Jules Norwood is an SIA licenced door supervisor from London. She was an Outstanding Female Security Professional finalist at the UK OSPAs 2024. Jules shares her story of working at sports venues in the UK and abroad, and reflects how women’s experiences in the industry have changed.
I started in security before the SIA was set up. After my father had passed away, I started working at a local Premier League football club, which he had supported his entire life. It’s meant I can get away from the kids and just be me. I did all sorts of roles at this club and then joined Wembley Stadium when it reopened in 2007.
I worked in a college and gained a teaching qualification. Just before the 2012 Olympics, someone I knew from Wembley introduced me to a security company to support their training. Whilst working with them I gained my SIA licence.
Sometimes I’ve been working full time in private security, sometimes part-time or picking up a few shifts. Now, I’m an operations manager and a qualified Safety Officer for venues, as well as a trainer and assessor for the industry. There’s never a typical day in this role.
When its quieter, I might be working from home or in the office. When there’s an event on, I’ll be travelling or working very early to very late. I love the diversity of managing crowds. No two events are the same. Even when you are at the same venue, the people are different every night, so you get a different atmosphere and a different challenge.
It’s important to work together as a team in this industry as your eyes and ears can’t be everywhere. When training people I ask them “who is the most important person here?”. If this is at a football club, people might say – the players, the referee, the owner. I say – “no, you are”. If the people in security are not safe, then no one else is safe. You need to keep yourself safe first, then you can look after other people.
My favourite job ever was working for the English Cricket Board (ECB) as a team security officer looking after the India women’s cricket team with a close protection guy. The ladies were lovely. I also saw the Lord’s Cricket Ground changing rooms, got to walk on the pitch, and watched a game from the famous balcony. I stayed in some amazing hotels. The ECB wanted to treat the ladies the same as the men, so it was 6 weeks in 4 to 5-star hotels.
I’ve also been fortunate enough to travel to a few countries, including with the national men’s England football squad to Malta, and to Azerbaijan as a Health and Safety Advisor. I’ve also travelled within the UK and Europe with supporters. You see a bit of the world and it’s a great way to bond with your security team.
I still work in operations and mentor those new to the industry. I work closely with The Prince’s Trust to get young people into the industry when they achieve their first badge and hopefully their NVQ level 2 in Spectator safety. I feel that a good base of training helps provide a platform for them to grow into a good officer.
This industry is still very male dominated. When I started out 30 years ago, it was just me and one other woman in the security team. Now, it can be 70:30 or even 60:40 male to female on the ground. My current office is a 50:50 split.
There can be misogyny, but women do get more respect now. You also see a lot more women in senior roles. A female manager at a previous company told me she was proud of me because I haven’t come from the police or had a military background. I’ve got where I am by working my way up and through.
It’s great when you get a male who champions what women can do in security. I think you really see that in the next generation. It’s nice working with them.
What’s great about this industry is you can fit your job around you – whether that’s your studies, or your kids. I always say an SIA badge is great to have in your back pocket!