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GLOBAL POLICEMAN Fortunately, the UK has an excellent track record of hosting and policing major events safely and securely, with its expertise in high demand across the world. UK companies will play a major role in ensuring that London 2012 continues this trend, thereby enhancing the country’s global reputation in the fast-growing security industry. From homeland security and border control to surveillance and detection equipment, UK security companies are internationally recognised as world leaders. Despite the huge growth in this market, and a resultant increase in competition, the UK continues to be at the forefront of designing, manufacturing and selling security-related goods and services across the globe, particularly in the US, Europe and the Middle and Far East. Stuart Cole, deputy head of UK Trade & Investment Defence & Security Organisation’s security directorate, says: “The UK is a recognised global leader in the fi eld of security and we have more than 9,000 companies supplying the most innovative and cutting-edge security products available in the world today. In 2010, the UK was the fi fth-largest global exporter of security equipment and services, with orders valued at around £2bn.”

42 | springboard | www.ukti.gov.uk

3. The UK is the world’s fi fth-largest security exporter, behind the US, China, Japan and India

4. UK security exports grew by eight per cent in 2010

5. The UK has more than 10 per cent of the security import market in countries such as India, China, Russia, Brazil, Japan, the US, Italy, France, Indonesia and Spain

things you need to know about UK security

1. The global market for security products and services grew by 4.8 per cent in 2010

2. It is currently worth some £260bn per annum

Closely linked to defence, the UK security industry is hugely diverse and technically advanced, employing some 600,000 people. A key factor of the country’s prowess in this sector is its long experience of having to deal with a signifi cant security threat. With terrorism and crime increasing across the globe, many countries look to the UK for advice when developing strategies. Much of the UK security sector consists of SMEs producing extremely innovative solutions. Key strengths include surveillance and detection, protection of national infrastructure, civil defence, emergency and the protection of major international events. UK companies set the pace internationally in areas such as aviation and transportation security, supplying, for example, more than 60 per cent of airport security systems to the US government’s transport security administration. Besides a wide range of equipment, the UK also has extensive experience and expertise in security training and mentoring. This, combined with advice on security concepts and methods of operations, means that the UK can offer complete security solutions – essential for such a high-profi le event as the Olympics and very attractive to potential private and public sector clients worldwide.