Ikon Training

Building safer venues: IKON’s role in ExCeL London’s Major Security Training Day

By Jason Keeley

March 12th, 2025

4 mins

James standing in front of a group of learners, he is wearing an IKON branded hi vis jacket. Security Safety Training.

James Crown leading the training session for Excel London staff.

Written by Jason Keeley, Managing Director

When it comes to keeping high-footfall venues like ExCeL London safe, preparation and collaboration are everything.

Earlier this month, IKON Training supported ExCeL London’s biggest-ever security training exercise, working alongside over 250 security professionals from multiple agencies. As Managing Director of IKON Training, I was proud to be part of this incredible day, delivering specialist training on Protest and Public Order (PPO) Management Training and seeing first-hand what’s possible when teams come together to prepare for the unexpected.

Why real-world security training matters

Security teams face a range of evolving risks, from public protests to mass casualty incidents, and these situations demand quick thinking, calm communication, and confident action.

But these skills don’t come from theory alone. They come from realistic, hands-on training designed to help teams react under pressure and make the right decisions when it counts. That’s why exercises like this are so important and why I’m passionate about our work at IKON.

How we became involved

This journey began last summer when James Crown (our Training Director) and I first met with Henry Havis, Head of Security at ExCeL London, to explore how IKON could support their ongoing security strategy. From that conversation, it was clear that protest and public order risks were a key focus and that bespoke, scenario-led training would add real value.

From there, we worked closely with our colleague David Hay alongside Adrian Coton from Halo Solutions to develop specialist training that would give ExCeL’s teams the practical tools to manage protests, de-escalate tensions, and maintain public safety.

Real-world challenges need real-world solutions

The day itself, led by Halo Solutions, brought together agencies including Carlisle Support Services, ICTS UK & Ireland, G4S, and many others. It was built around ultra-realistic scenarios, including mass casualty incidents and protest de-escalation, designed to test teams’ abilities to manage conflict, communicate under pressure, and respond effectively.

From IKON’s side, our focus was on ensuring the protest and public order elements of the exercise were realistic, challenging, and aligned with the day’s wider objectives. This meant working closely with partners to refine the scenarios and ensure every detail was covered right up until we were on-site finalising the practical delivery.

To see the Excel London security exercise in action, check out the behind-the-scenes video here.

The value of partnership

I want to take a moment to say how valuable it was to work alongside professionals like Adrian Coton from Halo Solutions and see the collaboration between all the teams on the day. These kinds of partnerships are what make security exercises like this successful, and they’re essential in building resilience for real-life situations.

Reflecting on the day, Henry Havis shared just how vital this work is:

“The safety, security and wellbeing of everyone who visits ExCeL London is, and always will be, our utmost priority. Being prepared for every eventuality can make all the difference, so we regularly work with all our agencies to give them in-depth knowledge and training, but also so they know the venue inside and out.”

Why PPO training is critical today

At IKON, we know that managing protests and public order isn’t about ticking boxes; it’s about being prepared to act confidently and professionally when real challenges arise.

That’s why our Protest and Public Order (PPO) Training focuses on:

Recognising and managing public order risks
Safely de-escalating protests and tense situations
Making fast, effective decisions that keep people safe

It was brilliant to see David Hay, with his wealth of frontline experience from events like the BBC and Commonwealth Games, leading on this and helping teams build their confidence through practical learning.

IKON Trainers: Alfie Dollard, David Hay, Jason Keeley, James Crown and James Adams.

A true team effort

I also want to thank the IKON team who joined me on the day, James Crown, Alfie Dollard, David Hay, and James Adams, for their expertise and professionalism.

Exercises like this show what’s possible when training is done right, when it’s realistic, collaborative, and designed to prepare teams for the real world.

If you want to build your team’s confidence in managing protests and public order situations, I’d be happy to discuss how IKON Training can help.