SafeZone contract

SafeZone, provided by CriticalArc Ltd, provides a robust campus safety solution, providing students and staff are liable way to contact Protection Services during an emergency, and contributing to lone worker safety.

SafeZone also provides a central platform through which emergency communications can be sent to app users, or to all students and staff via email and SMS. This functionality will become crucial as communication during an incident is a mandatory requirement of the Group under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. The use of the app is embedded into a range of processes including:

· lone worker safety through the check-in feature, including for staff

in Study Centres

· remote trigger devices in place of panic alarms for student

wellbeing and Students' Union colleagues

· first aider deployment

· Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans(PEEPs) for vulnerable and

disabled staff and students to liaise with Protection during an

evacuation

After 6 years with SafeZone, a review of competitors was undertaken as part of this process. Following market engagement with suppliers offering similar tools, renewal by direct award with SafeZone is proposed as the preferred supplier.

Other suppliers offered broadly similar products at differing price points, although none included the full functionality of SafeZone upon which current processes have been developed.