The UK Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) were launched last week. The first UK OSPAs will be awarded on March 2, 2017 at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, Mayfair. Entries will open in August. Similar awards are running already in Australia, Germany, Norway and the USA. The launch at the Savoy Hotel in central London on June 9 was also the occasion to announce a sponsorship agreement between the OSPAs and Edith Cowan University (ECU) for the OSPA trophies and certificates globally. Prof Steve Chapman CBE, Vice Chancellor of the Australian university, was among speakers at the launch; earlier in the day he had collected a CBE at Buckingham Palace.
The man behind the award scheme is Prof Martin Gill, of the research consultancy Perpetuity. He said: “I am delighted to announce the launch of the UK OSPAs, and have this opportunity to express just how pleased I am that the Security Commonwealth – an umbrella organisation consisting of 43 member organisations in the UK security industry – is working with us to make this a success. It is so encouraging that leading members of the UK security sector are here in support.”
David Clark, ASIS UK chairman who is also chairing the Security Commonwealth, said: “The Security Commonwealth is an independent organisation and we think we are well aligned with the OSPAs. We are about integrity, we are about collaboration, and we are about working together for greater aims in the security industry. The OSPAs are ideal for the Security Commonwealth to nail its colours to the mast of, and get behind. The OSPAs is a great platform for the UK security industry to show how good we are. The winners of the UK OSPAs will be forwarded on eventually to the international stage to demonstrate how good we are compared to our peers across Germany, Poland, Australia and the US etc. The OSPAs has really got that strength of integrity behind it.”
Pictured left to right are Dave Clark, Martin Gill and Steve Chapman.
Sponsorship
Edith Cowan University (ECU) is in Perth, Western Australia, marking its 25th anniversary in 2016; it’s been running security management courses since the 1990s. Vice Chancellor, Prof Steve Chapman CBE said: “We are really proud to be associated with the OSPAs and we would like to become more involved in the future. We wanted to become a sponsor globally as we’ve been hiding under a bush. If you ever get the chance to visit ECU you will find out that there are some real gems and one of the gems is security … One of the ways to be known globally is to be associated with the OSPAs, which are fantastic … I am delighted to be here and it’s a real privilege for Edith Cowan to be sponsoring these awards globally.”
Prof Martin Gill added: “We are delighted that Professor Chapman could attend in person today having collected a CBE at Buckingham Palace this morning – to announce his and Edith Cowan University’s support for the OSPAs. To have one of the leading universities in the area of security management supporting the OSPAs is a great boost. We are delighted to sign that agreement today.”
The UK OSPAs night will include welcome drinks, a three course meal, entertainment, followed by the awards themselves.
