The Professional Security Magazine Women in Security Awards (PSM-WiS) are the security profession’s dedicated awards that recognise the accomplishments, value, and contribution of women within the wider world of security.
This year the host of the awards is the WCoSP (Worshipful Company of Security Professionals) and it was going to be held in London in September. Then Covid-19 struck and all our lives have changed. Including the fact that the WCoSP PSM-WiS will now be held in 2021!
From March we have been debating whether to hold them as planned in September, or to be extra cognisant of the dangers of the virus. We thought long and hard about this…we were looking at creative options such as a spectacular online production filmed like a movie. However, once the creative juices had been exhausted, we felt that nothing could substitute for the atmosphere on the night. No matter how professional the production we would not be able to replicate the fabulous energy of actually being there.
So, we decided to push the 2020 PSM-WiS Awards into 2021! They will now be held on Wednesday, February 10! What a great start to next year compared with this! The good news is that the deadline for nominations has also been extended to Friday, December 7. We have had increasing numbers of nominations year on year and we do not want Covid-19 to change that.
The exciting thing is that as soon as the event is over, nominations for the 2021 PSM-WiS Awards will be open and the usual deadlines will apply to the Awards Dinner which are being held in September as usual. It might sound complicated, but it is very simple…2021 is going to be a GREAT year for Women in Security.
The 2020 awards (in February 2021) will be held at the stunning UnderGlobe at Shakespeare’s iconic Globe Theatre, on the South Bank. This will be an extraordinary event, not only due to the effect of Covid-19 but also for the fact that this promises to be an extravaganza. The event will start at 7pm until 1am. The dress code is black-tie, and the event will commence with a champagne quaffing reception from 7pm until 7.45pm. After which a formal four course dinner will ensue. Our hosts this year, the WCoSP, will welcome everyone to the awards ceremony and the 2020 PSM-WiS will proceed.
The Awards are the highlight of the evening, but after they have finished the entertainment and dancing will commence. Refreshments of wine and beer will be available for your pleasure … of course, events like this cannot take place without the generosity of the sponsors…for whom we are most grateful.
There are so many people involved to make this event the success that it has become. First and foremost, the WiS themselves. Then our judges and hosts, who are selected from the UK’s ILB’s (Industry Lead Bodies) from within the private security industry. They consist of the ASC (Association of Security Consultants), ASIS UK Chapter (American Society for Industrial Security), the BSIA (British Security Industry Association)), the FSA (Fire and Security Association), IPSA (International Professional Security Association), the NSI (National Security Inspectorate), the SIA (Security Industry Authority), the Security Institute, the SILB (Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board), and the WCoSP (Worshipful Company of Security Professionals).
The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals is the 108th Livery Company of the City of London. It is non-profit making, providing education and health services and charitable endeavours to members of the security profession. Membership of the Company is drawn from the wider world of security. Its membership includes leading professionals from industrial and retail, serving and retired members of the police and armed services, consultants, academics, heads of security for corporate businesses, investigators, and electronic systems and surveillance companies.
When I created the PSM-WiS I wanted women in security to experience the various private security lead bodies that they might not otherwise come across. The idea was for the award to travel around the industry and women to be exposed to new avenues of interest. As the first female Master of the WCoSP there is so much that is special about the City of London. I would like other WiS to explore whether it is right for them?
The charitable giving and fundraising to enable good works to be carried out is especially rewarding … but it can also be fun combined with an appreciation of history and traditions. There are 110 Livery companies of the City of London. They comprise London’s ancient and modern trade associations and guilds. London’s Livery companies play a significant part in City life, not least by providing charitable-giving and fellowship (networking in modern parlance).
The term Livery originated in the specific form of dress worn by retainers of a nobleman and then by extension to special dress to denote status of belonging to a trade. Livery companies evolved from London’s medieval guilds, becoming corporations under Royal Charter responsible for training in their respective trades, as well as for the regulation of fundamental aspects, such as wage control, labour conditions, and industry standards.
Like most organisations during the Middle Ages in this country, Livery companies had close ties with the Catholic Church (before the Protestant Reformation), endowing religious establishments such as chantry chapels and churches. Most Livery companies retain their historical religious associations. The WCoSP is associated with the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula (St Peter in chains) which is the parish church of the Tower of London.
It is situated within the Tower’s Inner Ward, and the current building dates from 1520, although the church was established several centuries earlier. It is an amazing spiritual space. Although, the Chapel is probably best known as the burial place of some of the most famous prisoners executed at the Tower, including Queen Anne Boleyn, Queen Catherine Howard and the nine-day Queen, Lady Jane Grey and her husband Lord Guilford Dudley, and Sir Thomas More.
The WCoSP has a lot of services there. Although nowadays members of Livery movement are free to follow any faith or none.
The wonderful thing about the WiS Awards is the opportunity to get a taste of all the different lead bodies and ascertaining whether you would like to be a member of each or any of the organisations. Whether you are the managing director of your own security company, a security professional working within the security department of a commercial organisation, or business, public sector or the wider world of security, we are inviting nominations in five categories – Security Manager, Frontline, Business Manager, Technical and Contribution to Industry.
The judges will consider nominees based on the response to these questions: ‘How does the nominee contribute to the wider world of security-profession-industry over and above her job spec?’ and ‘Why, in your opinion, should the nominee win?’. Those questions offer a huge scope to talk about their contribution to their sector.
In my career as a WiS I felt that the work women were doing was not recognised in the early days and I was determined to ensure that they were as soon as I was able to get the Awards off the ground. I had tried in the late 1980s and ’90s but there were still insufficient women in the industry … now that has changed.
The awards were started in 2011 and launched in 2012. The first host of the PSM-WiS was the ASIS UK Chapter who hosted a memorable event. James Brokenshire MP gave the keynote speech and he had a message from the then Home Secretary, Theresa May congratulating us on the establishment of the awards. It was the start of something really special.
One of the first and very worthy recipients was Sue Seaby, who as many of you are aware is sadly no longer with us. I knew Sue well and she told me on more than one occasion how much the award had meant to her. No wonder, as on that occasion when presenting her with her trophy (in the stylised shape of a woman) Baroness Ruth Henig declared that the award was the equivalent of the security profession’s ‘Oscars’.
Since that time, we have tried to live up to that vision. Over the years the number of nominations from all sectors and from all over the world have continued to grow. Indeed, such has been the number, quality, and variation of nominees that we now recognise winners in five separate categories. There have been too many exceptional women who have won the awards to mention them all here. However, one person I would like to remember is the remarkable Kathy Ridgard, who sadly like Sue Seaby is also no longer with us.
The contribution of all our winners, has done so much to inspire other women. Women are now choosing security as a profession and instead of the old adage that this was a male dominated industry … the industry is sending out the very positive message that this unique award represents the recognition by the private security profession that women in security are a vital part of what has shaped this industry…for the better. So, whilst this year has been a challenge for everyone in their own individual lives, I would like to commend the men and women in the industry for all their work and especially the front line officers who do such a great job. I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the event in February.
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