Persides Consultancy Services Ltd has recently strengthened its executive management team with two new appointments; Steve Lancaster as Strategic Business Development Director and John Conway as Business Operations Executive.
Gary Miller, Managing Director of PCSL, commented "I am delighted to announce these appointments which are in recognition of the their contribution to the growth of Persides, their customer relationship management skills, and commercial acumen in winning and delivering profitable business."
On 31 October four intrepid adventurers revved their engine and set sail from Donaghadee Harbour in Northern Ireland for Port Patrick in Scotland, setting a new world record for crossing the water in a homemade car-boat (modified Renault Laguna) called Sir Tristram, raising an amazing £3,990 for Help for Heroes. Persides sponsored the event and provided a VEEcam to record the successful crossing.
Persides theme for DSEi 2009 was "Independent Innovation Through-life" which highlighted its ability to offer independent innovative technology and FATS3 consultancy service solutions that deliver operational capability via rapid prototypes, full-scale manufacture and in-service technology upgrades. The four focus areas reflected on the Persides’ stand were:
• Video - centred on Persides’ ultra-rugged body-worn video system VEEcam (www.vee-cam.com) which is currently in service with the UK MoD, various UK police forces and international extreme sports enthusiasts.
• Electronic Warfare - demonstrated by the Chili man-pack comms ESM system offered into the MoD’s SEER programme through Team Harken
• Crypto - illustrated by Persides’ niche technical skills applied to MoD’s key crypto programmes CHIM(P) and Cipher ECU(R), plus application of crypto methods in VEEcam to secure recorded video.
• Modelling and simulation - demonstrated by Persides’ OCTOPUS logistics planning tool and the C-CAT (Capability - Cost Assessment Tool) decision support tool for analysing Whole Life Costs across the CADMID cycle and DLODs.
Innovation Showcase - Dr Chris Mobley, Technical Director of Persides presented on Soldier-centric Technology’
Persides was at DVD 2009. It was one of the most important events in the defence equipment calendar for those involved with the supply of vehicles, battlefield infrastructure and related support services. Held over two days at Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire it is organised by Defence Equipment & Support.
Persides demonstrated the ultra rugged VEEcam product at the UKs leading event for the firefighting industry, which has been designed from the very outset to satisfy a common set of requirements expressed by the emergency services.
The robust, easy to use state-of-the-art body worn camera is ideal for video or stills and is also an excellent tool for gathering intelligence for organisations which require the ability to reliably record skip-free, high quality video images. Images relayed from officers on the ground to incident rooms provide instant and crucial information to allow tactical commanders to make critical decisions regarding deployment of tactical units.
Persides has joined forces with leading American underwater equipment provider Hollis Oceanic to deliver VEEcam to US police and emergency services. Hollis Oceanic’s newly launched Hollis Commercial Division supplies hi-tech and specialist scuba diving equipment to the US government’s specialist marine and dive teams. VEEcam has joined an exclusive list of top-of-the-range sophisticated diving equipment supplied by Hollis. The Hollis brand is recognised for its state-of-the-art underwater products. The company has built its reputation on innovative products and continues to excel in delivering improved and enhanced equipment for technical and specialised divers around the world.
Norfolk and North Wales Police placed an order to upgrade their current fleet of 25 and 5 VEEcam units respectively with the new VEEcam Remote Control Unit (RCU). The RCU allows the operator to start recording without having to access the system console. It is a small lightweight devise that fits in-line between the camera and the console and incorporates a flashing LED to indicate recording, and a steady warning LED to warn the operator when the storage capacity has reached 90% or the battery capacity has reduced to 10%.
Last month the Operations & Communications department of Norfolk Police also placed an order for two body-worn VEEcam and a Wireless Re-deployment Surveillance System developed by Stryker communications. This system will extend the current CCTV network to the commander in the field and will allow him to augment this with real time video transmitted from the VEEcam user. This is a UK first and will hopefully pave the way for many other police forces.
Persides received orders from Kent Police Fire Arms team for use at their special operations and fire arms training establishments. British Transport Police in Glasgow placed orders for Body-worn VEEcams with Remote Control Units after the successful trials at the Carling Cup Final and the ‘Old Firm’ derby. The Royal Navy Police ordered eighteen VEEcams for use in and around Naval bases.
Persides have been successful in being awarded a FATS3 (Framework Agreement Technical Support) contract with UK MOD. FATS provides a fast and efficient contractual route to procuring Technical Support from Persides. Under FATS3 Persides will provide various support services including:
- Programme Management
- ILS
- Training
- Software
- Modelling
- WLC Requirements
- Risk
- Airworthiness
- Safety Management
For more information on the full range of services available from Persides through FATS3 please contact Mark Atton on 0117 9329 099 or email: mark.atton@persides.com
Cost Capability Analysis Tool (C-CAT) is a simulation based cost modelling tool that is capable of assessing costs across multiple projects and programmes, project life cycles (including UOR’s) and reporting through a User Friendly graphic User interface. The models in built simulation engine WITNESS http://www.lanner.com/en/witness.cfm facilitates ‘what if’ and trade off modelling across all Defence Lines of Development(DLOD’s) and helps organisations understand what is driving project costs. For further information on C-CAT please contact Gary Miller on 0117 9329 099.
Persides presented at this event, "Capturing the complexity of TLCM in an Integrated WLCM Toolset". It was an introduction to the Persides Capability-Cost Assessment Toolset (C-CAT) and how Persides has applied the principles of TLCM to the needs of WLC modelling.
The event was run by SCAF (Society for Cost Analysis & Forecasting) and provided vendors with an opportunity to exhibit their capabilities and tools to Industry and MOD.
On 1 April 2009 Persides Ltd completed a demerger of its business into two separate limited companies. Over 5 years of profitable trading Persides Ltd has established a strong consultancy services business and achieved growing sales in its world-leading rugged video product VEEcam®.
The governance requirements for these business streams are markedly different as is the opportunity for attracting investment funding as we plan for continued growth over the coming years. In order to fully support both business areas the directors and shareholders of Persides Ltd have decided to demerge Persides Ltd into the following structure:
Persides Consultancy Services Ltd - this is a new company with the same ownership and directors as the current Persides Ltd. The operational scope of this new business is the continued supply of high calibre consultancy services in the areas of Through-Life Capability Management, Project Management, Supportability, Business Winning, Safety, Training and Modelling.
Persides Ltd - this is the continued operation of the current company with a revised operational scope of Product development and sales and the supply of Technology Development services.
Whilst there will be two operational businesses the Persides brand will be promoted as an integrated capability with customers able to select those areas that best meet their business needs.
Persides exhibited at the Global MSC Spring Security Seminar which was held in Reading on 4th March on the subject of "Thinking Ahead... Upgrade & Integration". Persides hosted the golf event on the 3rd March during the day prior to the seminar.
Persides exhibited at the NDI Annual Conference & Exhibition at Marriott Hotel, Gosforth Park, Newcastle upon Tyne. This year’s theme was ‘Defence Procurement for the Next Five Years - involving SMEs’
More VEEcam Sales
(March 2009)The Swedish Armed Forces have placed an order for VEEcam underwater systems. Durham Constabulary placed an order for VEEcam system with body worn camera with integral microphone, cylindrical and Mersey Fire & Rescue placed an order for VEEcam with a cylindrical camera.
Persides is exhbitiing at the SE & TLCM Defence Symposium which is being held at the Defence Academy Shrivenham on 18 & 19 May 2009. Come and visit us. The theme of the conference this year is SE & TLCM - A Stakeholder Driven Perspective'.
Persides exhibited at the second annual Soldier Modernization Event in North America (2nd -4th February 2009) at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Independence Centre at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Ultra Cipher
(February 2009)Persides has been given a contract by ULTRA Electronics Ltd. to provide technical and bid support to Ultra’s Cipher ECU Programme. The ECU programme is an interim procurement for urgent replacement of selected cryptographic devices. ECU will eventually merge into the Cipher Assessment Phase which is separate programme to define the capability for a security management infrastructure for all grades of devices necessary to meet the needs of UK MOD and wider government.
Persides received an order from North Wales Police for 40 VEEcam systems with Body Worn cameras. This brings the constabularies total to 127 cameras from technology innovator Persides. The head of the North Wales Police Imaging unit said, "These cameras are having significant impact on providing the officers with evidence that can be used in court to bring about successful prosecutions. The cameras are also a useful tool to prevent crime in the first place."
After successful trials including public transport to and from the "old firm Derby" Persides received an order from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) for security VEEcam with body-worn cameras. These will be used by the British Transport Police
Persides received media coverage in a number of Norfolk regional newspapers and on local radio stations and Anglia TV covering the story. The VEEcam body worn video system is being used as a new weapon in the fight against crime. Norfolk has been given Home Office funding for the devices which attach to body armour and can record an entire day’s patrol. The aim is to crack down on violent crime, gather evidence and moderate the behaviour of those being filmed. Det Chief Supt Julian Blazeby said "The introduction of this technology has already proven very successful. It gives our frontline officers an effective tool to help make Norfolk an even safer place to live." Quote from the Eastern Daily Press on 12 February 2009.
Persides had just launched a new ultra lightweight miniature head-camera which has been offered into various Police Forces. The head camera has been designed to be worn with or without head dress. It comprises a very lightweight ergonomic ear and head mount that allows the user to wear the camera on either side of the head. In addition, the head camera incorporates a coiled cable to stretch from body to head and minimise cable drag which may otherwise restrict the users head movement.
Persides are providing ongoing support to Raytheon Systems Limited (RSL) in preparing, deploying and recovering Engineering personnel from Contractors on Deployed Operations (CONDO) activities in support of UK MoD operations in the Middle East on several major programmes. This has involved performing Operational Task Analysis (OTA) to define skills requirements, managing all required pre-deployment activities and procurements, implementing communication and crisis management procedures, monitoring resource whilst deployed, and ensuring that the employees return to the UK safely.
Persides receives an order from Norfolk Police for 21 VEEcam systems with Body Worn cameras. The police are wearing state-of-the-art body-worn video cameras as the latest initiative to prevent crime and provide vital evidence for the courts. The Persides innovative video recorder VEEcam® is proving extremely popular with officers and following successful trials, the company is now in discussions with a number of other police forces in the UK. Meanwhile emergency services, including fire and ambulance are carrying out trials.
Come and visit Persides at HOSDB 2009 annual Exhibition on 4th and 5th March 2009. It’s the UK’s premier showcase for the latest security equipment and will take place at RAF Halton, nr. Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The event is organised in partnership with the Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers (APPSS). Persides will be one of more than 200 exhibitions and leading suppliers displaying 3000 products.
On 15th January Persides received press coverage in the National Newspaper the Daily Mirror featuring the VEEcam ruggedised digital camera.
Systems Engineering & Assessment Ltd (SEA) has awarded Persides an up-lift to an existing contract for Future Dismounted Close Combat (FDCC) Research Programme. The work includes developing a WLC trade off process and simulation based model for future DCC power options. This work will build on Persides WLC capability and will make use of existing Persides simulation based WLC tools.
Persides involvement in the ASTERAL programme with SELEX has been extended. The next phase of work will include closing out the ILS programme, finalising all training materials and delivery of training courses to the end user. This work further cements Persides growing credibility in the Training domain.