Billingham to head up G4S Risk Management

12 Dec 08

Former BAE Systems md Nigel Billingham is the new group managing director at G4S Risk Management.

Most recently, 49-year-old Billingham served as the managing director of BAE’s Surface Fleet Support business, where he was heavily involved in bidding for – and subsequently winning – a number of major Government defence industry contracts.

Prior to that, Nigel was the acting managing director of the Royal Ordnance – which he successfully merged with Alvis Plc to create BAE’s Land Systems Business – and group finance director for BAE’s customer solutions and support business.

Before joining BAE in 1998, Nigel spent eight years as group finance director with Siemens’ defence business.

Protective security and consultancy

Formerly ArmorGroup International plc, G4S Risk Management is the specialist protective security and consulting arm of G4S. It provides a range of services to Governments, commercial and humanitarian organisations located in complex or sensitive environments.

The organisation operates extensively in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Sudan and Kosovo, its services including mine action, kidnap and hostage negotiation, risk consultancy, specialist training, maritime and oil and gas sector security services, convoy escort and close protection services.

Speaking to SMT Online in relation to Billingham’s appointment, David Taylor-Smith – chief executive officer of G4S Security Services in the UK and Ireland – said: “We’re very pleased to welcome Nigel to the company. We believe his wide-ranging and extensive experience in the defence and Government sectors will help us to grow our risk management business both here in the UK and overseas.”

Six Swords of Honour

Meantime, no less than six G4S businesses in the UK have been awarded Swords of Honour by the British Safety Council (BSC) in recognition of their extremely high standards of adherence to Health and Safety.

The prestigious awards – bestowed at the Goldsmiths’ Hall in London – are evidence of the fact that these G4S teams are among the Top 40 performing companies in the world who have achieved the accolade in 2008.

The teams involved are:

HM Prison Wolds
HM Prison Altcourse
G4S Court Services
GCHQ, Cheltenham
Manchester Magistrates Court
Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre

The Sword of Honour Scheme recognises organisations which have implemented safety systems rated among the best in the world. Only organisations that achieve the maximum rating of five stars in the Council’s Five Star Health and Safety Management System Audit are eligible to apply.

Eligible organisations then have to prove they have a culture of aiming for Best Practice and that this culture is promoted across the business, from the shop floor right up to the Boardroom.

This year’s competition was intense, with approximately 300 applications submitted to the BSC.

Show of dedication and commitment

David Taylor-Smith commented: “This is wonderful news. Winning these awards recognises the dedication and commitment by our people to ensure a consistent level of Health and Safety excellence. I’d like to thank everyone involved in helping us to achieve this level of outstanding performance and success, and for their continued commitment to supporting the highest possible standards.”

Brian Nimick – chief executive of the British Safety Council – added: “Everyone winning a Sword of Honour this year has demonstrated that, in addition to ensuring extremely high standards of Health and Safety in the workplace, they’ve also considered how their business impacts on others. Being a winner of a Sword this year is an exceptional achievement. Everyone within the G4S organisation can be very proud.”

The view from Downing Street

A congratulatory message was also sent by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who said: “I send my congratulations to all of those organisations being presented with a Sword of Honour by the British Safety Council. These awards recognise the crucial success that they and their employees have achieved in their pursuit of excellence in the management of health, safety and environmental matters.”