What a day at the 2022 ACS Pacesetters Awards! The annual event held at Windsor racecourse is one we look forward to, being proud members of the SIA ACS scheme since its inception, and Pacesetters since 2018.

This year, our office Daniel Cooke from our Cambridge Leisure team was chosen as one of the 12 ‘Security Officers of Distinction’. With the winners selected from over 100 nominations, this aspirational accolade is given to officers who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to make a difference, add value for our clients and – most importantly – keep the public safe.

Dan is a worthy winner, who has performed outstandingly this past year. Dan’s site is very busy with frequent incidents, and Dan is a reliable and efficient leader with excellent interpersonal skills and an admirable passion for public safety.

Last year there was an unfortunate suicide attempt on site. Dan and his colleague took control whilst waiting for paramedic assistance by dispersing the public and erecting a cordon. Dan showed excellent intuition to ensure the safety of those around. Dan also played a vital role in an incident where a site regular suffered complications from a heart condition after drinking; thanks to Dan’s prior knowledge of the male, he was able to assist the emergency services in providing appropriate medical assistance more quickly.

Dan performed exceptionally when a fire broke out in a tenant’s unit; Dan immediately called 999 and gave the site address, and cleverly also used the What3Words app to give an exact square foot location which was of huge assistance to Cambridge Fire Service. Dan bravely stayed in position outside the unit until the firefighters gave the all clear to ensure no members of the public or residents of the nearby flats came close to the unit. The fire fighters praised Dan for his actions, saying how impressed they were with his site knowledge and quick actions.

Dan’s winning nomination was shared with the room, along with the 11 other impressive and inspirational winner’s stories. There are some truly exceptional officers in our industry who are doing phenomenal work each and every day and it was an honour to be there to celebrate this.

MAN Commercial also received our Pacesetters Company Award, which was collected by owners Iain and Traci McCallister, CEO and HR Director respectively.

Dan’s involvement in many of the year’s challenging incidents earned him an Employee of the Month award, and our client stated, “Dan it’s because of people like you who show compassion and professionalism that Landsec [client] feel reassured that we are keeping our communities safe.”