G4S Security Services (UK) managing director David Beaton is the inaugural winner of the Building The Future Award bestowed jointly by Bobby Logue (Editor of Infologue.com) and Brian Sims (Editor of Security Management Today) and sponsored by Interconnective.

This accolade recognises the person who – in the view of both Editors – has created the most significant ‘footprints’ towards a vibrant, professional and mutually profitable guarding industry. It also honours leadership and achievement in the private sector.

Since taking charge at G4S in July 2004, Beaton has had to manage two of the biggest changes this industry has seen in many years – the merger of two industry giants, Group 4 Falck and Securicor Security, to create the UK’s first so-called ‘super guarding company’ and the introduction of licensing for security officers.

Undaunted, he put in place a leadership team that could steer the business through the complex integration programme that was needed to mesh two different operational cultures.

As the country’s largest security solutions provider, G4S has faced the biggest logistical headache with respect to licensing. Thanks to Beaton’s solid management, the company is one of only nine within the Top 24 that ensured over 45% of its security officers had an accepted SIA licence application before the end of September. Beaton has also applied inspirational leadership and a quantum leap of faith by supporting the principle behind Option 4 of the Regulatory Impact Assessment of the proposed ACS.

Source

SMT