Security team preserves “country garden” feel of top tennis tournament: Employee training helps Wimbledon to run smoothly

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to describe the award‐winning training given to more than 700 temporary security workers at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on information provided by the marketing director of the company involved, G4S Security Services (UK).

Findings

The paper shows that preparation begins months in advance of the championships, starting with an evaluation of the previous year. Build‐up training involves a series of two‐day basic induction courses, delivered at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. This is followed by Phase 3 training, when 20 managers are trained over three days and more than 700 students are trained over a seven‐day period before the championships.

Practical implications

The paper contains plenty of useful information for anyone involved in ensuring the security of a high‐profile event.

Originality/value

The paper advances the view that comprehensive systems of feedback and evaluation, plus the involvement of the Metropolitan Police anti‐terrorist team, the scanning company, the All England Lawn Tennis Club ticket manager and the championship manager, help to ensure that the training is relevant and up to date.

Citation

(2006), "Security team preserves “country garden” feel of top tennis tournament: Employee training helps Wimbledon to run smoothly", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 26-27. https://doi.org/10.1108/09670730610643954