawuli Ababio – Non-Executive Deputy Chairman
- Peter Fowler – Chief Executive Officer
- Mark Hughes BSc MBA FCA – Chief Financial Officer
- Simon Barrell – Non-Executive Director
- Major General (Retired) Graham Binns CBE DSO MC – Non-Executive Director
- Stuart Fowler BEng (Hons) – Chief Operating Officer
- Roger Worrall – Company Secretary