One door closes, another opens

Amidst industry uncertainty, AP Security (APS) Ltd were contracted to deliver behind closed doors international cricket at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton, throughout the summer. While England’s finest challenged the West Indies, Ireland, Pakistan, and Australia over a behind closed doors international season, the AP Security team had challenges of their own in order to maintain a bio-secure environment.

“It was a learning experience for all of us: client, venue and AP”, recalls Mike Knowles, Regional Manager. “We had to go right back to basics. We’ve been at the Ageas Bowl for 4 years but maintaining a bio-secure venue is a whole new ball game”. The AP Security team underwent regular Covid-19 tests on site and ensured they adhered to strict protocol in order to maintain the bio-secure bubble.

From conception to conclusion, AP Security were integrated into the planning and delivery of these cricket matches, which were some of the first international sporting events since the Coronavirus outbreak.

“Working with stakeholders to deliver safe events is nothing new to us”, Mike Knowles continued, “But we had to more flexible than ever before. The local, national and international picture was developing from week-to-week. We have a fantastic team around us, and great working relationships with the venue and other stakeholders, which all contributed to making the event a resounding success. Of course, we would rather deliver any event with an audience, but we were pleased to be out working in this new environment”.

AP Security personnel were tasked with a number of new roles in light of Coronavirus. Temperature checks, strict one-way systems and PPE were introduced on top of the usual aspects of maintaining a secure venue 24/7 over a 14-week period. Both management team and workforce are now ready to take these experiences and new skills to other venues nationally.