Military veterans will provide mass Covid-19 testing support to under-pressure schools with help from an award-winning Swindon-based security provider.

Last year, SSGC deployed more than 4,000 staff, many of whom were military veterans, to marshal coronavirus testing centres across the UK.

Now, the firm is offering schools support in carrying out what could amount to tens of thousands of lateral flow Covid-19 tests when students return to onsite learning after the February half-term.

It comes after the government’s announcement at the end of last year that millions of lateral flow tests would be made available to schools across the country to test both students and staff.

To ease the burden on students and staff, SSGC is offering a fully-vetted, scalable solution to schools which will provide mass testing, along with an ongoing facility for further tests in line with government requirements.

Managing director David Stubbs said: “We spent a significant proportion of 2020 ensuring the rapid deployment of our employees, including a large proportion of military veterans, to marshal Covid-19 testing centres across the UK.

“We have now evolved our expertise to be able to offer a lateral flow testing solution to schools, colleges and universities across the country.

“We know how much pressure the education sector is under and, by offering this service, we’re able to take away some of that strain and allow teachers to focus on what they need to – ensuring students are able to get the very most out of their education.”

The lateral flow tests aim to reduce the reproduction (R) rate by identifying asymptomatic but potentially infectious people quickly to break the chain of transmission.

Mr Stubbs said schools had registered for the service. He added: “Our solution ensures full vetting of staff, to include EDBS checks, safeguarding training, a ready-to-go assignment instruction, with predetermined test routines and rapid deployment.”

SSGC is a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant and last year won a national award for its work with Serco managing Covid-19 testing centres on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

It is now urging schools, colleges and universities to get in touch to find out more about its testing solution.

It is actively planning for this service to be delivered in 43 UK locations, which, similarly to SSGC’s marshalling of the Covid testing centres, will largely be managed by former military personnel.

For more information, visit www.ssgc-net.com or search for SSGC on social media.