700 guests seated in the sumptuous surroundings of the Grand Ballroom at London’s Hilton Hotel on Park Lane. Consummate BBC sports presenter and TV personality John Inverdale offering many a sporting tale to delight the audience. A Charity Casino and Auction that raised thousands of pounds for SPARKS (SPort Aiding Medical Research for Kids) to the delight of former England rugby captain Roger Uttley, who represented the organisaion on the night. And let’s not forget dancing into the small hours with music from funksters Frank The Cat!
The Security Excellence Awards 2004 will live long in the memory for all in attendance as a fantastic night. Now into its sixth year, the industry’s ‘Oscars’ attracted more entries and sponsors than at any time in the past (with Deloitte and Tavcom Training joining our established supporters Southern Monitoring Services, Intrepid Security Solutions, Dedicated Micros, Prima Corporate Wear, Third Millennium, Panasonic, Safe Sec Security and CMP Information).
Plenty of people wanted to be there. Nearly 100 more than last year, which is why we’ve moved to the London Hilton – one of the Capital’s best night-time entertainment venues for awards ceremonies.
Although the Black Tie event maintained a serious purpose as always – that of honouring the very best companies and individuals in the business – there was also more than a hint of fun. This is as much a social occasion for the readers and supporters of event organisers Security Management Today, Security Installer and CCTV Today as it is an important ceremony to honour the very best in the industry.
Much deliberation on the part of the Judging Panel had whittled down a substantially increased number of entries on the 2003 event, enabling the assembled throng to salute the Best Security Manager, the Best Guarding Company, the Best Training Initiative, the Best Security Manufacturer, the winners of the Best Customer Care Initiative and the Best IT Initiative. Also honoured were the winners of the Best Partnership Initiative, the Best Security Consultant and the Best Security Installer.
This year’s Judging Panel covered a broad spectrum of the industry, all of the individuals concerned rightly seen as experts in their field. Sitting on the Panel for 2004 were Professor Martin Gill (director of Perpetuity Research and Consultancy International), Stefan Hay (director of SITO), Mike Bluestone (principal director at Integra Security Solutions), Alex Carmichael (the BSIA’s technical manager), National Security Inspectorate chief executive Tom Mullarkey, John Davies (group security manager, British Nuclear Fuels), Ian Johnston (chief constable, British Transport Police), Geoff Whitfield (principal consultant, Geoff Whitfield Consulting), SSAIB chief executive Geoff Tate and Chris Smith, the head of regional security EMEA at HSBC Bank plc.
As always, the Panel was completed by Security Management Today’s editor Brian Sims, Alan Hyder (editor of Security Installer) and CCTV Today’s editor Ron Alalouff.
The Home Office and the SIA: supporting the Awards
Our winners received their awards in the presence of industry VIPs representing all of the major end user organisations, trade bodies, manufacturers, installers and consultants in the private and public sectors. A quick glance around The Grand Ballroom would have left you mentally noting a ‘Who’s Who?’ of the industry.
With a programme introduction by Home Secretary David Blunkett and KeyNote Address courtesy of Security Industry Authority chairman Peter Hermitage, guests could easily reconcile the fact that the Security Excellence Awards are without question the premier awards strand in the industry. Indeed, this is the only awards scheme to recognise practitioners right across the sector.
SMT, Security Installer and CCTV Today convey their sincere congratulations to all of this year’s winners and runners-up. We’re already looking ahead to the 2005 judging sessions. And remember… Next time it could well be you or your organisation being honoured!
