As a specialist division of the huge and massively influential Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), and working in tandem with SELECT – the Scottish electro-technical Trade Association – the Fire and Security Association (FSA) is in something of a unique position when it comes to having an influence on improving industry standards and enhancing and developing its members’ businesses.
Why? Well, the FSA is a Standing Committee in its own right. It holds a position on the ECA’s Member Requirements and Policy Panel – and, indeed, the mighty ECA Council – and is able to call on the services of other Standing Committees within its parent organisation. It operates within the framework of the ECA, such that companies cannot become a recognised FSA ‘specialist’ or member unless they belong to the ECA or SELECT.
The FSA was born in January last year out of the ten-year-old Fire and Security Steering Group when the latter was integrated within the ECA’s Technology Development Committee. The Steering Group was itself a Steering Group for the Committee on security matters (and, it’s fair to say, tended to gaze inwardly at the ECA). The difference with the FSA is that it’s not only projecting itself to the ECA membership but also externally to fire and security professionals as well as other outside bodies.
“In an industry like security, where there are many interests to be looked after, it’s invariably those who shout the loudest or have the biggest problem at the time that tend to have the focus put upon them,” comments Steve Kimber, chairman of the FSA, as I chat to him and his colleague Stefan Hay (the long-time driver of SITO/Skills for Security and now head of the FSA) in the Boardroom at ESCA House.
Period of great change
“In the past 15 years, the security industry has experienced more and more change with the merging of European Standards and the introduction of the ACPO policies,” continues Kimber. “With that, there has been a parallel surge in demand for, and thus attention placed on, Trade Association representation. Some of us became rather disillusioned with the level of representation we were receiving – or that we expected to receive – for our money.”
Having been a member of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) for those 15 years, Kimber came to his own conclusion that the Worcestershire-based outfit lacked what he perceived to be the necessary levels of human and financial resources that would successfully support in excess of a dozen Sector Committees.
“While fully understanding the dynamics of what has been happening elsewhere in the industry in relation to Security Industry Authority regulation and such like,” adds Kimber, “the straw that broke the camel’s back materialised when the electronic side of the industry was initially informed that it wouldn’t be swept up by statutory regulation for Public Space CCTV operators and then, three months before licensing was brought in, all of a sudden we were.”
Continues Kimber with a discernible scowl: “From a Trade Association representation point of view, along with many others I was extremely disappointed that this was allowed to happen. Then I thought that, really and truthfully, the only way our industry would be best served was if we tried to find an Association that would genuinely represent the electro-technical side of the industry.” Kimber broke ranks and made his way to the ECA.
He has been a practising professional in the security sector for 32 years now, having moved across from Christie Intruder Alarms – where he served as general manager – in 1983 to start up a company by the name of Southern Monitoring Services in Hampshire. In recent years, Kimber presided over the birth of its sister organisation, Northern Monitoring Services, in Cheshire. Together, they employ nigh on 250 people, turn over GB pound 15 million per annum and have been a vociferous supporter and sponsor of the Security Excellence Awards since their inception in 1999.
The ECA: a ‘sleeping giant’
“I have always been aware of the ECA, and what it stands for,” chips in Kimber, whose enthusiasm for the FSA is tangible. “When I went on the Internet, I think it’s fair to say I was somewhat surprised at exactly how big it is. It’s a sleeping giant. An enormous organisation. I then made some approaches to people that I’ve known for 30-plus years. They opened the door for me at ESCA House, and allowed me to have discussions with the ECA as to what I and others felt was needed.”
Ever the shrewd businessman, Kimber wasn’t coming along with cap in hand, though. Oh no. “I then asked of the ECA: ‘What can you do for us?’ Put simply, I wanted to determine whether or not this was the right home for us.” Evidently it is, the FSA now operating fully within the ECA’s framework.
Kimber chairs the Standing Committee, which includes both members and observers. Unusually for the ECA, the FSA also has a Mission Statement and Terms of Reference, and will have an election process. Beneath the main set-up lie two Working Groups – one for the fire sector (chaired by Pat Allen) and the other for security, this time chaired by the highly-respected Chris Lewis. It’s a very neat mixture.
“The FSA is driven by people who don’t come with baggage,” urges Kimber. “It’s all Blue Sky thinking. There’s a genuine desire here to look to the future and create the right environment for fire and security companies, while at the same time nurturing a working relationship between electrical contractors and the traditional fire and security industry.”
At this point in the conversation Stefan Hay weighs in with some heavy ammunition. “Brian, if you look at the ECA and its membership, a recent survey showed that of around 3,000 companies, 70% of them are involved in the installation of fire systems. 50% of them have some involvement in the installation of security systems, but by and large they’re working alongside specialists. The FSA has grown. We lost some of the starting out members as they were the more traditional electrical contractors who, in many cases, also did some fire work. The new members joining us tend to be the larger, third party-certificated companies concerned with both fire and security.”
Hay adds, again with genuine enthusiasm: “There’s a recognition that we sit comfortably alongside the ECA. There is an overlap in installation work and, quite often, a relationship can be forged that’s beneficial to both sides. We enjoy a fantastic relationship with the Technical Committee at the ECA.”
Broad church at the FSA
Kimber is quick to elaborate on his colleague’s introduction. “Let me say that we are not in existence to ‘mop up’ whichever companies fall outside of the BSIA’s scope. Our church of members is broad. Members have to be a fire or security company that’s either LPS1014, SP203 or A3 inspected on the fire side or Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board/National Security Inspectorate UKAS-accredited for security. There’s no requirement for ISO 9000 to become a member of the ECA. Having joined the ECA, members are then channelled via a Passport route to the specialist FSA as they have the underlying qualifications.”
Kimber points out that the FSA is picking up majors that are not a member of a Trade Association but have “suddenly woken up to the need”. “They like what we’re doing and want us to represent them,” he explains. “Some belong to several Trade Associations. Some of our members are just operational in security, others solely in the fire sector. Others cover both. Some are also members of the BSIA, while others are electrical contractors with specific interests in fire and security. As I said, it’s a pretty broad church.”
What about the ever-present argument that says the security industry desperately needs one voice to represent it to Government or whomever? Isn’t this venture merely serving to muddy the waters still further?
“We are perfectly poised to be able to present to Government,” retorts Kimber without blinking. “We have the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group within the ECA. We can have a letter on every minister’s desk within an hour if we need to. To be frank, there’s so much clout inside of the ECA ‘machine’ it’s unbelievable.”
Continuing to work in seamless tandem with Kimber, Stefan Hay proffers an interesting addition to the debate. “There’s an underlying answer to your question. You cannot have one organisation representing the interests of every section of an industry. It becomes too eclectic. If you look at the history of the ECA, it was founded in 1901. It has always been involved in electrical installation and now electro-technical work. It was one of the first organisations to represent both fire and security companies. It lost ground in the early 1990s. One of the factors that contributed to this was the birth of SITO, but it was the ECA that worked up the first Codes of Practice.”
For Hay, the concept of one voice just isn’t workable. “The fact of the matter is that there are competing markets. We want to lobby for the interests of our members. We wish to promote what our members are all about… Providing electronic solutions for peoples’ fire and security needs. We don’t wsih to promote security guarding or close protection. It’s as simple as that.”
What about the end user?
One wonders about the overriding message is for end users from what is being done by the FSA? An inkling can be found in the organisation’s strapline: ‘Supporting the Profession to Safeguard the Client’.
“What we’re aiming for is a ‘bottom up, top down’ approach,” insists Hay. “We have a sound strategic background against which we operate. It’s all focused on assisting the members to become better companies delivering a better service to the end user.”
That being the case, there’s a clear focus – as you might reasonably expect – on training. “We’ve already made a massive investment in training. We actively support SummitSkills, our Sector Skills Council, on the National Occupational Standards work and, of course, there’s the excellent partnership with SELECT north of the border.”
Apparently, the ECA has set aside a staggering GB pound 10 million purely for investment in training. This money is generating interest that’s paying for management education for FSA member companies.
“We have a Health and Safety Department which we can tap into at the ECA,” beams Hay. “Our own Education and Training Directorate, and an Employee Relations Unit. There are 11 regional offices and 52 branch offices at the ECA. As Steve said, it’s a sleeping giant.”
Pushing the training message home, Hay explains: “We are strong supporters of apprenticeships. Indeed, the ECA has been involved in sector education since 1915 when the first president, William Robert Rawlings, became the first City & Guilds examiner in electrical installation. Rawlings went on to play a vital role in establishing the Association’s Apprenticeship Scheme in the 1920s. We’re looking at funding links between these apprenticeships and foundation degrees.”
The reasoning is simple. “If we don’t capture the best people now we’ll struggle in 2010. The research undertaken last year on our behalf showed there was virtually no training in place for fire systems installers, so we’re now filling that void. We found that the occupational standards were inadequate.”
Security managers and directors
One of the things Hay and Kimber are very keen to do is build strong relationships with security directors and managers.
“We fully understand that these people need solid and reliable information to inform their decision-making processes,” suggests Hay. “To that end, we have started the Client Specifier Membership Scheme.”
Practitioners who do not run a security or fire systems company can join the FSA – free of charge, by the way – as a Client Associate. The membership scheme offers free access to the ECA/FSA Technical HelpLine mentioned previously, access to HASCOM advice on Health and Safety at Work-related issues, full access to information and downloads from the ECA members’ web site and the FSA site (at www.fireandsecurityassociation.co.uk), access to a range of training modules at preferential rates and free copies of publications produced as part of the FSA’s Short Guide series.
Kimber informs me with not a little pride that the scheme has already proven very popular indeed, attracting police personnel, surveyors, insurers, risk consultants, architects and many local authority managers.
“We’ve written to every police force in the UK, and every fire service. We’ve held events for loss adjusters and insurers and, as we go forward into next year, we’ll be holding more events for security and risk consultants. We’re also talking to the organisers of IFSEC about the possibility of presenting during the exhibition’s conference programme.”
The ECA Guarantee and Bond
Crucially, as a specialist division of the Electrical Contractors’ Association, FSA members are able to offer their clients the ECA Guarantee and the ECA Bond, thereby providing assurances that all installation work is completed thoroughly and satisfactorily according to the relevant standards.
The Bond is underwritten by insurers and backed by member company certificates of insurance, giving a clear statement of cover. The Guarantee is supported by the ECA itself.
As far as the FSA’s concerned, they represent the highest levels of accountability and protection provided by any body representing or qualifying electronic security or fire detection systems.
Take the ECA Guarantee, for example. If work carried out by an FSA member at one of your sites in any way fails to comply with the relevant standards, the ECA Guarantee ensures that it will be rectified to comply with such standards subject to a maximum limit of GB pound 100,000.
Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, the Guarantee assures the claimant – at no cost whatsoever – that any below par work will be rectified at no additional expense. This Guarantee is valid for six years from the completion date of the contract.
One of the major areas in which the FSA is concentrating – aside from its promotional and technical goals, that is – focuses on turning what has always been spoken of as the security ‘industry’ into a profession. As an Honorary Fellow and passionate supporter of The Security Institute, that’s music to this particular Editor’s ears.
“In essence,” opines Kimber, “the concept is one of nurturing our member companies through an evolutionary development. We want to help with their continuing advancement by way of successful coaching and mentoring. ‘Supporting the Profession to Safeguard the Client’ in action, if you like.”
For Stefan Hay, the economic climate in which this country now finds itself, coupled with its demography going forward, means that we have to start producing better people now before we take the massive ‘hit’ in the employment market that’s predicted for 2010. Hay stresses: “We want to demonstrate that the industry can survive the economic downturn if it’s ‘resource fit’. That’s why we are investing heavily in training now.”
‘Cradle-to-grave’ environment
Kimber carries on the theme. “How can we better use technology? What about system convergence? How might we actively demonstrate that technology is a benefit and not something to be criticised? How should businesses be operated? One of our prime remits is to provide a cradle-to-grave environment for companies that start up and want to become a national at some point in the future. We want to teach them Best Practice, about the paperless environment and using new technology in such a way that their operations run more smoothly and on a smarter basis.”
By this point in the conversation there’s so much enthusiasm heading my way it begins to become infectious. Barely stopping to draw breath, Kimber adds: “Investors in People is vital for developing a business. This enables a firm to grow, manage, supervise and engender a good team spirit. It’s all about brand awareness, and how to work smart. Companies need that or all they’re looking at is the next Honeywell fire panel or a bell box on the wall. Remote service diagnostics through secure Alarm Receiving Centres are going to be vital.”
Kimber has firm ideas on the future of IP-based signalling. “IP signalling will come to the fore because people will start to look at their businesses and realise they can run everything off one platform with genuine machine-to-machine solutions.”
Looking towards the future
The FSA, then, actively supports all ECA members who have an ongoing interest in fire and security, but there’s a defined desire to attract traditional fire and security installers. FSA members are actively promoted, of course, but it’s evident the organisation represents the entire ECA membership.
“What I really enjoy about working in this organisation as chairman of the FSA more than anything else is that if you want something done, you don’t have to go away after a meeting and spend days or weeks of your own time putting together draft documents that you feel may be acceptable to your Committee structure or the industry,” enthuses Kimber. “Here, there’s a Board meeting and then you go off and find resources in other parts of the ECA to help your cause. It all flows from there. There’s a whole organisation that pulls it together to make it happen. That’s exactly what you want from a Trade Association.”
What targets have Kimber and Hay set for developing and growing the FSA in the short term? “By the end of this year, we wanted 250 members,” states Hay. “At the moment, we’re only 11 away from 300. We’re actively looking at a rolling target for membership, and revisiting it at every Board meeting.”
Kimber then informs me there’s a full FSA strategic document outlining where the organisation is heading over the next three years. “This has gone back into ECA Council to be built into the overall Corporate Plan. It’s part of ‘The Bigger Picture’. That plan is due to be ratified next month.”
In conclusion, Kimber states with confidence: “We’re going to increase our marketing and our presence at conferences. The FSA is comfortable, stable, on a solid platform and ‘up and out’ in the industry. Anyone who wants to engage with the electronic security sector should talk to us.”
