Security guards and key holding services

In 2020, Sunderland City Council awarded a contract to Support Services Group Ltd (SSG) worth an estimated £1,251,657 for security guarding and key holding services to 14 locations in the city. This industry is predominantly made up of local employees and pays the National Living Wage (£8.20 to £8.72) to security guards for their services. In accordance with the council's policy as a UK Living Wage Employer, this was the first procurement resulting in the real Living Wage (£9.30) to be paid to all low wage employees working on the contract, giving a boost to the local economy.

In addition to the increase to the wages of employees, SSG also committed to a further £1,181,695 of social value worth, including:

• Employing more local people
• Providing more opportunities for disadvantaged people
• Improving skills for local people

Although the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the focus for Support Services Group Ltd they have still provided the following to date:

• Local suppliers engaged on this contract has exceeded the target of 43 by eight, bringing the total to 55
• All staff have access to the company's mental health portal, which advised them how to maintain their mental wellbeing and signpost them to support organisations
• Working with Centrepoint to ensure there is support for staff who find themselves homeless
• Currently working to be 100% paper free, currently achieving 98%