Position: Contract manager
Area: Greater Manchester
Years spent in security: 7
Many people think of a nightclub bouncer or supermarket guard when they imagine a security officer. But the sector is so much more diverse, with roles in fields from technology to transport and a requirement for numerous soft skills.
Our new meet the team series will highlight some of our colleagues and showcase the variety of their work.
First up is Jake Beckett, a contract manager who works on the Greater Manchester TravelSafe Partnership. Jake helps oversee all security personnel on the ground – our TravelSafe Support and Enforcement Officers (TSEOs), who help deter, prevent and address anti-social behaviour on Greater Manchester’s buses, part of the Bee Network.
Jake is tasked with a lot of responsibility to help keep people safe across Greater Manchester every day. He didn’t start in a management position though – he worked up the ranks from a Travel Safety Officer (TSO) himself. Jake started his security career in 2018 and joined Amulet in 2022. He quickly rose up the ranks from an operations supervisor on Northern Trains to an assistant contract manager, and now into his contract manager position at Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
Jake believes that TSEOs have a unique role in supporting the public:
“We often work with vulnerable people, who require a kind, empathetic, and confident approach that gives them the help they need.”
Having been a TSO himself, Jake knows what skills to look for in new recruits. Amulet doesn’t necessarily need someone with security experience, but we want to see that candidates have empathetic qualities and how they have managed difficult situations in the past.
Jake ensures that all recruits receive the correct training to become TSEOs – including the Community Safe Accreditation Scheme (CSAS). Initially, though, it’s those soft skills that are vital.
Jake draws on his experience to support recruits – he knows what the role entails, the difficulties TSEOs can encounter, and the intricacies of the job.
A typical day
For Jake, every day in the role is a busy one – he oversees 60 TSEOS currently, but the areas Amulet operates within Greater Manchester are due to increase, so the number of officers he supports will rise too. It is likely to become over 100 by January 2025.
Jake oversees the complex mobilisation of officers daily to areas of Manchester, Bolton and soon, Stockport. He does this from TfGM’s main control room, meaning that he has access to CCTV across Greater Manchester. He oversees both halves of TSEO shifts – at the start of every shift he makes sure that they receive their daily brief. For example, they may get the brief to focus on revenue, meaning that they are cracking down on fraud across the Bee Network buses that day.
In the second half of their shift, they are static at stations, watching out for any anti-social behaviour or illegal situations. For example, they could be working with the local council, watching out for identified members of the public who could be dangerous.
Jake’s role requires a lot of balancing – he liaises with his officers throughout the day, but he is also in contact with local police to effectively deal with any incidents, and with TfGM too.
What Jake enjoys most
“For me, our culture of support is one of the most powerful parts of the business.”
Jake has always found that at Amulet, he has had officers and managers to support and mentor him as he has risen up the ranks. He believes that connection breeds a culture of support, where he and his colleagues can reach out to one another if they are ever struggling.
Amulet also has an employee assistance programme that officers can turn to, and beyond that, regular check-ins are a common occurrence.
Jake mentioned that a newly appointed supervisor had recently gone through the tragedy of losing a family member. Her loss had made the transition to a new role all the more difficult, but the whole of Jake’s team went the extra mile to support her. They rallied together to provide flowers for the funeral and made sure she took all the time she needed before coming back to continue her training and development. That culture of support really stands out to Jake:
“No matter whether you are an officer, manager, supervisor, or in any other position – the community makes my work at Amulet so worthwhile.”
At Amulet, we are always looking for new recruits and encourage anyone to apply. For TSO roles specifically, we want empathetic and strong-willed people. As an Employee Ownership Trust, our employees own our business, and that means you can help steer Amulet in the best direction for its future.
There’s always room for growth too. Recruits could easily be like Jake in a few years – moving up from on-the-ground to supervisory positions.
Are you interested in becoming an officer with Amulet? Explore our careers options: https://www.amulet.co.uk/company/careers/
