David Dickinson, former sales and marketing director at Group 4, has called for the industry to recognise that tendering for manned security services is no longer a cost-effective exercise, promoting best value as the way forward.

In an impassioned speech during last month's IFSEC Exhibition, Dickinson – now the director and general manager of Group 4 Immigration Services – stated: "The only real occasion when end users will need to re-tender is if they don't feel they are privy to a good quality guarding service."

According to Dickinson and Advanced Workplace Associates' Wes McGregor – an advocate of replacing tendering with best value – best value will work through "more effective partnerships" between the guarding contractor and client.