G4S wins Silverstone event security contract

11 Jul 10

G4S Events has been awarded a two-year contract to provide event security services for both year-round and the major events portfolio at Silverstone Circuits Ltd. Brian Sims reports.

By Brian Sims

Under the Terms and Conditions of the contract, which is reported to be worth around £3.5 million, G4S will be offering a broad range of services to ensure the right solution is delivered for each event.

Those services will include perimeter security and internal asset protection, access control, event security, grandstand stewarding, ticket/programme cash sales, paddock and hospitality security on event days, car parking and traffic control.

This is a major contract in the event industry. G4S will be supplying up to 1,300 employees at the peak of the motor racing season, which includes the high profile British round of the MotoGP (run at Silverstone for the first time only last month), the FIM Superbike World Championship and, of course, the 2010 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix (which takes place this afternoon).

In alignment with the development aspirations of Silverstone’s management team, G4S Events has begun to develop a proposal to mirror Silverstone’s objectives to achieve improvements in service delivery.

This proposal is based on a professional partnership which matches Silverstone Circuits Ltd’s investment as it looks to build upon its association with Formula 1.

Supporting and helping to develop the venue's status

With unmatched breadth and depth of security and stewarding experience across a variety of sporting events, G4S is said to be “ideally placed” to support Silverstone and its status as one of the leading motorsport venues and host of world class events.

Commenting on what is undoubtedly a hugely prestigious contract win, Mark Hamilton – the managing director at G4S Events – told SMT Online: “We’re delighted to win this important and very high profile contract, and to have been given the opportunity to combine our event security capabilities and proven expertise in the sporting arena to provide the best possible security solution at ‘The Home of British Motor Racing’.”

Hamilton continued: “As leading brands in our respective fields, both parties are looking forward to building on the partnership approach and helping to support Silverstone as it looks to position itself as a premium destination brand throughout the UK and beyond.”

G4S has been providing crowd management services to the events market for over 25 years. An experienced partner to flagship international sporting and music events, the company ensures the safety and security of some of the most exciting events in the entertainment calendar.

Contract for G4S Cash Solutions

G4S Cash Solutions, the largest provider of cash solutions in the UK, has been awarded the contract for the provision of cash services at Silverstone Circuits Ltd. The contract, which began on 21 June, sees G4S providing a dedicated Cash-in-Transit service for major events at the circuit as well as a regular weekly service for the site.

With the FIM World Superbike race, starring seven British riders, coming up at the end of the month, it promises to be yet another busy weekend for Silverstone, and G4S will be playing its part by ensuring the circuit operators have the Best in Class for cash services on site.

G4S will be providing both CiT and bulk cash services throughout the year, whether for a standard week at the circuit or a full-scale national or international event, and it’s this ability to work to scale that "makes G4S the logical partner for Silverstone Circuits Ltd". This contract compliments the two-year deal secured by G4S Events to supply event security services for year-round and major events at Silverstone.

Commenting on the contract win, Phil Shingler - sales and marketing director at G4S Cash Solutions (UK) - said: “We're delighted to have secured this prestigious contract. Silverstone Circuits Ltd has made a significant investment to secure the future of the circuit as the home of British motorsport, and it's testament to the quality of G4S as a whole that they have partnered with us on such a broad scale.”

Tradition dates back to 1948

The Silverstone circuit hosted its first Formula One Grand Prix in 1948, and was the venue for the first ever round of the Formula One World Championship just two years later. Silverstone has been the only circuit to stage the Formula One British Grand Prix since 1986.

This year’s event is the 44th British Grand Prix (as part of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship) to be held at the Northampton circuit, and is to be played out on the new Grand Prix circuit which was officially launched on 29 April.

Last year, 85,000 fans attended on the Friday of the event, 105,000 on the Saturday and 120,000 on the Sunday, making it a record crowd of 310,000 at Silverstone over all three days of the British Grand Prix.

British Grand Prix winners at Silverstone (post-1994)

Winners of the race since 1994 are as follows:

1994: Damon Hill (Williams-Renault)
1995: Johnny Herbert (Benetton-Renault)
1996: Jacques Villeneuve (Williams-Renault)
1997: Jacques Villeneuve (Williams-Renault)
1998: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
1999: David Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes)
2000: David Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes)
2001: Mika Häkkinen (McLaren-Mercedes)
2002: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2003: Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari)
2004: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2005: Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams)
2006: Fernando Alonso (Renault)
2007: Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2008: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes)
2009: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

Silverstone’s new Grand Prix circuit

Silverstone’s new Grand Prix circuit is 3.66 miles (5.89 km) in length. It’s actually 750 m longer than the old Grand Prix circuit (the previous length was 3.194 miles/5.14km), adds approximately four seconds to the F1 lap time and has created multiple new overtaking opportunities.

Silverstone has invested more than £5 million on the new, super-fast circuit. Away from the track, a number of improvements are also being made to spectator viewing areas. In addition to constructing elevated viewing banks, existing grandstands and fence lines are being moved to bring fans closer to the on-track action.

The new Grand Prix circuit was inaugurated by two-time British Grand Prix winner David Coulthard in a Red Bull F1.

Maggotts Corner is still the fastest turn on the Grand Prix circuit, with F1 cars taking this bend at speeds of approximately 188 mph while being subjected to a lateral G-force of -4.5. This is roughly the same as a vertical drop rollercoaster.

British Grand Prix 2010: general circuit facts

For today’s race there will be 16 giant screens based around the circuit showing all of the F1 action.

A highly sophisticated traffic management system is implemented for the British Grand Prix, converting the A43 dual carriageway into a six-lane, one-way system during Grand Prix weekend.

There are over 860 highly-trained volunteer marshals on duty around the circuit during the British Grand Prix weekend. This includes 405 spectator marshals, 388 incident marshals and 70 flag marshals along with breakdown and rescue personnel, start-line marshals, incident officers and pit marshals.

Silverstone’s F1 Grand Prix Party

In 2009, 20,000 fans stayed behind after the last race on Sunday to attend the Grand Prix Party, which has become synonymous with the British Grand Prix as the ultimate post-race party for drivers and fans alike.

This year, the post-race Grand Prix Party features live music and appearances from current and former F1 drivers, and will once again take place on a purpose-built stage in the centre of the circuit. Afterwards, fans will be able to watch the FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Holland on a giant screen.

Last year’s headline act for the post-race Grand Prix Party, which took place on Sunday 21 June, were The Counterfeit Stones.

In 2009, celebrities attending the British Grand Prix included members of rock band Kasabian, Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, footballers Eric Cantona and Michael Ballack, Prince Michael of Kent, Tamara and Petra Ecclestone, The Duchess of York (Sarah Ferguson), Sir Chris Hoy, socialite Tamara Beckwith and TV presenter Vernon Kay.

What about Silverstone’s future?

Construction of the new pit and paddock complex has started, with the completion date set for 2011. Included in the complex will be new garages, a race control building, Media Centre, hospitality and VIP spectator zones.

Redevelopment plans for the circuit also include a technology park which is expected to generate 2,000 new jobs directly at Silverstone, with an additional 1,000 new support jobs created in the region as a whole.

Commenting on ‘the new Silverstone’ at the official Grand Prix circuit launch, former F1 World Champion Damon Hill said: “The new section of track and improvements made elsewhere to the circuit are fantastic. These changes provide not only a stunning new driving challenge, but will also lead to an enhanced spectator experience and provide great flexibility in terms of the different layouts that we can now use.”

Eight of the 12 F1 teams competing in 2010 are based in Britain. Indeed, Britain has produced the most Formula One World Champions and championship winning teams in the history of the sport, with the last two World Champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.

Here’s another interesting fact for you… The F1 British Grand Prix contributes £60 million every year to the UK economy.