A message from SIA Chair Heather Baily
As we celebrate the role of women on International Women’s Day, I wanted to reflect on the amazing women I have had the chance to work alongside or observe in their roles in the private security industry over the course of the past year. I want to pick out just a few themes which have really resonated with me, these include resilience, celebrating difference, kindness, being great allies and embracing equity – the key theme of this year’s International Women’s Day.
At the heart of everything we do as the UK wide regulator, sits public safety. We know that our licence holders play a significant part in keeping people safe in a wide range of environments and ensuring they are best equipped to deal with a terrorist incident, has been a key priority for us. Last September, I observed an Operation Sentry exercise where we test a number of terrorist scenarios. Along with colleagues from City of London Police, London Fire Brigade and ambulance service, the team providing security at a City of London nightclub were put through incredibly realistic scenarios in a nightclub, all under the watchful gaze of senior stakeholders. I was incredibly impressed by the teamwork shown by all the members of the private security team who work at this club but particularly so by the female team leader who showed a calm, professional and measured approach to each of the scenarios. It will be these skills which will save lives in the event that this type of situation happens for real. Her resilience under pressure was fantastic and her ability to make sure everyone operated as a team, meant a successful outcome.
In December, I was out in Portsmouth visiting pubs and clubs around the city to see first-hand, how our licence holders are working with the venues to keep everyone safe whilst enjoying a night out. It was impressive to see how door supervisor personnel were working with venue owners and police to ensure that knives, weapons, and drugs, don’t get into venues. It was great to talk to several women who are involved in the management of night clubs and to see the steps they are taking to ensure that both men but particularly women, can enjoy a night out safely. I saw rooms dedicated for first aid or to provide a refuge to women who fall unwell or are simply feeling intimidated and need some help. Women must be able to enjoy a night out without being harassed or assaulted. It is really positive to see the progress that is being made in some parts of the country to support women in these situations and the initiative that is being taken by both men and women to make our pubs and clubs safer for everyone.
Closer to home within the SIA, I work with many amazing women and men and I am really proud of the progress that we have collectively made towards recognising the contribution of everyone in our organisation. We have a variety of staff support groups, led by committed members of our teams. These groups run a range of sessions to support everyone across the organisation and some have focussed specifically on the challenges that women often face. These sessions have been critical in starting practical conversations on a range of areas and on changes we might need to make as an organisation to support women in the workplace. They also send a powerful message of kinship and support between us, as well as celebrating difference amongst us. Knowing that your colleagues are there to support you in times of challenge or difficulty, is essential for a healthy workplace culture. For me, this is a good example of embracing equity – taking practical steps to support women to achieve their full potential by overcoming obstacles or barriers to a fulfilling career. We still have much work to do on ensuring that equality and inclusion is fully part of our DNA but our committed Chief Executive, Michelle Russell and her Executive team, are leading on this important issue.
And finally, the value of kindness… a quality that is often under rated but which women at the SIA bring in an abundance. We have held many initiatives that have spread kindness and empathy both within the organisation and beyond. These have included support for those impacted by Covid and events internationally such as the war in Ukraine and amazing charitable initiatives such as Christmas gift bags for children in care, in support of the charity, Action for Children.
So to all of the fabulous women working in the private security sector and within the SIA, today we celebrate your contribution to making life safer for everyone. No matter what role you have, or how long you have been working in our sector, every woman makes a unique and valuable contribution. Individually you are amazing and collectively we have the ability to make positive change for good.
Thank you.
Heather Baily
Chair, Security Industry Authority
Simone Jacobs, Door Supervisor, Oracle Security
Simone talks about making a difference as a woman working in the security industry. She shares her experiences of spotting and helping people in vulnerable situations.
Rachel Freeman, HR Director, GMS Group
Rachel talks about what else can be done to encourage more women to join the industry and how the flexibility of when the training can be taken is very important. Rachel shares her experiences of working at the Commonwealth Games and the impact that women new to the industry had. And how the women who previously hadn’t considered working in security loved the work. She goes on to discuss the inherent skills women have that they can bring to the the security industry.
Lisa Nixon, Door Supervisor, Synergy Security Services
Lisa talks about juggling the responsibilities of being a Mum with working in the security industry. She mentions that with the different roles available within the security you have the flexibility of working at different times of the day or night. She discusses her priority role in managing the health and well being of women when they’re out in the evenings. And supporting both vulnerable females and males. Lisa also shares her thoughts on the value women bring to the private security.
Ally Isom-Leonard, Senior Security Consultant, Buro Happold
Ally talks about the opportunities for women in the security industry that doesn’t stop at guarding and jump to management level- there is a career path. They discuss the added value of the increase of women in the security industry from front-line to operational level. Ally shares her thoughts on developing a career in the security industry and highlights a number of different groups available for women to help to get on the next rung on the ladder or to develop and improve in their current role.
Check out the SIA’s campaign to celebrate women in the private security industry
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