AETOS has partnered with Man’s Best Friend (MBF), a Singapore sustainable apparel start-up, to launch a new and sustainable physical training (PT) kit for its trainees. This move will contribute to reducing its carbon footprint by up to 40%, as compared to a traditional cotton-based PT kit.

Using nanotechnology with sustainable materials such as bamboo and 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, a team of student entrepreneurs from Yale-NUS College worked with AETOS to co-create and design high-performance and eco-friendly PT kits that are sweat, stain and water-resistant. This new material will enable AETOS trainees to reach optimal performance, and to train more effectively and comfortably in local climate.

By donning sustainable performance apparel that require less washes, the wearer’s carbon footprint is significantly reduced. For each set of PT kit, one can save up to approximately 40 washes, 4000 liters of water, 3 square meters of savings in cotton crop area, and 11 PET bottles used. This is also equivalent to savings of 5 years’ worth of drinking water and 14kg worth of carbon dioxide emissions.

“We are extremely excited to work with AETOS, with our mutual commitment towards functional sustainability. We hope this can turn into a lasting partnership, where AETOS can empower its stakeholders to transition to more sustainable materials and also adopt a more sustainable lifestyle in the security workspace,” said Mr Johann Wah, CEO and Co-Founder of MBF.

Mr Alfred Fox, Executive Director and CEO of AETOS Holdings said, “We are pleased to partner this budding group of green entrepreneurs, who have developed sustainable products through the adoption of technology and innovative processes. Being future-ready is about sustainability and these are key thrusts in our transformation plan to become a responsible integrated service provider of the future. We firmly believe that this partnership with MBF, alongside our other sustainability efforts, will help advance industry-leading change towards a low-carbon future.”

In its roadmap for sustainable growth, AETOS aims to expand its series of sustainable clothing by 2022 - rolling out similar operational working tees for officers who are often exposed to harsh weather elements at the frontlines.

As part of a holistic effort towards long term sustainability, AETOS has also implemented other sustainability initiatives, which include tracking and monitoring of its operations’ carbon footprint at management level, launching recycling efforts including electronic waste collection, and creating an in-house vertical hydroponics edible garden. For a start, AETOS has committed to reducing its vehicle carbon footprint, as it progressively works with partners to incorporate electric vehicles as part of its fleet of patrol cars and bikes.

“Sustainability is a necessary mindset moving forward, and no one can do it alone. AETOS is committed to make positive changes in the way we do business, and support national efforts in shaping a better and more sustainable society for future generations,” added Mr. Fox.

In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing witnessed by Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), Mr Ng Chee Meng, and Group Chief Executive Officer of Surbana Jurong Group, Mr Wong Heang Fine, AETOS has committed to work with the Union of Security Employees (USE) to form a Company Training Committee (CTC) aimed at upskilling its security officers by deepening their core skills and diversifying their competencies; with a view to transform the role of a security officer and make security a career of choice.

The CTC will equip AETOS security officers with expanded competencies to complement their security skillsets. Currently, AETOS officers are required to attend digital literacy and customer service WSQ courses, in addition to the basic licensing units. By becoming more digitally-savvy, the officers are better able to utilise technology solutions to enhance their productivity in their daily operations. Another objective of the CTC is to uplift the role of the security officers beyond just “guarding”. Officers will be taught fundamental skills in facilities management and equipped with Company Emergency Response Team knowledge. The former will allow officers to identify and report basic building infrastructure faults, shortening the rectification process by the building management, while the latter will empower them to help control incidents and minimise injuries in the event of an emergency.

With these added competencies, the officers can remain relevant and future-ready, and can provide additional value to the clients in terms of productivity and integrated solutions. Through this partnership, more than 1,000 officers will stand to benefit from better career progression, job prospects and possibly wages in line with their newly-acquired skillsets in the near future.

Aside from being upskilled and gaining expanded competencies, officers can also enjoy a longer career and strengthen their lifelong employability, with AETOS raising the retirement and re-employment age to 65 and 70 respectively from next month, ahead of the national implementation deadline of 2030.

Mr Alfred Fox, Executive Director and CEO of AETOS Holdings said, “Developing Our People is one of the key thrusts of AETOS’ transformation plan to become an integrated and future-ready service provider. Our employees have always been at the heart of our business and we will ensure that they remain resilient, relevant and prepared for the future. Through this partnership with USE, we are pleased to pledge our commitment to equip our officers with the necessary skills and integrated competencies to help drive changes in the security industry, create new value and productivity for our clients, and help our officers gain an advantage in terms of career prospects and personal development.”

Mr Raymond Chin, General Secretary of the Union of Security Employees said, “USE has been working with the industry towards transforming the security sector. Through the introduction of the Progressive Wage Model in 2014 to the current focus on driving Outcome-based Contracting, our vision is to ensure better work prospects and better wages for our officers. We have studied how countries like Sweden and Australia have been able to make good progress in these areas, and this CTC is our first step with our unionised agency AETOS towards that end.”

Fourteen AETOS officers received awards and recognition from the Security Association of Singapore during this year’s Security Officers Day. The Awards were launched in 2014 to recognise outstanding officers who have performed exemplarily in their duties and who have actively adapted to using technology on the job.

Among the recipients is Security Executive Thurkadevi, who was named Security Officer of the Year. Devi was nominated for her role as team leader of the security operations team at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) – one of the largest multi-disciplinary public hospitals in Singapore, and instrumental to the national response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the difficulties they faced, Devi displayed exemplary leadership and pro-activeness as she worked tirelessly to uphold heightened security measures, while making sure that her team was kept well-informed and aware of the evolving situation. She also made the health and well-being of her officers her topmost priority, ensuring that personal protective equipment was readily available and that temperature-taking and social distancing guidelines were adhered to.

Security Supervisor Saiful received the Job Redesign Award for his commitment to self-learning and upskilling, as well as his contributions to work productivity and security outcomes. A strong advocate of upgrading one’s self, Saiful actively motivates his team members to expand their competencies through continuous learning, and leads by example. He is also able to come up with innovative solutions to workplace issues, harnessing technology to reduce inefficiencies and free up manpower for higher value work.

Said Mr. Alvin Tan, General Manager of AETOS Guard Services, “We are glad that our officers are recognized for their hard work and commitment, especially during this challenging period. I am confident that they will continue to excel, and uplift the industry as a whole.