Newsroom | News | AETOS partners local start-up Man’s Best Friend to equip security officers with sustainable performance-wear

AETOS partners local start-up Man’s Best Friend to equip security officers with sustainable performance-wear

23
Oct 2020
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.
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When Vigilance pays off: AETOS Security Supervisor presented with Commissioner of Police Commendation Award
On 1 February 2020, Security Supervisor (SS) Tinakaren A/L Durai Singam was presented the SPF Commissioner of Police Commendation award and AETOS Letter of Commendation for the exceptional vigilance and initiative he displayed during the course of his duties.

SS Tinakaren, 28 years old and with eight years of experience in AETOS under his belt, leads a team of 16 officers during daily operations at FedEx Hub. While on duty in April last year, he noticed a contractor carrying multiple bags leaving the premises by the wrong exit. When SS Tinakaren tried to inform him of the mistake, the contractor turned aggressive. His suspicion was piqued further as the contractor’s pass indicated that he had no reason to be there at that time.

Feeling that something was wrong, SS Tinakaren proactively made the decision to take down the contractor’s particulars. Shortly after, it was brought to his attention that multiple reports about missing and lost items had been made later that day. He quickly put two and two together, and took the initiative to check through hours of CCTV footage. Indeed, he found video evidence of the contractor taking the missing items and quickly brought this incident to the client’s attention, which subsequently led to the contractor in question admitting to the theft of the items.

When asked if he had any advice for officers who found themselves in similar situations, SS Tinakaren said, “It is important to be on the alert for suspicious behaviour, but we also need to be tactful and treat the subject with respect. After all, it would not be right to accuse someone wrongly, especially if there is no evidence yet. Above all, we should be diligent and take on any challenges that come our way.”

“I feel really proud to have received this award, and a bit shy too (laughs). I’m really just trying to do my job as best as I can!”.

Said Mr. Alfred Fox, Executive Director and CEO of AETOS Holdings, “SS Tinakaren displayed admirable initiative and resourcefulness during the course of his duties, and went above and beyond the scope of his work. He stands as an example that I hope all our officers can emulate, so that we can continue to secure our clients’ premises effectively and with added value.”
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AETOS named DBS’ Most Valued Business Partner for 2020
We are proud to announce that AETOS Security Management has been named DBS’ Most Valued Business Partner for 2020. Part of the inaugural DBS Supplier Excellence Awards, the title recognizes stellar innovation and flexibility in the adaptation of existing services to meet evolving requirements. AETOS was selected to win this award from a pool of 46 nominees, including both international and local suppliers.

Since 2015, AETOS has provided an integrated suite of security services to DBS, ranging from financial institution protection to ATM replenishment and assets management, and consistently met service level requirements. AETOS has also worked closely with the DBS team to co-create effective solutions for meeting shared goals for security, efficiency, and productivity.

For instance, AETOS conceptualized and implemented several upgrades for its Cash-in-Transit vehicle fleet in consultation with DBS, such as improvements to their security and infrastructure capabilities, contributing significantly to overall operational efficiency. The vehicle fleet will also progressively include electric vehicles in the coming years, as part of an organization-wide push towards greater overall sustainability. This adaptability has been demonstrated in our support for a wide range of projects undertaken throughout our close collaborative partnership.

Mr. Patrick Koh, Vice President of Sales & Marketing of AETOS Holdings said, “We are extremely honoured to be recognised as the recipient of the inaugural DBS Business Partner of the Year Award. This award validates AETOS’ commitment to meeting or exceeding shared goals with DBS, as well as the adoption of innovative products and processes that not only enhanced security, efficiency, and productivity, but are able to meet the ever-changing needs of the future.”
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AETOS officers to be upskilled with expanded competencies
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.”
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