We love to celebrate Sandwell successes here at Think Sandwell, so we’d like to say well done to GMS Group who won two awards from leading news title Express & Star earlier this month.

Following a successful period of continued growth, the Tividale-based security specialist picked up the Apprentice of the Year and Best Marketing Campaign prizes from the West Midlands news brand at a glittering awards ceremony at Wolverhampton Racecourse at the beginning of June.

GMS Group is an innovative group of security specialist companies, delivering practical solutions nationwide. The company prides itself on building relationships with clients based on a foundation of trust, integrity and reliability.

Headquartered in Tividale, GMS employs 500 staff delivering security solutions for leading brands including Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin, CEMEX UK, Neovia, Kerry Foods and Avison Young.

The company took home the marketing campaign award for its Women In Security campaign, which was launched to encourage more female staff to join the sector. 

With high profile coverage on the BBC TV news and support from Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, as well as online and traditional marketing activity to drive engagement, GMS encouraged over 50 women to apply for new roles ahead of high profile projects going live including the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Commercial director Lisa Nicholson said: “The Women In Security campaign was a true team effort for a cause we felt passionately about. We worked hard to present relatable, positive female role models and challenged the stereotypes of security work in order to get results.”

The apprentice of the year award went to GMS employee Megan Winup after being named as the best apprentice in the region for her positive impact on GMS since joining the company. The Express & Star award was created to “acknowledge and celebrate an apprentice’s outstanding contributions to their workplace and exceptional progress in both their skills development and studies”.

Megan said: “I was delighted to win this award and would like to thank everyone at GMS for their support. It is a great honour to be recognised for my work by the Express & Star so I am grateful to all the senior management team and my colleagues for helping me in my career to date.”

The awards success was the latest positive progress for GMS as earlier this year the company was placed at number 44 on the 2021 Infologue list of top security firms, the first time it has made the industry title’s Top 45 UK Companies in the Regulated Security Sector. 

The list, which is ranked based on regulated security revenue, includes companies operating across disciplines including guarding, cash and valuables transit, close protection, door supervision, public space surveillance (CCTV), security guarding and key holding.

CEO Neil Male said about the awards: “As a business with strong West Midlands roots which flies the flag for the region with national clients, it means a lot to be recognised by a leading brand such as the Express & Star. To win not one but two awards is a fantastic achievement. Congratulations to all the team for playing their part in our continued success.”

Congratulations to GMS Group – keep up the good work!