The new Protect solution enables nearly 600 employees to connect to a call centre 24/7 for support and assistance in any scenario.
BELFAST, Northern Ireland – 7th June 2023 – Totalmobile, the UK leader in Field Service Management software solutions, has announced a new 36-month contract with Connells Group, a leading estate agency and property services group. Connells Group now benefits from Totalmobile’s Protect solution, which provides lone workers with SOS fobs to keep them safe while at work and in their personal lives.
After Connells Group acquired Countrywide, it needed an integrated lone-working solution to keep its surveying employees safe when working alone. The original plan was to adopt the app solution previously used by Countrywide. However, after being contacted by Totalmobile and learning what Protect could offer, Connells Group decided to make the switch.
In April 2023, Connells Group distributed over 570 SOS fobs to lone workers. Surveyors carry the fob with them at all times while at work, which involves going out to residential properties to carry out surveys.
If the employee is under duress at any point or has an accident / medical incident, they can press the alert button on the fob and will be connected to one of over 100 lines at a Belfast-based call centre. A trained operator will answer the call and listen to assess the situation – if the surveyor cannot speak directly to the operator, they can use a company code phrase to indicate they need assistance. Otherwise, the operator can make decisions based on what they hear. If the surveyor can communicate, they can alert the operator to the situation to seek help.
Jason Hill, Group Head of Fire, Health & Safety for Connells Group commented:
“Our previous inherited app solution was adequate, but it wasn’t able to offer our employees the level of safety and security that Totalmobile Protect can. Once our employees have the fob and turn it on, all they have to do is carry it with them and they’re benefitting from it. One unique selling point for us was the number of call lines available – with over 100 we’re confident that our employees will never need to wait for a response, and that gives us great reassurance. The fobs also have GPS tracking provided by three different SIM cards in the device, ensuring that no matter where they are the fob can send and receive signals. Their location is only checked once the alarm has been raised – meaning that our employees can carry this with them outside of work hours too. This will give great peace of mind to our colleagues”.
– Jason Hill, Group Head of Fire, Health & Safety for Connells Group
Connells Group employees can use the SOS fob whenever they want. For example, if an employee is walking somewhere alone at night, they can press a ‘buddy’ button on the fob and be connected with an operator at the call centre who will stay on the line with them until they arrive safely at their destination.
‘AssocRICS surveyor Megan Horwell has benefited from the FOB, who, as a lone worker surveyor, had previously been involved in a situation with a vulnerable person which was upsetting and could potentially have escalated. Having the FOB now gives her the reassurance that she will have support in similar situations in the future, all at the touch of a button.’
“We’re pleased that in the short time Connells Group has been using Protect its employees are already seeing the benefits. Any workers operating alone should feel as safe as they would with a team of colleagues around them, and that’s what Protect is able to offer.”
– David Webb, Managing Director of Property and Facilities Management at Totalmobile.
About Connells Group
Founded in 1936 and comprising over 1,200 branches nationwide, the industry-leading Connells Group is the largest and most successful UK estate agency network. In addition to operating under the Connells brand, the Group trades under 80+ other well-known local names, including Abbotts, Allen & Harris, Ashley Adams, Bagshaws Residential, Bairstow Eves, Barnard Marcus, Brown & Merry, Burchell Edwards, Fox & Sons, Gascoigne Halman, Hamptons, John D Wood & Co., Jones & Chapman, Manners & Harrison, Paul Dubberley, Peter Alan, Roger Platt, Rook Matthews Sayer, Shipways, Slater Hogg & Howison, Swetenhams, Sharman Quinney, Taylors and William H Brown.
As well as residential property sales and lettings, the Group has a comprehensive range of B2C and B2B services, including new homes, mortgage services, conveyancing, EPCs, surveying, corporate lettings, PRS, Build to Rent, asset management, land & planning, LPA receivers, commercial real estate and auctions.
For further information, visit: www.connellsgroup.co.uk
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