Case Studies

Security Institute hails membership landmark

by Mark Rowe

A year on from the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic, the Security Institute has a six-figure trading surplus, the AGM has heard. Due to covid-19, the 2021 AGM was held remotely instead of as usual in London. That lack of physical events was one cause of why Mahbulul Islam, who chairs the audit committee, described the Institute as being ‘in a strong fiscal position’.

The Institute reported a surplus of £105,000. Covid did mean that the Institute has spent much less on events generally (which haven’t gone ahead physically), and the annual conference in particular (2021’s is pencilled in for October 28, in London) and associated marketing. Besides, turnover has risen, from £601,000 in 2019 to £672,000 in 2020. The other reason for the surplus is a peak in membership.

The validation board of volunteers chaired by Tony Aston had to adapt in 2020, the AGM heard; meetings have been held remotely, twice a month, to manage the applications for membership. Each month has seen between 60 and 100 applications validated by the board – a high of 186 in March 2020, and a low of 49 in November; adding up to a 2020 total of 1171. That’s compared with 716 in 2019, and 586 in 2018. It made 2020 the first year that the Institute has recruited more than 1000 new members in a single 12-months.

Such highs have continued into 2021; the first two months saw an additional 215 members recruited; and in March 2021 the Institute passed the landmark of 4000 members.

The AGM heard first a talk by Institute chief executive Rick Mounfield. He said that 2020 could have been a very testing year for the Institute, at a time when many needed support: “We were able to deliver a digital transformation that has actually increased the value of professional membership for all.”

The meeting also heard an update on the latest work by the ‘Next Generation in Security’ volunteers, led by Institute director Paul Barnard. On February 15, a ‘Secure Futures’ programme began digitally, whereby the Institute with the EY Foundation put some 27 young people from low income backgrounds through a week of virtual work experience. A second such week followed, as will ten months of mentoring by volunteers, and a year’s membership of the Institute.

The Institute is chaired by Peter Lavery; the previous chair, Prof Alison Wakefield, was among those stepping down from the board.

More in the June 2021 print edition of Professional Security magazine.

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