In an exclusive telephone interview with Security Management Today (SMT), Hay (also the former director of The Sorensen Centre for Security Research and Studies at Security House in Worcester) stated: “It’s an exciting stage in our industry’s evolution. That being the case, I’d like to go back into the security sector and make a meaningful contribution by using the contacts, skills and experience I’ve built up over many years. I have worked with some fantastic colleagues at SITO, the BSIA and latterly at Skills for Security. All of them have been and continue to be totally committed to skills development in the sector, and I wish them all the very best for the future.”
Hay is extremely keen on moving back into the security guarding sector, which he worked within prior to joining the Security Industry Training Organisation back in September 1998. “We’re seeing lots of consolidation post-regulation,” added Hay. “People are reflecting on their business development ideals, and looking to offer Gold Standard services. The 2012 Olympics will also offer a plethora of opportunities for service providers, so I feel that working in the guarding arena again would be a huge and exciting challenge.”
Hay assumed the general manager’s role at SITO when former chief executive Raymond Clarke left in August 2002. He did a tremendous job in ‘steadying the ship’, and was duly appointed managing director (a position he held concurrently with the deputy chief executive’s role at the BSIA until December 2005). Thereafter, Hay was instrumental in setting up Skills for Security alongside interim chief executive Linda Sharpe at a point where the training body moved away from being under the ‘umbrella’ of the Trade Association. The organisation has subsequently gone from strength to strength, running three National Conferences (for practitioners in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) and a National Training Awards Scheme, as well as publishing the excellent and popular ‘Skills InSight’ magazine.
Skills for Security is now firmly entrenched as the skills and standards setting body for the security business sector.
A long-time and highly-valued contributor to the pages of SMT (most notably in his own section entitled ‘Education and Training’), Hay wanted to pay a special tribute to David Dickinson, chief executive at the BSIA. “David gave me a huge amount of support and plenty of opportunities to develop my career, and I shall always be hugely grateful for that.”
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Read IFSEC Insider’s exclusive IFSEC eBook and explore the key takeaways from the 2023 show!
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