September saw our first Security TWENTY venture into Northern Ireland, and it was very successful.
At Belfast, we raised £1300 for the charity Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, as nominated by the consultant Aidan Anderson. Then we got on the ‘party bus’. We hired a mini-coach and driver, that meant we could relax with some drinks and crisps, on the two-hour journey on the motorway between the two venues and I don’t think we left many crumbs. I say we, I mean besides Professional Security the honorary ProfSec people for the week, two Mikes, Gillespie who spoke at each ST and White who kindly chaired the conferences.
In Dublin we did it all over again, the ST event I mean, and even more turned up at Dublin than Belfast. As I say, two very successful events, not only by the number of attenders and the inquiries received by exhibitors, but in terms of raising money for charity. At Dublin we raised £3000 for Little Blue Heroes, suggested by Donie O’Callaghan. As the evening meal beforehand we heard – a little bit less formal than the usual ST networking dinner, a sort of indoors barbecue, it seems to go down well – that the charity’s by the Irish police the Garda (I learned that means ‘guardian’) for families of children with life-limiting or threatening illness. Here I am pictured with presentation cheque and chair of Little Blue Heroes, Karl Heller.
I keep saying we, but it’s the diners who put their hands in their pockets, literally, and exhibitors and other well-wishers who offer prizes for the raffle. All credit goes to you people, and IFSEC one of the sponsors, for sponsoring the ‘Ifsecco’ bottles of fizzy for prizes. I know that they go down well! As did the free pints of Guinness, at Dublin – what better place to do it – with compliments of Axis, and IFSEC.
One of the exhibitors, Stanley Security Services, carried out a prize draw for a Stanley tool kit for both Belfast and Dublin, and asked me to tell you the winners. They were (roll of drums): in Belfast – Karl Fleming, of the installer Advanced Overwatch, in Coleraine; and Dublin – Amanda C Flood, An Garda Siochana, Dublin. For lots of photos from the two events visit the ‘gallery’ part of the magazine website. I mustn’t leave out the other sponsors in Ireland, that make the ST series possible, Hikvision, Seagate, CSL and Security Dynamics. What else to tell you; the ‘heads and tails’ game was won by Simon Jones of exhibitor Qognify in Dublin, where I did my Bruce Forsyth impression and we did ‘high and lower’ as in the ‘Play your cards right’ game. At Belfast I had you all guess entertainers’ earnings and Gavin Green, of Aiphone won there. A lot to fit into a week and I was glad to rest at the end of it.
WiS awards
A week later it was the turn of the Women in Security awards, which were really successful; 250 people at the dinner, including some senior people, the judges, and the hosts the SSAIB, whose 25th anniversary it is this year. So it was one big party. More in the November magazine. Pictured left, they raised Tower Bridge for us on the Dixie Queen (a party boat). Next year, a new host, and might the event be on land? Have to see. One of the finalists in the ‘business manager’ category, Camilla Kirkham of the distributor Nimans new to the sector, was not able to attend; those two from her team, pictured below, were there to collect an award for her. Also in the picture, internal sales guys David Wilkin and Gavin Elly. I know I told you about Camilla’s work there, last issue, but now you know what they look like, if you are on the phone with them. The Thursday events don’t end there, because on October 3 I shall be at Consec, the annual conference of the ASC (Association of Security Consultants). Always a lot to learn there, not only if you are a consultant, as a matter of fact.
And the Thursdays do not end there, because again at Heathrow, the final ST event of the year, ST19 London, is at the Park Inn.
BSIA promote
And so to gossip. The BSIA has promoted John MacAskill to be their Director of Manpower and Export. He joined the BSIA in 2016 as Scottish regional representative, and worked in Scotland for installers (and BSIA members) Pointer and Connolly Security Systems.
Sales UK
Hanwha Techwin have made Ben Speakman their UK Country Manager. Until recently Ben was Sales Director, UK North for Avigilon. And AMG, based in Biggleswade, who make fibre, analogue, IP and Ethernet, wireless and hybrid transmission products, has a new MD, Steve Clarke. He says they’re looking to expand the product portfolio; and recruit, in customer sales and technical support.
