The newly-elected chairman of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), Pauline Norstrom, has recognised the significant contributions made by five individuals and organisations to the UK’s private security industry.
Presenting the annual chairman’s awards for the first time at the association’s annual luncheon at the London Hilton on Park Lane on Wednesday, July 16, she selected winners in the categories: contribution to Exporting; Standards; Training; the Community; and promoting the industry. She’s taken over from Geoff Zeidler after his two-year term.
Winners are as follows:
The chairman’s award for Contribution to Exporting was presented to Ian Moore of Elmdene Ltd. With an export career spanning 20 years, Ian has made a contribution to the international growth of a number of businesses. In 2003, he founded Detector Technologies and oversaw the company’s growth from a start-up to an international business with offices in the UK, Australia, Dubai and South Africa in six years. A long-term contributor to the BSIA’s Export Council, Ian continues to help new exporters gain a foothold in overseas markets.
An award for contribution to standards went to Robbie Calder of Broadland Guarding (pictured right with Norstrom), for his contributions to the development of training standards requirements for SIA licenses relating to CCTV operators. As the main BSIA representative on many revisions of BS7958 (CCTV Management and Operations) and BS8523 (Management and Operation of Warden Schemes), Robbie has continued to promote best practice. As chairman of the BSIA’s Police and Public Services Section, Robbie has also represented the association at various Parliamentary roundtable meetings.
The chairman’s award for Contribution to Training was presented to PHS Group Training Department and PHS Datashred, to marl their efforts to develop recognised training schemes for the Information Destruction sector. As the first in the UK to be awarded accreditation from Skills for Security for Information Destruction Operations, PHS Datashred has worked with the wider PHS Group’s training department to develop an in-house course. Recently, the Group has opened the PHS Academy, a training and development centre in Gloucester which houses the delivery of this course.
The award for Contribution to the Community was presented to David Bone of Securitas Security Services Ltd who, as a member of the organisation’s Community Team since 2008, has dedicated hours to the company’s fundraising and community events. David’s contributions have made a difference to various local and national charities, including the Poppy Appeal and St. Theresa’s Hospice, with events raising over £31,000. Organising security for charity events, as well as celebrity appearances, are key elements of David’s contributions, and he pledges to “continue to build and maintain excellent community links… and encourage others to take part in delivering the Securitas Community Spirit.”
Finally, the chairman’s Award for Promoting the Industry went to Simon Banks of CSL Dualcom, for his work on the 100 in 100 Apprenticeship initiative. Briefly: it aims to place 100 security apprentices in 100 days and has seen over 1800 young people placed in security careers, including installers, engineers, technicians, customer service personnel and locksmiths. Going by his own experiences as an apprentice, Simon believes that the continued recruitment of young people into the security industry is crucial to maintaining professionalism, while helping to avoid a potential skills gap in a few years.
Pauline Norstrom said: “It is a great pleasure that one of my first tasks as Chairman of the BSIA is to recognise and reward the significant and lasting contributions made by these dedicated individuals and companies. Their commitment to improving the reputation and quality of our industry is admirable, and I shall look forward to building further on these achievements in my next two years as BSIA chairman.”
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