With The Security Institute’s president Lord Carlile QC in attendance as chairman of conference, and many directors and members of the organisation in the audience, Bluestone delivered an excellent annual report.
This included details of several successes for The Security Institute across the last 12 months, largely due to the introduction of portfolios of responsibilities for each member of the Board of Directors.
As a consequence, excellent progress has been made, including the launch of the new Good Practice Guide on investigations in the workplace, recognition and growth of the award-winning distance learning programme, joining The Security Alliance at its outset (and subsequently becoming one of the governing member organisations), the submission of a petition for Royal Charter and the recent launch of the Register of Chartered Security Professionals.
The election of Institute directors at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) saw Ken Livingstone and Joe Greenan returned for a second term of office in addition to Dr Alison Wakefield, Louise Lush OBE, Andrew Nicholls, Mike Hurst and Garry Evanson joining the Board as elected directors.
The AGM was followed by The Security Institute’s Annual Conference and Exhibition, sponsored jointly this year by the Fire & Security Association, Global Aware and Ultimate Security.
The event was opened by Deputy Mayor of London Richard Barnes, who talked about security for London in 2012. He was followed to the podium by Lynne Featherstone MP, whose speech centred on plans for the future of regulation.
Topics covered by other speakers included business continuity and recovering from the earthquake disaster in Japan, securing the Post Office, the threat landscape ten years on from 9/11 and the recent demise of Osama Bin Laden and the use of surveillance.
Conference was followed by drinks and a BBQ on the sixth floor roof terrace at Nomura’s Angel Lane building, an event attended by 160 members and guests and sponsored by IFSEC 2012 and Global Aware. Victim Support was the nominated charity.
Chairman’s Report to the Annual General Meeting
Here is the text of Mike Bluestone’s Chairman’s Report in full…
“Lord Carlile, Ladies and Gentlemen… Allow me to extend to each and every one of you a very warm welcome to this, our 2011 Annual General Meeting of The Security Institute.
“First, I would like to express my gratitude to Lord Alex for his ongoing support, and for taking time out of his very busy diary to chair this meeting. Your support, Lord Alex, is truly invaluable, and in you this Institute has a true and genuine friend and supporter.
“I cannot let these heartfelt expressions of gratitude pass without acknowledging the fantastic support from Nomura and, in particular, the company’s head of security Andy Williams, for their outstanding sponsorship of this AGM and today’s Conference facilities. Thank You so much to you, Andy, and indeed your team from all of the membership.
“Let me also pay tribute to our outstanding and truly dedicated Head Office Team led by our very own ‘Superwoman’, Di Thomas, who is of course ably supported by Karen Newman and Paula Stanbridge. This team, who on a normal basis excel in everything they do, have just come through a rather special 12-month period of major challenges which they have risen to in an awesome manner.
“Even without the special challenges of this past year, day in and day out they work incredibly hard for the membership. They have worked especially hard, of course, to arrange and plan this meeting as well as the conference programme and exhibition that will follow, with the special help of Institute affiliate Liz Lloyd of Global MSC.
“I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the major contribution made to the life of this Institute by my always hard-working and dedicated fellow Board directors, several of whom are here today, including my loyal vice-chairman for business, David Gill. I thank you all.
“A special thank you, too, to our company secretary Nigel Churton for his efficient handling of the formal part of today’s AGM. Let us also congratulate Nigel on his recent installation as Master of The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals.
“I thank all of you for your support and feedback on a wide range of issues, with so many of you volunteering your time over and over again, whether it be for our unique and much admired Validation Board, led by Emma Shaw, or for the Academic Board headed up by Dr Alison Wakefield or the many Working Groups/Focus Groups whose individual and collective contribution to the daily life of this Institute continues to make us the envy of other professional bodies. Thank you all, and thank you for being here today.”
“At this point, I wish to acknowledge – as I have done before – the vision, enterprise and commitment of that wonderful group of security practitioners which included Geoff Whitfield, Bill Wyllie and Stewart Kidd, all of whom were among the founders of this Institute 12 years ago. Without their vision, their foresight and their boldness, this Institute would simply not exist.
“I’ve said it before, but I’m immensely proud to have been an early ‘convert’ to The Security Institute, and to have been admitted in 2000 as member Number 20.”
Achievements across the last year
“I can state that the restructuring of Board responsibilities and individual portfolios within the Institute has proven a success. Directors are now focused on specific tasks and areas of responsibility. They’re empowered to get on with their roles and maintain overall control over their specialist areas.
“It’s no secret that included within the new Board’s objectives were the tasks of both growing The Security Institute’s membership and enhancing the value of that membership.
“What, then, have we all achieved together over the past 12 months, and how far have we come?
“In terms of the size of our membership, we have maintained this at just over 1,000 for 18 months but, significantly, the rate of new joiners of late has risen to an average of 20 per month. This is no small achievement, particularly bearing in mind the ongoing and negative impact of what is still a national economy struggling to emerge from the worst economic recession of modern times.
“Especially satisfying has been the ongoing progress following the launch in 2009 of the student membership programme, which has seen recruitment to the Institute’s ranks of 46 new student members. The fact that young students are aspiring to make professional security practice a career of first choice, and are choosing the Institute as their professional ‘home’, must be a good thing for all of us.
“Closely allied to the student membership programme, of course, is The Wilf Knight Award, which is managed on behalf of the Institute by Garry Evanson.
“Last year we were able to congratulate Institute member Gus Darroch-Warren on receiving his award at the prestigious Security Excellence Awards organised by UBM Live’s Security Portfolio and hosted by SMT Online’s Editor Brian Sims. This year, through our ongoing development programme with universities, we anticipate a wider take-up of entries as the Institute’s message is broadcast further. Invitations to participate in the 2011 scheme have just been issued.
“Also helping to attract new student members is the ongoing success of the now established mentoring programme. This programme is not just for newcomers to the security sector, and several mature members are successfully taking advantage of what is undoubtedly a valuable and free member benefit.
“The enhancement in accreditation and recognition of The Security Institute’s Diploma and Certificate programmes – Levels 3 and 5 respectively, and as delivered by Perpetuity Training – has led to a substantial increase in distance learning students, in turn generating welcome cash flow for the Institute’s coffers.
“Brian Sims will tell you that winning the Security Excellence Award last October for Best Training Initiative may also have had a positive effect on The Security Institute, and I’m sure he’s right. It will be an interesting challenge to see what Ken Livingstone comes up with this year to top that achievement.
“We also saw further Master Class programmes on subjects including domestic extremism against the power industry, cyber security and security systems updates where delegates can make a detailed study of particular aspects of security.
“We as an Institute are keen supporters of Professor Martin Gill’s Security Research initiative, and we’ll be continuing our support for it this year.”
Raising standards in the security sector
“Your new Board has also resolved to become more deeply engaged with other industry and sector-wide bodies in combined efforts aimed at helping to raise standards in security. In this regard, we have taken part in a number of high-level initiatives with the Security Industry Authority, the BSIA, the Swedish Foretags University and Skills for Security. These initiatives have included taking part in seminars, conferences and workshops.
“The Security Institute also led from the front last September when we responded with gusto, determination and fight to the announcement that Her Majesty’s Government was to ‘burn’ the SIA quango. How many of us, I wonder, even realised the SIA was a quango?
“Input from the BSIA, IPSA, ASIS and others quickly led to the establishment of The Security Alliance, and the outcome is now known to you all. The SIA was removed from the bonfire, and The Security Institute – now a member of The Security Alliance’s Governing Board – played a key part in persuading the Government to reverse its decision and to establish a focused programme of consultation with the SIA and other key stakeholders aimed at restructuring (but not abolishing) Government-led regulation of the UK’s private security industry.
“There is still much work to be done, but be assured your Institute is at the forefront of influencing the final outcomes. My thanks to Mike White for his support in leading our own Focus Group in this area.”
Tackling controversial and difficult topics
“As I said last year, your Board will not shy away from controversial and difficult topics. Our duty is to you, the membership. You may not always agree with us. After all, our membership constitutes an eclectic mix of security interests, sectors and individuals, but we will continue to consult with you and to keep you updated on these key developments.
“Our relationship with the Regulator continues in an open, honest and friendly way, and we look forward to working with the successor to the SIA when that new body is constituted following the 2012 Olympic Games.
“We have also continued to build upon the excellent relationships forged with the organisers of IFSEC and Counter-Terror Expo, and added the smaller Transport Security Exhibition and the Total Security Summit to our list of supported events.
“Both IFSEC and Counter-Terror Expo saw several Board and Institute members taking part in chairing sessions, or sitting on panels at these two hugely important events. We are also grateful to both organisations for their generous sponsorship of Institute events.
“Indeed, let me take this opportunity to thank all of our sponsors over the past 12 months for their generous support. They are too numerous to mention here, but to all of our sponsors I say that your support is invaluable and we salute you.”
Security Institute events and CPD in 2010
“The convening of interesting and varied members’ events has been another feature of the past year, although this was not without its difficulties. We organised 25 events across 2010: some were well attended, others not so.
“The subsequent analysis of effort, return (financially) and in terms of how many members benefited led to some difficult decisions in 2011, such as the cancellation of The Dixie Queen Annual Luncheon, the IFSEC members’ event – held at Coombe Abbey last time around – and also the smaller regional events throughout the year.
“However, as one door closes another opens, as they say, and we are now happy to help and support members organising smaller regional meetings on their own turf. Only time will tell whether the challenge will be taken up.
“We held our second Remembrance Lecture here at Nomura, at which Air Marshal Sir Stuart Peach delivered such a poignant and moving talk on the heroic work of our Armed Forces across the globe and, most notably, in Afghanistan. I want to pay tribute to all of our members who volunteer their time to arrange such events. Well done to you all.
“Our voluntary CPD programme has been with us for over a year now and, although the take-up has not yet reached the point to which we aspire, it is fact that Continuing Professional Development is an essential part of any serious professional Institute.
“CPD is, of course, a pre-requisite for obtaining Chartered status, and I would urge all members to embrace it. It is now compulsory for student and graduate members, and we have established an effective CPD Panel to manage the scheme. That’s being led by the Institute’s hard-working director Maria Cox.
“During the past 12 months we have also witnessed the publication and launch of the first in our new series of Good Practice Guides. The subject matter of the first was Investigations in the Workplace. This outstanding publication was written by our very own David Gill and Gus Darroch-Warren, with the project managed by Jerry Woods and duly supported by a number of volunteer members who have been involved in the proof-reading and editing stages.
“To all of you I say a huge ‘Thank You’! I commend this Guide to you all as a most useful and practical reference work. Further Good Practice Guides are now in the proofing stages, and you can expect some publications to see the light of day later this year.
“On the international front we have continued our co-operation with the South African Institute of Security, with Errol Peace leading a Master Class event in March and speaking on security at the World Cup event held in South Africa.
“We have also developed relationships in Canada, and have a couple of new Canadian members as a result.”
Chartered status and the Register of Chartered Security Professionals
“Many of you will no doubt recall that in my report at last year’s AGM, I announced the establishment by your Board of a Chartered Status Steering Group. Well, I am now delighted to inform you all that, following months of hard work by the Steering Group and many other supporters – and in particular our special legal advisor on such matters, Keith Lawrey – we are this week formally submitting our Petition for a Royal Charter to The Privy Council.
“I can tell you that informal soundings, taken by us with The Privy Council in recent months, revealed the need to tweak the documentation slightly, and this has now been completed. I can also tell you that we have received almost 50 letters of support from an eclectic range of organisations and high profile individuals.
“We are cautiously optimistic, but there are no guarantees in what I can’t resist calling ‘unchartered territory’. We expect to know where we stand in about four or five months from now, and I will keep you updated.
“The fervent desire of your Board is that, during the next 12 months, we will all be able to redefine ourselves as associates, members or Fellows of the Chartered Security Institute.
“While we are talking Royal Charters, let me now move on to another accomplishment of the Institute over the past year. Here, of course, I am talking about the launch on 7 June of the Register of Chartered Security Professionals.
“It is, I think, well known that our friends in The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals acquired exclusive ownership of the one security industry Register when the Company was granted its own Royal Charter in 2010.
“Just over a year ago, following discussions and a detailed consultation process with The Worshipful Company, The Security Institute was formally appointed as manager and operator of that Register. Effectively, The Security Institute and The Worshipful Company entered into a partnership.
“From The Worshipful Company’s side this partnership was led by Don Randall and Peter French (both of whom are also Institute Fellows). I led from the Institute’s side, with significant support from David Gill, Di Thomas (as project manager) and with additional support from Dr Alison Wakefield, Gus Darroch-Warren, Anders Groenli, Garry Evanson, Paula Stanbridge and others.
“The outcome of these many months of hard work, which placed an enormous strain on Di and her team, as well as on many others, saw the launch of the Register on 7 June and the admittance of the first ten Registrants – all of them now Chartered Security Professionals.
“This was and is a groundbreaking moment: a milestone in the aspirations of so many of us to witness the genuine and tangible advancement of professional security practice in this country.
“The attainment of this qualification, namely CSyP, places Registrants on a par with other recognised professionals, be they lawyers, Chartered engineers, accountants, architects and other recognised professionals. The Chartered Security Professionals Registration Authority overseas the integrity of the Register and its Registrants and is chaired by Lord Alex Carlile.
“My fervent hope is that many Institute members and Fellows will seek to become Chartered Security Professionals. Not everyone will be able to make the grade. The requirements are tough, but it’s inevitable that the Register will provide the major pool of new Registrants.
“However, the Register does not seek to replace – and indeed cannot replace – the Institute as the natural home and body for the generic pool of security professionals. It’s for this very reason that having our own Charter will be so important to us, so that members and Fellows who do not seek to become, or who are not yet qualified to become Chartered Security Professionals can nevertheless be recognised for their many skills, achievements and experience as members or Fellows of the Chartered Security Institute.”
Focus for the remainder of 2011
“As for the remainder of this year, we remain committed to consolidating and developing all of the initiatives which I have highlighted today, with particular emphasis and effort on advancing our proposed application for Chartered status.
“We are also actively engaging with other security bodies and associations to explore areas of closer co-operation. The development of the Register has in itself been a good example of where we have engaged with The Worshipful Company, the Association of Security Consultants and several universities and other organisations. That co-operation will continue.
“As for the future, allow me to vent my own thoughts on the road ahead. As an Institute we have succeeded in meeting the challenges of the economic recession and expanded, and I am pleased to report that our finances are now very sound indeed.
“Our new finance director’s budgeting, forecasting and reporting is keeping the Board well informed so we can be confident financially in the decisions we are making.
“Our reputation remains strong and is growing. We are listened to, which means that every one of your own opinions and concerns has a value and is also listened to.
“On that note, please continue to share your thoughts with us – by phone or e-mail, by attending meetings or communicating through our LinkedIn Group. We will always work hard to fly your flag on any issue of concern, but we do need to be made aware of your concerns. We may not always be able to help, but we will try our best. This is your Institute!
“As for the security world which we all inhabit, it is indeed changing. Regulation and the economic downturn have led to greater consolidation of security companies in all sectors of the industry. There are now fewer security companies – in all branches of security – and those that remain have weathered a great economic storm which, sadly, is not yet totally passed beyond us.
“The buying public – your clients, your customers, your end users, call them what you will – are still demanding increased professionalism and higher standards. As I said last year, they don’t always want to pay for it, but they demand it nevertheless.
“Terrorism, single-issue extremism and crime are the catalysts for that. More and more people continue to turn to the private security world to help keep them safe and secure.”
Major breakthrough in recognition
“Last year I raised a ‘Call To Arms’. I called on the professional arm of the security sector to grasp the nettle and to have the vision and boldness to see the long term gains of working hard now to professionalise private sector.
“Well you didn’t disappoint. You supported me, the Board and our team at headquarters. You volunteered for the Validation Board, the AB and other Working Groups and Focus Groups. You took part in consultation processes. You volunteered as pilot applicants for the Register. You supported our application for a Royal Charter by canvassing support. You have introduced new members
“For all of the above I thank you, and look forward to more of the same, especially more volunteers stepping forward.
“I believe we have achieved that major breakthrough in recognition which I alluded to last year. By achieving Chartered status for this Institute, we will cement that recognition conclusively.
“In closing, I repeat the call I made last year to everyone in the Institute – get behind your Board, help us to achieve Chartered status, help us to raise funds and help us to deliver excellent events. We know that you are there for the Institute – and we are here for you.”
