SMT SELECT News: Edition 24 (July 2010)

29 Jul 10

The BSIA's Security Personnel Awards, new projects at the Home Office, Dragons' Den, The Security Institute and ASIS UK all feature in the latest edition of SMT SELECT News from Brian Sims.

By Brian Sims

When I began my journalistic career nigh on 20 years ago, my boss informed me that there was never a good time to take a holiday.

Well, there’s so much happening in the security sector just now that any ‘downtime’ (as they say in corporate business circles) is completely out of the question!

Take the BSIA, for example. The organisation’s splendid Annual Luncheon and Security Personnel Awards attracted a keynote speech from Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson QPM.

There was an equally detailed delivery courtesy of new Trade Association chairman Julie Kenny CBE, the Chairmans Awards and special accolades for the bravest of Cash-in-Transit couriers.

On top of that, Bobby Logue and I paid tribute to a great man – Jorgen Philip-Sorensen – in bestowing our joint Building The Future Award.

Not content with lots of writing at the BSIA’s Annual Luncheon, I also took some video of the occasion.

Interview with CEO James Kelly

Sticking with the BSIA theme just a tad longer, I recently had the great pleasure of interviewing CEO James Kelly at SMT Online hq. Read Part One and Part Two. They’re fascinating insights as to where the organisation is headed under Kelly’s new and already vibrant regime.

It was something of a surprise to learn that Chris Pinder was leaving Kirkham House, but by the same token great news that he’s not being lost to us… A new marketing role at the National Security Inspectorate beckons.

Naturally, the BSIA is keeping a watching brief on what happens in Westminster, where policing minister Nick Herbert is talking of necessary cost-cutting. Herbert’s compatriot in the Home Office, James Brokenshire, has also unveiled a new security Code of Practice in relation to mobile phones.

Interestingly, all of this political activity dovetails with the publication of the Security Industry Authority’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2009-2010. I’ve scanned the contents, so look out for a more fulsome review in due course.

Comment on SIA regulation

One key industry figure who has much to say on the subject of regulation is Jason Trigg, the CEO at Cardinal Security. Read what Jason has to say in Part One and Part Two of our recent interview.

Congratulations again to Peter Harrison (md) and Wesley Downham (business development director) at FGH Security for their magnificent efforts on Monday night’s Dragons Den.

In a mere ten minutes these two guys did so much to boost the image of the security guarding sector in the eyes of the public at large, not to say the business world, and for that they must be applauded.

Of course, brand protection is massively important to FGH Security, as indeed it is for most going concerns, and that’s why I’d strongly advise you to have a read of the answers Jim Rittenburg gave to my batch of questions on this topic.

‘Bonfire of the Quangos’?

Meanwhile, Skills for Security CEO David Greer has responded in detail (and exclusively for SMT Online) to a recent policy paper issued by the CIPD. A policy paper designed to help Government “streamline the byzantine system of quangos operating in the field of education and skills policy”.

Back on the interview trail, it was my pleasure to take afternoon tea on The Peers’ Terrace at the House of Lords with Baroness Harris of Richmond. The reason for our chat? So that I could find out why the Baroness decided to become patron of ASIS in the UK.

October might seem as though it’s a long way away but, believe you me, it’ll appear on the horizon quicker than you think. On Thursday 21 October, I’ll be hosting our annual Security Excellence Awards ceremony at The London Hilton Hotel. Category judging takes place tomorrow.

If you haven’t booked your table yet then make sure you’re quick smart about it… Last year’s event was a sell-out! We even had to ‘open up’ the back of The Ballroom to accommodate additional guests!

Last, but by no means least, one of the pre-dinner accolades at the Security Excellence Awards is The Wilf Knight Award bestowed by The Security Institute. Last year’s winner, Danie Adendorff, said that it changed his life (he then went on to win The Imbert Prize, of course).

The 2010 The Wilf Knight Award is now open, so read my article and send in those submissions, folks!

SMT SELECT: your end user meeting place

Your opinions as to how we can best organise SMT SELECT events for you – and provide information in such a way that you derive the most useful and productive outcome from SELECT membership – are extremely important.

If you could spare a few minutes of your precious time to send me any suggestions on what topic areas you’d like to see covered in future editions of this Newsletter (or at SELECT events) it would be greatly appreciated.

Don’t hesitate to contact SMT Online’s Editorial Desk… Call me direct on 020 7921 8286 or 07957 164351.

Alternatively, feel free to send an e-mail to either: brian.sims@ubm.com or bsims@info4security.com

Until next time…

Brian Sims

(Editor, Security Management Today Online and Group Content Editor of the UBM Live Protection and Management Division’s Security Portfolio)