Leading security specialists GMS Group are celebrating after being named as finalists for two prestigious regional business awards.

Tividale-based GMS Group have been announced as finalists in the Employer of the Year and Community Impact categories at the prestigious West Midlands Business of the Year Awards organised by news brand Business Desk.

The West Midlands Business Awards, organised to “celebrate the people that are role models within their organisations and raise the bar for their competitors”, will be announced at a ceremony on February 22 at the Macdonald Burlingham Hotel, Birmingham.

To make the Business Desk shortlist, GMS had to present to a panel of judges who graded businesses based on their strategy and finances, their people management, commitment to excellence and their ESG policies. As a shortlisted company, they will be invited to present to judges in January.

GMS CEO Neil Male said: “As a business with strong West Midlands roots, we are delighted to be named as finalists at the West Midlands Business Awards. We strive for excellence as an employer across the region as well as supporting good causes close to our hearts so the recognition means a lot to us.”

GMS has built a reputation for being an innovative group of security specialist companies, delivering practical solutions based on trust, integrity and reliability through joined-up services. The company employs 500 staff delivering security solutions across the UK for leading brands including Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Aston Martin, Colliers International, CEMEX UK, Neovia and Kerry Foods.

GMS has a strong reputation for giving back to the West Midlands through charitable activities, working to a vision statement on corporate social responsibility of being “proud to support charities, organisations and worthy causes that provide help and assistance to others”.

The directors are involved in a number of community activities including trustee roles with Black Country mental health charity Kaleidoscope Plus Group. Commercial Director Lisa Nicholson is an Enterprise Adviser for George Salter Academy in West Bromwich and is a Sandwell Business Ambassador, part of the group for company leaders which represents and supports the business community in the borough.

Operations Director Ben Neate is a member of the Security Institute and sits on one of their steering groups on a volunteer basis. The business also supports schools and charities through the Warrens Hall Riding school which is located at their Tividale headquarters and also owned by the Male family.

GMS puts its people at the forefront and is committed to supporting colleagues through training and development opportunities and employs at least two apprentices in head office roles each year. In 2022 GMS launched a Women in Security campaign to attract more women to the industry. Last year GMS won Apprentice of the Year and Best Marketing Campaign at the 2022 Express & Star Business Awards and has been named as one of the UK’s top 50 security companies by leading industry title Infologue for two consecutive years running.