Grosvenor Technology Limited

Grosvenor Technology’s access control system secures Cambridge Consultants’ world-class innovation and product development centre. Working from their laboratories in Cambridge, UK, and Boston, USA, they take innovative ideas from conception to production.All administration, system configuration and diagnostic tasks can be achieved from the convenience of a preferred web browser. The solution is a feature-rich system that encompasses advanced access levels, identity card printing, alarm management, and navigable graphic maps. These features, combined with comprehensive reporting tools, mean that access authorisation and monitoring can take place in real time, across the facility.Grosvenor’s support and service ensured that they were the de-facto option when specifying a new access control system for the sister site in Boston.Full integration with third-party systems such as lift controls and fire alarms ensures the building is safely sealed in the event of a fire, only allowing fire marshals with their own access rights back inside until the building is deemed safe to enter. Another example of this versatility is its ability to integrate with existing CCTV. This allows events captured by a third-party CCTV system to be streamed live via any internet browser on both sides of the Atlantic.Grosvenor’s Site Service Engineers took a collaborative approach, utilising existing wiring and infrastructure to minimise disruption and cost. Meanwhile, the modular nature of the hardware specified for the project enabled over 100 doors to be upgraded quickly, including satellite buildings miles away from the main site.This is suitable for organisations of any size, from one site to multiple sites across wide area networks. Its architecture is IP-network based, including support for Power over Ethernet (PoE), which allows true scalability and can significantly reduce installation costs. With a Microsoft SQL database at the back end, it will meet all the security and resilience requirements of a modern corporate IT infrastructure.Alan Wiltshire, Contracts Director for Cambridge Consultants, was a key decision-maker regarding the upgrade of their existing system.“Due to the diversity of the development we carry out, we needed a system that was robust, yet flexible enough for our particular requirements. Our laboratories are occupied by project teams working on both short and long-term assignments. This means we needed an access control system that could assign privileges to teams and their defined areas for a predetermined duration before resetting and reassigning access rights once the project concluded. Grosvenor’s solution handles requests of this nature with ease.”

Ensuring the safety of people and premises lies at the heart of any access control system. But personal safety is even more important when the building is home to older people and those with additional health needs.BEN is a UK charity for those who work, or have worked, in the automotive industry. As well as providing support and advice for families in need, BEN also provides home away from home care in four locations across the country, including the state-of-the-art Lynwood Care Centre in Ascot, Berkshire.Although Lynwood residents were enjoying brand new facilities, staff and managers at the centre were concerned the security that had originally been installed wasn’t fit for purpose. They requested help from a local team of security experts and Grosvenor Technology, who identified that access control could be both improved and simplified. Locks had been poorly installed, break glasses were missing, and most importantly, the system wasn’t networked – meaning that every time access procedures changed, 30 keypads had to be individually re-programmed.Access control is extremely important to the staff at Lynwood, who needed a failsafe way of making sure that patients feel safe and secure while ensuring that access for staff, families and visitors is comprehensive and stress-free.The Lynwood Centre has 96 beds and 69 apartments and offers facilities for patients with dementia, physically disabled younger people, respite and day care, rehabilitation services, and residential nursing care - so it sees a diverse range of staff and visitors on a daily basis.Lynwood now benefits from Grosvenor Technology’s access control system, which the security team didn’t hesitate to recommend for the centre. The system is 100% browser-based, so the facility is now networked and can be controlled by the Lynwood team using a PC. The hardware is also quick and easy to install and doesn’t require dependency on IT specialists.The access control is also now integrated with Lynwood’s fire system and automatic doors. The centre will also take advantage of enhanced security via the escorted guest feature, whereby staff swipe cards to control visitors’ access.“Lynwood’s previous experience of access control had left a fairly bitter taste. Now, thanks to Grosvenor Technology, residents and their families are secure in the knowledge that the access control on offer mirrors the state-of-the-art building. The Lynwood team is confident that the system is easy and intuitive to use, and that it is backed up by Grosvenor’s excellent aftercare support.”– Andrew Wylie , Senior Account Manager, FTL

Les Bourgs Hospice, a vital non-profit organisation providing hospice care in Guernsey, needed to upgrade its ageing access control system. A well-known security firm spearheaded a collaborative effort with Grosvenor Technology and other industry partners to provide a modern, secure solution for the hospice's staff and residents.The Challenges of out-dated Access Control SystemsThe hospice’s existing access control system was outdated and becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. Rising component costs and limited availability of access cards posed challenges for the facility. A modern, reliable solution was needed to ensure the safety and security of residents, visitors and staff.The Power of CollaborationThe security firm, in partnership with Grosvenor Technology and others, designed and implemented a comprehensive access control upgrade for Les Bourgs Hospice.Grosvenor Technology provided the core of the new system with its powerful yet easy-to-use JanusC4 access control platform. Running on a Grosvenor Technology mini PC, JanusC4 offered a fully featured solution that was simple to configure and manage for hospice staff.A card reader manufacturer recognised the need for a user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing solution and recommended their RX2 advanced OSDP access control reader. This slimline reader offered a seamless transition without requiring redecoration.The entire system was pre-configured and tested before installation to minimise disruption to the hospice. The hospice was also supplied with pre-programmed credentials, and these were issued to all staff to ensure a smooth transition.A More Secure Future For Les BourgsThe upgraded access control system provides enhanced security for residents, visitors, and staff, offering peace of mind for all. JanusC4’s intuitive interface simplifies system management, giving hospice staff greater control over site access without the need to navigate complex or multiple systems.“We have received superb service from the team and partners throughout the entire process,” said Rob Jones, Chief Executive Officer at Les Bourgs Hospice. “The work they have done has not only provided us with cutting-edge security but has also significantly reduced the financial burden on the hospice. We are deeply grateful for their generosity and expertise.”

Redbridge Council had been relying on an outdated and poorly maintained access control system, which regularly caused multiple issues. Fortunately, they were able to seek help from their security firm, which was already working in another department.JanusC4 was the preferred solution for the project for many reasons, notably its centralised control of multiple sites and remote access capabilities.The existing system was difficult to maintain and had high operational costs, which was a concern for the public authority, which always strives for cost reduction. JanusC4 was able to deliver more functionality and capability while also being more cost-effective.Therefore, the decision to upgrade the building’s access control to JanusC4 was made.To meet the project requirements, the change needed to happen quickly. JanusC4 was rapidly deployed. The installation company upgraded the controllers and readers, and thanks to JanusC4’s ability to manage multiple doors on a single controller, space was maximised in doing this.All parts were quickly shipped from the Grosvenor Technology warehouse in Dorset, on the south coast of the UK, further enabling a speedy and efficient process.The designated security team for Redbridge Council has access to the centralised control dashboard, which allows them to respond quickly to any issues or queries, reducing downtime, a significant benefit in a busy public building.

Hackney Empire is a grade II* listed building. The theatre was built as a music hall in 1901, designed by the architect Frank Matcham. Charlie Chaplin, W. C. Fields, Stanley Holloway, Stan Laurel, Marie Lloyd, and Julie Andrews all performed here when the Hackney Empire was a music hall.Hackney Empire’s artistic programme includes theatre, opera, comedy, dance, and music. Hackney Empire collaborate and partner with regional and international companies and artists, including the Royal Shakespeare Company, English Touring Opera, Scottish Opera, and the BBC Concert Orchestra.Hackney Empire has been running Grosvenor Technology's legacy Sateon system via Site Guard for many years. The recently appointed security specialists for the building decided to bring the system up to the more modern JanusC4 platform.The JanusC4 installation at Hackney EmpireHackney Empire chose JanusC4 as their new security solution to replace their existing Grosvenor system, which has been installed for over 25 years, testament to the longevity and robustness of Grosvenor Technology’s access control offering.The site now runs 24 doors using HID iClass High-Frequency readers and credentials to improve their security. This move has allowed the site to introduce a modern proximity-based solution that moves the site away from outdated swipe technology. This offers increased security as well as peace of mind for the client. The Hackney Empire staff require secure access across the site with various degrees of permissions. JanusC4 enables the site to offer a varied and comprehensive solution to ensure the security of the building well into the future. The installation took place over several weeks.“Hackney Empire are very pleased to be working with Grosvenor Technology to install JanusC4 in replacement of their existing Grosvenor system. Having used the Sateon system for over 25 years, and with Grosvenor being a British manufacturer, we are excited to see what the latest technology JanusC4 has to offer in securing such an iconic and historical venue.” – Spokesperson for Hackney Empire