Steve Ross

The apprentice scheme is focusing on thedevelopment of skills amongst thenext generation of locksmiths ASSA ABLOY hosted a successful locksmith apprentice open day at its Portobello site in the West Midlands, as part of its commitment to the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) apprenticeship scheme and future of the locksmithing industry. Focus On Developing Skills Launched last year by Skills for Security and the MLA in partnership with ASSA ABLOY the apprentice scheme is designed to professionalise the industry by focusing on the development of skills amongst the next generation of locksmiths. Equipping them with the practical skills and knowledge needed to not only thrive in the industry but also encourage future growth, the scheme has already received industry-wide support in its foundation year. High Praise For Event As part of delivering this objective, ASSA ABLOY played host to 10 apprentices from across the UK, all of whom are signed up to the Locksmith Level 2 Apprenticeship. The full day, which covered both practical skills and an understanding of the marketplace and product development, received high praise from those who attended. Steve Ross from ASSA ABLOY and part of the team who delivered the training day, explains: “We based the open day at ASSA ABLOY around the theme of past, present and future, with sessions including market evaluation, factory tours and practical lock assembly. The second half of the day was focused on the future, something that is not only essential to ASSA ABLOY as it develops its smart living products, but also an issue that locksmiths need to consider now to ensure their future positioning and growth. We take our responsibility very seriously and must ensure that we make the apprentices as prepared as possible for life in our industry as well as making sure that they understand and appreciate how their skills need to adapt and grow with the changes in the locksmith market.” ASSA ABLOY To Help Train And Promote New Skills Paul Browne, Chief Technology Officer and Business Development Director for ASSA ABLOY UK, added: “A career as a locksmith can offer more than ever before as the industry enters a period of transition and growth. As well as refining core skills integral to professional locksmiths, ASSA ABLOY hopes to help train and promote the new skills needed to capitalize on the rise of electro-mechanical and digital locking products. “We hope that the open day at ASSA ABLOY encouraged and enthused the apprentices and helped them see the opportunities this career can hold.” Open day attendees all received personalized mementos from the day, including an engraved padlock, glass placard and the lock cases, which they assembled. With positive feedback being reported to both the MLA and Skills for Security, the next apprentice open day hosted by ASSA ABLOY is planned for the new year.

Steve Ross moves into the new role with 20 years’ experience and knowledge of the UK cylinder market ASSA ABLOY UK has announced the appointment of Steve Ross to the new position of Cylinder Business Development Director, to drive further growth across all cylinder platforms, padlocks and ancillaries. This is a strategic initiative embracing cylinders across all group business units and brands including ASSA, Abloy, Mul-T-Lock, Yale and UNION. Steve Ross moves into this new role with 20 years’ experience and knowledge of the UK cylinder market, having worked in product management, sales management and, for the past four years, as Managing Director of Mul-T-Lock UK. Commenting on the new role, Neil Vann, ASSA ABLOY Market Region Manager, said: “This new role is designed to drive sustainable organic growth of both patented and non-patented key systems across all cylinder, padlocks and ancillary products. “There are opportunities to develop a more co-ordinated approach across all our business units to deliver improved customer value, especially as new technologies emerge.”

Mul-T-Lock’s SMARTair™ ensured smooth transition from mechanical locking to full access control management at the hotel Mul-T-Lock’s innovative SMARTair™ electronic handle set has been installed at the Ellan Vannin Hotel to ensure the smooth transition from mechanical locking to full access control management with enhanced guest services across the hotel. Located in the heart of Douglas on the Isle of Man, on the sea front with spectacular views of Douglas Bay, the Ellan Vannin is a traditional Victorian building, looking out over the Irish Sea. Owners made the conscious decision to move from a mechanical system to an access control solution, recognizing the instant ability to update room access as and when guests arrive and leave, alongside managing staff access across the premises. On seeking the advice of MC Locksmiths Services Limited their local Mul-T-Lock specialist, SMARTair™ was recommended to accommodate these requirements, as an easy to install solution that would cause minimal disruption to the daily running of the hotel. Says Paul Cain, owner of the hotel: “Hotels are faced with a unique challenge to find a balance between guest comfort, safety and security and a need to integrate energy efficiency, cost management and the smooth running operation of the hotel. “An important element of this is ensuring we can operate on an efficient check in and out basis for guests but it is here we had started to experience issues with key management, especially if guests had unintentionally not returned keys, or keys were elsewhere with staff or maintenance teams. When we investigated the different upgrade options to access control, we were conscious of the costs involved and disruption of cabling. So when Mark explained how SMARTair™ operates as a standalone solution, it was a simple decision to implement.” Mark Corrin of MC Locksmiths Services Limited continued: “SMARTair™ instantly holds the advantage of being an all in one solution that is easy to install and maintain for all staff while being just like a normal door handle in operation for guests. To complete the upgrade from mechanical to access control requires minimal modification to the doors, and the result is enhanced security, using card credentials that are easy to program.” "SMARTair™ is one proven cost effective solution which ensures a comfortable environment for staff and guests while delivering high levels of security and overall access control management" SMARTair™ overcomes many of the obstacles including the disruption to the daily operation of the hotel, due to the extensive cabling and trunking traditionally associated with access control systems and associated effects on the aesthetics of the hotel. Steve Ross, Managing Director of Mul-T-Lock added: “While security is integral to protect guests and staff from crime, what the Ellan Vannin hotel demonstrates is the secondary function of creating an efficient running hotel; where check in and out procedures must be smooth, cleaners have necessary access to carry out their duties and so on. SMARTair™ is one proven cost effective solution which ensures a comfortable environment for staff and guests while delivering high levels of security and overall access control management.”

For the club, the security system is encrypted and a tight security protocol has been implemented Mul-T-Lock’s MT5 patented key and cylinder system has been installed by Morgans Locksmiths at Leicester City Football club, as part of the newly promoted team’s security upgrade program. Leicester City has recently sealed a place in the lucrative top flight of English football by winning the Championship title, and is now in the process of further improving all its facilities for its staff, players and supporters. As part of the ongoing program of works, all security systems in place were reviewed and established to no longer meet the club’s requirements; with evidence of lock failings and loss of key control. Morgans Locksmiths recommended a new Mul-T-Lock MT5 patented master key system, created in a bespoke design around management needs to specifically accommodate departmental structure and restrict access rights for staff where required. Says Paul Lewis, Operations Manager at Leicester City Football Club: Leicester City Football Club recognized the challenge ahead. As a whole club, we are committed to improving all aspects for the benefit of players, staff and our supporters, and protecting them while they are on site at all times. “Morgans worked very closely with us to understand the security requirements and design a bespoke security solution. Key control and managing access were critical aspects, alongside the assurance of mechanical reliability and a system that was clearly built to last. We were recommended Mul-T-Lock’s MT5 solution, presented in a master key system and I was especially impressed with its flexibility and ability to accommodate all our needs.” MT5 is the first key and cylinder in the UK to be supported by a unique key authorization magnetic strip card. This card is presented to a registered MT5 locksmith before any additional keys can be supplied to ensure tight control of key duplication. "Keys can only now be copied by us, as an accredited Mul-T-Lock MT5 dealer, with the presentation of authorisation to ensure complete key control for the club” For Leicester City Football Club, their security system is encrypted and a tight security protocol has been implemented between themselves and Morgans Locksmiths to ensure only authorized personnel obtain additional keys and locks for their system. Shane Hall, of Morgan’s Locksmiths added: “At Leicester City Football Club, the gradual failings of the original security system was becoming a severe issue for the management team, with lack of knowledge of keys in operation and staff members holding master keys who did not necessarily require all access rights. “By taking the time to work with Paul and using Mul-T-Lock’s MT5 system, known for its ability to adapt to its application, we could create a high performance master key security solution that is scaleable to suit different access requirements. Keys can only now be copied by us, as an accredited Mul-T-Lock MT5 dealer, with the presentation of authorization to ensure complete key control for the club.” Steve Ross, Managing Director at Mul-T-Lock, concluded: “Leicester City is a perfect example of how a master key suite can enhance security arrangements even in a football club, where staff may need varying access to different facilities. Taking the time to work with a professional locksmith and investing in upgrading the lock cylindersand keys to a platform such as Mul-T-Lock MT5, will instantly bring considerable added protection, key control and access management, while satisfying budgetary needs.“

HQ Bar upgraded from mechanical to Mul-T-Lock SMARTair across all rooms and facilities Mul-T-Lock’s innovative SMARTair™ electronic handle sets have proven such a popular security upgrade at The Mereside Hotel in Douglas that the system is now also being installed at the HQ Bar & Restaurant’s two other four star independent hotels, The Glen Mona and The Rosslyn. Mul-T-Lock SMARTair™ is a high performance, cost efficient wire free system designed to instantly upgrade mechanically locks into fully functional access control security, with minimal modification to doors and premises. As an all in one access control system, Mul-T-Lock SMARTair™ removes the need for expensive data cabling and re-wiring and simply operates from a unique management card, so user fobs can be easily added or removed as required. Mul-T-Lock SMARTair™ electronic handle sets were initially recommended to HQ Bar by trusted local Mul-T-Lock dealers MC Locksmiths Services Limited, as a more convenient solution to improve the security level of all rooms on site and improve key management at the Mereside Hotel. "We arranged for our other hotels to be upgraded and would have no issue in recommending SMARTair to other independent hotel operators" The owners were quick to realize the features and benefits of upgrading from mechanical to access control across all rooms and facilities and arranged for Mul-T-Lock SMARTair™ to be installed at the Glen Mona and The Rosslyn. Says Angela McCluskey, owner of HQ Bar & Restaurant chain: “The installation of the SMARTair™ electronic handle sets came about as we were discussing our key management issues at The Mereside Hotel with MC Locksmiths. When guests leave and forget to return keys, alongside the obvious security vulnerabilities on site, it becomes difficult to run the hotel efficiently.” “We have worked with MC Locksmiths Services Limited a long time and trust their judgment, so when they recommended switching to an access control system as stylish and cost effective as SMARTair™, we had little hesitation.” “The system is fantastic; it was installed effortlessly and is really easy to use, even for those staff who is not computer literate. We arranged for our other hotels to be upgraded and would have no issue in recommending SMARTair to other independent hotel operators.” Mark Corrin of MC Locksmiths Services Limited added: “SMARTair™ electronic handle sets real advantage over its competition is how easy it is to install, program and maintain, alongside its stylish finish. These are all critical features to offer a hotel environment where any maintenance work has to be carried out with due care not to affect the daily operations, or the guest experience. With it being supplied by Mul-T-Lock, globally renowned for offering premium security, the end result is a high performance access control management system for owners, staff and guests’ peace of mind.” Mul-T-Lock SMARTair™ is cleverly designed as an all one wire free access control system, perfectly suited for the professional locksmith to install Steve Ross, Managing Director of Mul-T-Lock concluded: “Mul-T-Lock SMARTair™ is cleverly designed as an all one wire free access control system, perfectly suited for the professional locksmith to install. Its ability to deliver flexibility, convenience and usability, wrapped in an aesthetically appealing design, and offered at a substantially lower cost than traditional integrated access control systems, ensures HQ Bars and similar independent hotel chains can instantly meet the security demands of today’s ever changing hospitality environment.” Mul-T-Lock SMARTair™ overcomes many of the obstacles traditionally associated with access control systems as an intelligent electronic device with ease of use at the heart of its design.

Lock Assist recommended SMARTair™ from Mul-T-Lock, an all in one access control system Mul-T-Lock’s innovative SMARTair™ locking solution has been installed at The Bull pub to instantly upgrade the security systems in the early 16th Century building to an all-in-one access control solution. Based in the heart of Ditchling near Brighton, The Bull, voted by the Sunday Times as one of the top 10 pubs in the UK has been welcoming travellors and locals for over 500 years, offering pub and bed and breakfast facilities. To complete a recent refurbishment program, a security solution was required to upgrade from mechanical systems to access control throughout the site, allowing guests to use entry cards on the bed and breakfast rooms, while also restricting certain pub access points for staff and management. Local locksmiths, Lock Assist recommended SMARTair™ from Mul-T-Lock, an all in one access control system, which removes the need for expensive data cabling and re-wiring and simply operates from a unique management card, so user fobs can be easily added or removed as required. Says Molly Raftery, Manager of The Bull: “The refurbishment project has been carefully considered to complement the beautiful aesthetics of the original building while also engaging with the best of modern design. The aim is to continue to offer a warm and welcoming pub with an understated, contemporary edge. “I was especially impressed with the style of SMARTair™ and also its flexibility in design, offering an ability to instantly allow or deny access rights throughout the pub and bed and breakfast facilities. The result is a smoother operating business as guests can be checked in and out quickly and efficiently whileaccess points throughout the premises can be effectively managed.” SMARTair™ overcomes many of the obstacles traditionally associated with access control systems as an intelligent electronic device with ease of use at the heart of its design Steve Richardson of Lock Assist added: “The features of SMARTair™, including how easy it is to install and program, makes it an instant choice for upgrading the controllability and security level of any premises, with minimal disruption to everyday operations. The added advantage for The Bull is its aesthetic handle design to complement the recent refurbishment project.” SMARTair™ overcomes many of the obstacles traditionally associated with access control systems as an intelligent electronic device with ease of use at the heart of its design. Steve Ross, Managing Director of Mul-T-Lock concluded: “For The Bull and similar pubs combined with bed and breakfast offerings, any access control security solution must deliver flexibility, convenience and usability. SMARTair™ offers all of these features and more in a sleek design, presenting an intuitive solution that is also substantially lower than the cost of integrating a full access control system.”