It’s fair to say that the security sector has been pretty busy since Julie Kenny’s first Chairman’s Address to the membership of the British Security Industry Association at last year’s Annual Luncheon.
The ongoing move towards a new regulatory regime, the still-prevalent impact of the economic downturn, new legislation courtesy of central Government: all have played their part in starting to shape ‘A New Tomorrow’ for a sector that, thanks largely to the counter-terror agenda and the upcoming Olympic Games, is now very much front and centre of the law enforcement debate.
Kenny touched on all of these issues and more in her 2011 Chairman’s Address, in which several themes – including the overriding need for successful partnership working, strong political synergies and linkages and the sheer hard work of so many dedicated individuals on behalf of the Trade Association – really came to the fore.
Here’s the text of the 2011 Chairman’s Address in full…
“As chairman of the British Security Industry Association, I’m delighted to welcome you all here today to our 2011 Annual Luncheon. Indeed, it gives me great pleasure to share with you all the successes of the past year and, as we look to the future, to appreciate how the Association continues to benefit from your commitment and dedication.
“Before I begin my address, I would like to extend my thanks to today’s supporters King’s Security Systems (for sponsoring the Annual Luncheon), to the Legion Group (itself a division of OCS Group UK, for sponsoring the drinks reception) and to the sponsors of our awards: Camberford Law, Selectamark and Security Plus.
“As we gather together and reflect upon a successful year at the BSIA, I would first like to thank our Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker, Lynne Featherstone MP, for joining us here today. Lynne, by your attendance you are recognising the important link between our industry and Government, and I thank you for that.
“Over the past year, the BSIA has worked incredibly hard to engage with the coalition Government in order to ensure that our industry remains adequately represented through what is undoubtedly a period of substantial legislative and regulatory change. It’s extremely pleasing to see these new relationships begin to flourish as we move towards a new era of industry regulation.
“The Government’s announcement late last year that the regulation of our industry was to undergo a review provided an ideal opportunity for the BSIA to forge such links.
“The Association was quick to respond to this announcement and was instrumental in the formation of the Security Alliance, a single-issue body formed to provide all key security industry stakeholders with a forum wherein members could debate and formulate a unified response to the question of future regulation.
“Since its formation in October last year, the Security Alliance has gone from strength to strength, rising to the challenge of regulatory change and embracing the development of lighter touch regulation, with its consequent empowerment of the industry.”
Lobbying and representation: core functions for the BSIA
“Lobbying and representation have remained the core functions of our technical team at the BSIA, representing members’ views in both the UK and European arenas and continuing to reinforce the Association’s position as the most prominent voice of the UK’s private security industry.
“Legislative changes have been abundant this year, and the BSIA has provided input into consultations on the Government’s Protection of Freedoms Bill, the Localism Bill, HM Treasury’s consultation on tax credits for Research and Development and the European Commission’s consultation on an industrial policy for the security industry.
“In addition to this, a targeted public affairs campaign led by our chief executive James Kelly has succeeded in placing the BSIA in front of those leading politicians with an interest in the security industry, realising visits to both Houses of Parliament and resulted in the BSIA’s presence at the main political party conferences last September.
“Developing these political links is key to the Association’s long-term success. With such an array of changes affecting varying sectors within our industry, the value of Trade Association membership in providing a collective voice for even the smallest of security companies is now more apparent than ever.
“As well as affecting the wider industry landscape, change has also been prevalent within the BSIA itself this year as we strive to modernise the Association’s governance structure and procedures to ensure a more up-to-date, flexible and dynamic organisation that’s run by its members, for its members.
“A key element of this modernisation is the Constitutional Reform Group, which was established with the primary aim of updating the existing constitution to ensure that the Association’s governance arrangements are fit for purpose, transparent and simple, enshrining the principles of democratic and equitable representation for members to encourage greater membership participation and influence.
“The Constitutional Reform Group comprises our president, Sir Keith Povey, the BSIA’s vice-chairman Stuart Lowden, our CEO James Kelly, two Council members and my good self in my capacity as Trade Association chairman.
“Constitutional reform is an issue that I feel strongly about, not least because I’m passionate about making a difference to the future of the Association. I wish to ensure that the BSIA remains strong and robust to represent its members well into the coming years and decades. Securing such a legacy, however, is no mean feat.
“With a whole raft of documents included in this review, from the Memorandum and Articles of Association through to the Bye-Laws and on to individual section rules, the success of its implementation depends upon the ongoing support of our members.
“To this end, I would like to extend my personal thanks to Council Members Paul Ramsay and Adrian Mealing for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the Constitutional Reform Group, and to all the Council members for sharing a vision for the Association’s future: something I hope that you will all support as development work takes place during the next eight or nine months.”
Vocalising successes to the wider world
“While focusing on improving the internal structure of the Association, vocalising our many successes to an external audience through the media remains an important part of reinforcing the BSIA’s profile.
“During the past year, the BSIA’s message has been heard by an audience of over 108 million people, with media coverage reaching as far and wide as China and the USA. Here in the UK, the BSIA has begun to secure regular coverage in the national press, with articles and interviews appearing in the Daily Express, The Independent and The Guardian.
“2010 was a particularly successful year in terms of reaching a wider audience, with BSIA press coverage achieving a 700% increase on the previous year.
Speaking out on behalf of our industry and making our collective voices heard continues to be a vital way of imparting our members’ messages to end users and potential customers, all the while promoting the importance of quality and professional security solutions.
“With less than a year to go before the Olympic Games, our work alongside the Home Office, the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) continues to go from strength to strength under the expert guidance of our dedicated 2012 project director, David Evans.
“As we move towards the final stages of security planning for the Games, the BSIA remains at the forefront of the industry’s preparation for the event.
Our participation in various Working Groups – including RISC’s 2012 Industry Advisory Group and the Police Co-ordination Working Group – ensures that the BSIA and its members are recognised as expert voices on security planning for 2012.
“Bridging The Gap, an initiative developed by the BSIA and run in conjunction with the London 2012 Organising Committee and North Hertfordshire College, remains on course to achieve its goal of providing 12,000 additionally trained security personnel for the Games while promoting the security industry as a viable long-term career choice for young people: a rare and valuable opportunity in these austere economic times.”
Creation of new jobs for the sector
“On the same theme of creating security-related jobs for our industry, the BSIA is pleased to support the ‘100 in 100’ campaign: an ‘industry first’ devised by Skills for Security and CSL DualCom and supported by United Business Media through Info4Security and SMT Online.
“The aim is to place 100 apprentices into careers within our industry in 100 days, starting from the official launch of the scheme which took place in The SMT SELECT Lounge at IFSEC in May. We have already placed 18 new apprentices.
“Employers who sign up to this scheme will gain a brand new enthusiastic employee and a competitive edge in the marketplace. If you would like to be involved, and I would encourage you to do so, then please contact David Greer at Skills for Security.
“Also essential to economic growth is the need to explore business opportunities in other countries. This remains crucial to companies looking to diversify and grow despite the challenging UK financial landscape.
“The BSIA’s Export Council continues to provide an essential service to members, promoting their products and services at overseas exhibitions in countries as diverse as Dubai, Germany and Russia while at the same time maintaining excellent working relationships with the UK’s Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO).
“The Export Council’s Meet The Buyers initiative, held each year at IFSEC, continues to go from strength to strength, with over 700 one-to-one introductory meetings arranged between UK security companies and overseas buyers.
“As we look to the future, the ongoing success of the Association – and, indeed, our industry as a whole – depends upon the continued participation of its members. Our collective knowledge and expertise and working together in partnership gives a boost to all of our individual businesses while also ensuring that, as our industry changes, we’re at the forefront of developing new and innovative ways of working. This helps to make our industry something of which we can all be very proud.
“During my last year serving as your chairman you can be sure that I will continue to work hard for you and all of our membership. You can also be reassured that your Sections and Section chairmen, the GPC and Council members will also continue to work hard for you and all our members.”
Making your views known where it counts
“It gives me great pleasure to share with you the successes of the past year and to talk to you about the work that we are doing within the Association to ensure that the BSIA – of which you are a member – continues to provide you with a membership service of which you can be proud, influences in the right arenas wherever they may be – political, here in the UK or Europe, with standards bodies or within the wider Industry arena and makes sure that your views are presented at the tables that count.
“We want an Association providing a membership that represents value for money and is wholly relevant to your businesses.
“During this last year I have met many of our members and I wanted to express my personal appreciation for the work that they do within your sections, as chairmen of Sections, within the GPC and the Council of the Association, within the industry and within the UK and European Standards bodies (and in many other forums as well).
“Our Association continues to benefit from the commitment and dedication of those members.
“Personally, I have had a great deal of support during my first year in office in working through the changes, and I have been blessed by our members who have given up of their time so freely. Thank You to you all.
“Last but not least, I wish to introduce to you and extend a warm welcome to Geoff Zeidler, who has just been approved by Council as vice-chairman of the BSIA.
“Many of you will know that Geoff is the managing director of Securitas Security Services in the UK and Ireland.
“Geoff studied manufacturing engineering at Cambridge University before embarking on a varied and successful career in strategic consulting, corporate finance, business development and operations.
“Further industry roles followed before he was appointed in 2006 as commercial director of the Government-owned agency the Forensic Science Service, where he developed the commercialisation of the forensic services market.
“In September 2008 he was appointed md of Securitas Security Services with responsibility for UK and Ireland. Of course, the company is a subsidiary of Securitas AB, the GB pound 6 billion Swedish concern that is the world’s biggest security company.
“Following internal restructuring at the company, Geoff led on the acquisitions of Reliance in September 2010 and Chubb in January of this year to create the UK’s second largest security guarding business.
“Geoff is a member of the Security Industry Authority’s Strategic Advisory Committee and the RISC Council.
“I feel that Geoff’s leadership position in the manpower side of the industry, together with his manufacturing experience and awareness make him an excellent candidate to be a future chairman of this Association with its very broad membership. I look forward to working with him closely over the coming year.”
Wise counsel and expert guidance
“I must take a moment to add my thanks to our past chairman, Stuart Lowden, for his wise counsel and guidance throughout the first year of my chairmanship. He has been a great support and a trusted advisor: someone I could rely on to help a person in need.
“We have spoken in the early morning, late at night, at the weekend, while we have been on holiday but – I hasten to add – while in different parts of the world. I could not have asked for a more helpful and supportive vice-chairman, so much so that Stuart has indicated he’s willing to stay around a little longer so that your Council and I can complete the work we have started.
“Stuart has also taken a leading role in both the formation of the industry-wide coalition chaired by our CEO and its deliberations over the last eight months. This cross-industry effort which has engaged so effectively with the Regulator and the Home Office has benefited enormously from Stuart’s many years of experience in the industry, as well as his extensive involvement in the BSIA and many other industry stakeholder bodies.
“I’m delighted that Stuart has recently been elected chairman of the BSIA’s Security Guarding Section so that we can continue to draw on his insight and strategic thinking in the detailed work of the Association.
“Stuart: a heart-felt thanks to you for all your hard work from myself and your Association.”
Julie Kenny CBE DL is chairman of the British Security Industry Association and chairman/CEO of Secure Holdings Limited (Pyronix Limited/Castle Care-Tech Limited)
