CMP and SMT create Security Guarding Pavilion for IFSEC 2006

The latest statistics produced by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) state that the security guarding sector comprises 2,500 service providers employing 125,000 officers. The industry's turnover currently stands at approximately 1.8 billion per annum, accounting for nearly 40% of the entire UK security market spend.

Of course, the sector is now in the throes of licensing and regulation courtesy of the Security Industry Authority (SIA), the Home Office-sponsored organisation tasked with regulating private sector contractors and their operatives. Training regimes are being revamped under the auspices of Skills for Security (‘Setting standards, raising skills', SMT, January 2006, pp26-29). There is also much talk of defined career progression (see this month's Guarding Watch, p49), and guarding companies being deployed as part of the wider policing family.

Currently, there isn't a trade exhibition serving the security guarding sector. Highly surprising, given that security guarding is vitally important to the success of Britain's economy and the safety of the general public.

It would be fair to say that, in the past, service providers in the guarding sector haven't used exhibitions as a promotional medium. Much of their business is conducted by word of mouth, with contracts won on referral and through standard tendering. Post-ACS, though, when the playing field is finally level, contracts will be won on added value and service delivery on the ground. Contractors must state their case.

IFSEC - the annual global security exhibition organised by CMP Information, the publisher of Security Management Today (SMT) - has traditionally been viewed by clients, consultants, installers, security managers and crime prevention officers as an electronic security systems showcase. This is in spite of the fact that 21% of the record 31,744 attendees at Birmingham's NEC in 2005 were end users working in a broad range of vertical sectors, and that 15% of visitors specified an interest in security guarding.

For some time, SMT has been fully committed to establishing a showcase for the guarding sector. We recognise that a fresh approach is required. Not all senior corporate security professionals currently view IFSEC as a must-attend event. The chance to peruse the latest products is not necessarily a good enough reason to spend two or three days out of the office. They want to see the Regulator, the Inspectorates, security guarding suppliers, uniform providers and systems manufacturers all under one roof. They also demand high quality seminar content upon which they might base future strategies.

Security Guarding at IFSEC 2006

Recognising the opportunities to be leveraged for the industry and its many and varied practitioners, CMP Information and SMT are launching ‘Security Guarding at IFSEC' during 2006. This umbrella title encompasses The Security Guarding Village (located in Hall 7 at the NEC) and an educational Seminar Programme targeting end users and contractors alike.

The Security Guarding Village has been planned with the full support of the SIA, the BSIA, The Security Institute and a number of leading security solutions providers. Those already committed to the event include G4S Security Services (UK), Securitas, The Shield Guarding Company, Legion Security, Wilson James, Broadland Guarding, Initial Security, ICTS, Constant Security Services, MITIE Trident and Sword Event Guard International.

Stuart Lowden - the managing director of Wilson James - is enthusiastic in his support of the new initiative. "Unfortunately, I'm old enough to remember when there used to be specialist manpower suppliers regularly in attendance at IFSEC," said Lowden. "By encouraging Wilson James and others like us to attend in 2006, the organisers are clearly hoping to persuade more end users to come to the show, seeking out a wider variety of security solutions than were previously available.

"Another inspired move is to work closely with two of the leading professional bodies, ASIS International and The Security Institute. Both organisations will be holding members' lunches and organising seminar programmes. This will further encourage the attendance of professional end users, whether they be security consultants, security directors or senior buyers. I am very hopeful that those within the manpower services community, and those practitioners who provide support services to it, will actively support this new venture."

The fulcrum of the Village will be the SIA's Stand. Also exhibiting will be Skills for Security, The Security Institute, IPSA/SSAIB and Maximus.

Client and contractor together

In essence, the Village - which is supported by the industry's premier security guarding web portal Infologue.com - is designed to promote interaction between end users responsible for purchasing guarding services (for example directors of security, facilities managers, consultants and procurement specialists) and the supplier base. It offers the perfect opportunity for contractors to showcase their USPs and value-added services in line with the ACS, and a chance to show unity and enhanced levels of professionalism within the industry.

When talking about the SIA's decision to support ‘Security Guarding at IFSEC', Mary Hennessy - the Regulator's assistant director of marketing - commented: "We are delighted to be involved with this initiative. Our mission at the SIA is to help protect society by collaboratively developing and achieving high standards in the private security industry. We want to see criminality reduced and levels of professionalism raised. In pursuing these aims it's essential that we work in partnership with the industry and its customers. IFSEC represents the perfect opportunity to do so, as The Security Guarding Village will bring client and contractor together to debate the issues of the day."

Speaking exclusively to SMT, Skills for Security's interim chief executive Linda Sharpe added: "Today's international business climate, which is now defined by a constant and very real threat of terrorism and business crime, demands a range of relevant and integrated security solutions wherein systems and security guarding work together in harmony. We are delighted to see the guarding sector represented at IFSEC."

Bobby Logue - the Editor of Infologue.com - also offered his views. Logue told SMT: "The security guarding sector is in a state of major transition. In a post-ACS world, contracts will no longer be won on price. If service delivery and added value are the new differentiators, contractors must attend events like IFSEC to impart their message and win new business."

The 2006 Seminar Programme

The Security Guarding Village will be underpinned by an educational Seminar Programme spanning all four days at IFSEC (which, in 2006, runs from 8-11 May).

On the morning of Monday 11 May (from 10.30 am through to half-past midday), the BSIA will occupy the seminar theatre located adjacent to the Village. The Association's theme is ‘Showcasing the best: what does Best Practice look like?'. A provisional line-up includes Mike Warburton of Henderson Global reviewing the necessary upskilling of the workforce, and a Case Study from Wilson James' Stuart Lowden on how his company provides security solutions at the British Broadcasting Corporation.

From 12.45 pm through until 3.30 pm, ASIS International's UK Chapter 208 has committed to four presentation slots where members will discuss the future for security management.

The Security Institute then takes centre stage on Tuesday 12 May, with ‘The Security Institute Day' encompassing four sessions held between 10.30 am and 1.15 pm. The focus will be on the need for professionalism in the corporate security sector (a topic that will form the basis for a special Supplement we are running in conjunction with the April edition of SMT).

The SMT Forum at IFSEC

Between 2.15 pm and 3.30 pm on 9 May, The SMT Forum takes place for the third time since its inception in October 2004. Chaired by SMT's Editor Brian Sims, an assembled panel of industry professionals will debate security's present procurement model. Are traditional methods for buying guarding and systems still acceptable in this day and age?

On Wednesday 10 May, G4S Security Services (UK) will be running a series of seminars on security guarding and management issues, including a review of the terrorist threat and a detailed overview of CBRN.

Commenting on the company's involvement at IFSEC 2006, Douglas Greenwell - marketing director at G4S Security Services (UK) - said: "It is good to see that the largest security industry exhibition in the UK will this year - and, hopefully, going forward - provide an opportunity for the guarding industry to showcase its capabilities, and demonstrate that effective security requires a mixture of skilled personnel and smart technology.

"The Security Guarding Village within IFSEC 2006 will see a concentration of the best security companies showing how they are coping with some of the biggest changes the industry has witnessed, and how they'll continue to add value to UK client organisations. I have no doubt that anyone who's responsible for security within a company will be rewarded by investing some of their time in visiting IFSEC 2006, and in particular the Security Guarding Village." n

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• Entry to IFSEC 2006 - which runs from 8-11 May at the NEC, Birmingham - is free. Opening hours on 8, 9 and 10 May for Halls 6, 7, 19 and 20 are 10.00 am-5.00 pm, with the exhibition closing at 4.00 pm on 11 May

• Register online at www.ifsec.co.uk