FEATURE | TRIGION
INCREASE DIVERSITY TO IMPROVE SECURITY
A major task is at hand in the security industry, to increase the percentage of women
in the sector to make it more diverse, ensuring it benefits from the full range of skills and abilities available. Ellen Groenewoudt, Managing Director of Trigion Security
Netherlands, and Jan-Hein Hemke, Managing Director of Trigion Security UK, explore the issue of equality in security.
The security sector has always been male dominated. The UK’s Security Industry Authority’s (SIA) research has highlighted that “there are significant improvements that need to be made to achieve a more equal and diverse
security industry […] only 9% of the SIA’s licence holders are women”.
Around half a million people are employed in security roles in the private security sector in the UK and, if the SIA figures are representative, less than 1/10 are women. In the Netherlands the ratio stands at 1/5 (25
years ago just 1/50 officers were female).
According to the SIA, the “perception is that females are not attracted to the industry, partly because of pre-conceived assumptions about it being male-dominated or requiring physical strength.” Its survey reported that “nearly half of women said that they thought it was more difficult for women to enter the industry, because it is generally seen as a ‘man’s job’”.
However, the SIA also found that female operatives who do join are likely to have a positive experience of the industry and intend to remain in security for the foreseeable future. So there is reason to be positive about increased equality, as long as that message can be shared and amplified.
Trigion has worked tirelessly in both the UK and the Netherlands over the years to overcome preconceptions and promote the security industry to women. Trigion is the largest security provider in the Netherlands and having a female Managing Director helps to increase the exposure of women to the industry. However, there is still a long way to go.
A WIDER ROLE The security industry has changed dramatically over the
past few years, if physical strength was ever the primary prerequisite, it’s certainly not any more. Rather than employing security operatives as visible deterrents, more and more companies are opting for a friendlier, more approachable, guard. This has levelled the playing field for everyone wanting to work in the sector, male or female.
Many organisations now prefer security operatives to have a wider role, often interacting with staff and the public. All Trigion’s security colleagues receive ‘Hostmanship’ training to improve their communications skills and embed customer service into their working day.
The growing use of technology in security has also increased opportunities across the sector. The diverging skill set and
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variety of work, including using CCTV, remote access systems and other electronic security solutions, has helped to open the industry to a host of new candidates.
CHANGING
REQUIREMENTS A large part of the increase in women operatives over the past decade has been the result of increased security at airports. This is one of the world’s biggest security sectors and it is essential to have female operatives to carry out checks on female passengers.
“WOMEN WILL OFTEN ADOPT STRATEGIES TO RESOLVE
SITUATIONS THAT INVOLVE LOWER RISKS OF PHYSICAL
HARM THAN SOME OF THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS.”
There is also a growing recognition that women will often adopt strategies to resolve situations that involve lower risks of physical harm than some of their male counterparts. It is clear that female operatives have a lot to offer the security industry, so the sector must do more to attract and retain their services.
Trigion works with the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals (WcoSP) – including sponsoring its Women’s Lunch – to encourage more women into the industry.
As the industry continues to evolve, it is important that security companies play their part in making the sector more inviting to women to make it more inclusive and ensure the security sector isn’t missing out on skills and attributes that could safeguard us all.
www.trigion.co.uk TOMORROW’S FM YEARBOOK 2016/17
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