Finance – affordability, accessibility, and relevance?


Finance is vital to the activation of all plans – costs to the business to improve resources, recruit skills, research, and train are a necessity.


Significant change - silos and working holistically


According to the Harvard Business School, a by-product of the pandemic was the significant shift in the use of virtual communication within the silo community. The challenges previously associated with sharing data and intelligence to decrease the risks to the business from known knowns and unknown knowns improved, which undoubtedly improved preparedness measures when it comes to risk.


Nonetheless, silos have not, and will not totally disappear as we navigate the pending change to employment law with the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023, which received Royal Assent in July 2023 but is unlikely to be enforced until mid-2024.


At this point, the status quo of the traditional work environment (office-based) will legally change. The Act will provide employees and other workers with the opportunity to request a variation to current working conditions. This change will increase the need for preparedness, amendment to the risk register, and updates to business continuity and resilience plans. Consequently, a more holistic approach will be required to reduce the potential for insider risk and the protection of data for home workers.


Furthermore, a dedicated person will be required to ensure compliance is maintained, to enforce the security culture outside the office, and prevent the former style of silo working from returning.


Managing change


The need for a better work-life balance, work conditions, and remuneration is apparent and should be encouraged from within the industry and across sectors to educate the buyers of security services. We also need to look at the bigger picture.


The risk process is a cycle of preparedness, the activation methodology, and post-incident analysis, which is where we learn what human intervention or response has worked, what could be improved and what did not work. Lessen indecisiveness and inequality and recognise that the skills and knowledge required and the behaviours we seek as an industry may not always be from a security practitioner to fulfil the business need.


Wellbeing and self-care


Since the pandemic, we have witnessed an explosion of self-care. The World Health Organisation states, 'Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-


© CITY SECURITY MAGAZINE – WINTER 2023


being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity;' and at long last, the industry has stepped out from the shadows to become far more accepting of such issues.


Businesses and individuals are becoming more open-minded rather than it being a taboo subject, with an increase in mental health awareness training and Mental Health First Aiders in the workplace. This increase is not only advantageous for the workforce but also for dealing with any vulnerable and at-risk members of the public; and should be included within the scope of what 'good' looks like for the industry and nurture alliances with specialist organisations; for example.


• Security Minds Matter (supported by the Security Industry Authority)


• ToughEnoughToCare • PTSDResolution • Consortium for the Prevention of Suicide


Security, the career of choice – are we there yet?


Security is a transient profession. People move regularly across different sectors according to their needs, and the lack of career information and how to start that journey hinders choice, although work in this area is gathering momentum. Input from special interest groups, membership organisations, training providers, academia, and industry is vital in the identification of transferable skills, knowledge, and primary behaviours for personal and professional development to achieve a more holistic approach to better support inclusiveness, which in parts remains elusive. Apprenticeships, academic study, vocational training, and continuing professional development (CPD) activity will gather momentum in 2024 to support the development of tangible career pathways.


Preparing for 2024


As an industry, our journey is not complete, which was apparent in September 2023 at the Security Industry Authority (SIA) National Conference "20 Years of the Private Security Industry Act: Building, Learning and Adapting to New Challenges in Supporting Public Safety".


The SIA defined its position within the sector as leading and enforcing regulatory requirements and influencing change by preventing stagnation. It also became clear that the SIA is undoubtedly the lynchpin between the government, leading organisations, and membership bodies by encouraging consultation from the bottom up and top down to improve standards through licensing and scoping out training needs.


Thereafter, contrary to belief, the quality of training remains the responsibility of the awarding organisation. The SIA also underpins


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a second fundamental area of development: the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) introduced in 2006. The ACS is a stamp of recognition to buyers that the business is fit for purpose and invests in the development and deployment of a competent workforce.


The ACS endorsement is evidence of what 'good' looks like when purchasing services by providing buyers with a level of commitment to governance, intelligent foundations to grow a viable business, a business with a culture of safe practices, a healthy work environment, and openness to auditing.


Of course, there are other routes to evidence competence; achieving one of the BSI ISO standards to reduce risk to become more sustainable is one example of how to influence those who buy security services and improve the quality of industry providers.


Unquestionably, this area of development is likely to gather momentum in 2024 and beyond as security requirements increase and the procurement of internal and external supply chains increases.


Conclusion


With 2024 just over the horizon, we can reflect on the last two decades and appreciate the trajectory the sector has followed to improve the protection of society and the business community as a whole. There is no doubt that we are an industry of competitors with varying levels of experience, knowledge, skills and influence; we are also critical stakeholders in fulfilling the UK security requirements.


Collaboration and partnerships will increase to provide an array of services. Excellent leadership will be at the forefront to work at pace and align security measures with the ever-changing threat landscape. Risk resilience will be more efficacious with layers of protection for the intangible assets associated with cyber and the more tangible assets aligned with physical security, with a greater understanding of convergence between the two. We also need to be better informed on the perception and concerns of the public and involve lay people in consultation going forward.


2024 will see the sector rise to the challenges to take security to the next level.


Angela Vernon Lawson MSc CSyP FSyI SFHE Chartered Security Professional and Fellow of the Security Institute Senior Fellow of Higher Education


Principal Consultant Research and Bespoke Training Lawson Associates


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