VPS Group provides customised solutions for their customer’s temporary security requirements. Its service offers a complete end-to-end solution to secure physical assets through advising, installing, and monitoring. Its customers exist across a broad range of industries, including renewable energy, construction, utilities, and highways, as well as government and public sector infrastructure. In this special Q&A, we speak to VPS Strategic Marketing Leader, Susie Wells, about the company’s upcoming webinar, – Safer Sites, Safer Futures, taking place July 1 at 10.00 GMT where industry experts will come together for a live discussion exploring the growing risks facing vacant sites during school holiday periods.

Q: What stimulated the idea to do a webinar?

Susie Wells: “Each year, VPS and our clients see a predictable rise in unauthorised access and youth-related site incidents during school holiday periods. However, the issue is becoming more complex, influenced by wider behavioural trends including social media-driven urban exploration, curiosity-led trespass and reduced structured activity for young people.

“Rather than responding in a purely reactive way, VPS wanted to create a platform that brings together security leaders, businesses and youth-focused organisations to better understand the drivers behind this behaviour and explore more preventative approaches. The webinar is designed to move the conversation from isolated site security responses to a more informed, collaborative discussion.”

Q: What does the project involve?

SW: “The Safer Sites, Safer Futures campaign is VPS’s response to a trend we are increasingly concerned about. We are seeing a rise in unauthorised access to vacant and operational sites, particularly during school holiday periods, which creates clear operational risks for businesses and raises important questions about the safety and wellbeing of young people.

“Rather than treating this as a purely security issue, the campaign is designed to start a different kind of conversation, bringing together understanding, collaboration and prevention to reduce risk and improve outcomes for both sites and young people.

“At its centre is a white paper exploring youth trespass, urban exploration, safeguarding and preventative security, supported by a live industry webinar bringing together voices from security, retail, hospitality, education providers and youth engagement organisations.

“Alongside this, VPS is working with Oldham College to develop VR-based educational tools that “speak their language”, and that help young people understand the risks associated with vacant and unsafe sites, and the consequences of entering them.

“We are also working with youth charity Sport 4 Life UK to support a holiday youth activity programme, creating safe and structured environments during school holiday periods. This aims to reduce boredom-led risk by providing more positive and constructive ways to spend time.

“Together, these elements combine insight, education and practical intervention. The campaign reflects VPS’s commitment not only to protecting customers’ sites, but also to shaping more preventative and collaborative approaches that address the issue at its source.”

Q: What is VPS’s involvement in the project?

SW: “VPS is leading and championing the Safer Sites, Safer Futures campaign.

“We are responsible for shaping the narrative, developing the insight, and bringing together organisations across security, retail, hospitality and education to contribute to the discussion. We are also hosting and chairing the webinar and producing the supporting white paper and wider campaign content.

“This is an issue that matters to us, and the response by the industry so far suggests that this is a topic that resonates with the wider industry too. We see first-hand the impact these trends are having on sites, but we also recognise the importance of understanding the wider behaviours behind them. Our aim is to raise awareness, start a more collaborative conversation, and support more preventative approaches that reduce risk for both businesses and young people.”

Q: What are you hoping for from the webinar?

SW: “The aim is to shift the conversation from reactive security measures towards a more preventative and collaborative approach that reflects the realities of modern site risk.

“We want to share real-world insight into seasonal and behavioural trends, explore how youth behaviour is changing and why, highlight the impact on businesses and young people, and encourage more joined-up thinking across sectors.

“Ultimately, the goal is to support safer sites while also contributing to safer outcomes for young people through earlier understanding, better prevention and stronger partnership working.”

Q: What can delegates expect to learn or gain from the webinar?

SW: “Delegates will gain insight into why site incidents increase during school holidays and how these patterns are evolving, including the influence of social media and urban exploration culture.

“The session will also explore the wider drivers behind youth-related site access, real examples of operational impact across sectors, and practical approaches to prevention.

“Attendees will hear how collaboration, education and early intervention can reduce risk and how organisations can better align security strategies with social value and safeguarding priorities.

“The webinar is discussion-led and insight-driven, designed to support better decision-making rather than present a sales-led perspective.”

Q: How can people register for the webinar?

“Registration is available online via the VPS webinar sign-up page.

“Once registered, attendees will receive joining details ahead of the session along with any pre-event materials. The webinar is free to attend and open to professionals involved in security, operations, facilities, compliance and property management, as well as those working in education, safeguarding and community roles.

“We look forward to welcoming anyone who recognises the importance of this issue and wants to be part of the conversation.”

Read more about the campaign, here

Register for the webinar, here

For more perimeter security news, click here