I’m starting my gossip with IFSEC, of course – but I can’t tell you much ….
I’m actually writing this while packing my bags for the IFSEC show. It would be possible I suppose to commute into London to attend each day, but I can’t resist staying in a hotel nearby with colleagues, even though the price of London hotels has gone through the roof again, although IFSEC has pointed people to lower-price rooms in the Stratford area. A local stay does allow me to take part better in the socialising after the day-time on the show floor. One temptation I am having to resist is writing gossip about the event as if it had already happened. A gossip columnist once did that about an Ascot meeting, or was it Epsom, wherever it was, they talked about the wonderful hats and gathering and it had actually been called off. All I can say for now is, I wonder what the gossip is!? And the 50th anniversary party at a hired room inside Excel – were you there? An early start, 5.30pm, for a party?! Still, I can understand that because the organisers want to keep people there so they don’t drift off, though it’s amazing how early on some stands they get the beer out!
Pacesetters at Windsor
Something else I am writing about before it happened is the ACS Pacesetters security officer of distinction awards, at Windsor. I must have done a good enough job of compering last year’s because Lynda Moore of Pacesetters asked me back. What I can talk to you about with some confidence because it has happened is the judging, as I was a judge. I’m not sure if I should tell you the exact number of entries that I read, but it was many, many more than the number of awards. I always think that what these men and women, all on the front line, do is incredible. Yes, most of their day is straightforward, doing the job that they are paid for, but every so often something happens and they have to step up. A number of the nominees have saved lives: some have delivered babies, some have saved the lives of people who have wanted to jump off a multi-storey car park. Some have rescued missing people; and some have had their lives threatened. It never ceases to amaze me. And some nominees are there for doing several things. One thing that does impress me is the training that guards seem to get; because you have to be trained, on how to give resuscitation, and use a defibrillator. To some, that might come naturally, or it might be something that has to be taught. But it does show that the job is more than having a uniform and standing on a door. For their big do of the year Pacesetters had 200 people in the room, from guarding companies and their guests.
Birthday party
Talking of Pacesetters, I was invited to the 30th birthday party of MAN Commercial Protection (see pictures on page 16). It was a shame I couldn’t get there because I was in the tulip fields of Holland on holiday. The CEO Iain McCallister is a sponsor of Women in Security (WiS) and I might add a big supporter of it. He’s built up quite a business. Also something to learn from is how skilful is their use of social media. While he does have a head start over the rest of us with his fascinating sports memorabilia, partly as a result of his company’s work at big boxing nights, note the back-drop with company logos. Little touches like that do make a difference.
EDI evening
Never any shame in copying good ideas! Moving on, to at last, an event that I can talk to you about that I was at! The Women in Security Academy (see Una Riley’s article from page 28) was a finalist in the Security Institute awards, held after their AGM at the Victory Services Club in London. That made a bit of a problem for some because the meeting-wear was lounge suits and the ideal wear for the evening dinner was black-tie, and if you went to both you didn’t really want to sit through an AGM in your dinner jacket. Anyway, there was a good turn-out of Institute people, Tom Jenkins, and the former chief Rick Mounfield to name only two. I was there with Una and Liz Lloyd. The award went to Corps Security for their work on equality, diversity and inclusion. Another event that I couldn’t get to (!) was by the Corps on the last afternoon of IFSEC, at the In and Out Club (not a London club I have come across before?), about improving mental health in the security and FM sectors. A number of groups such as Security Minds Matter are at work in this important field. And just so I can’t be accused of having favourites, Mitie ran a similar event last month at The Shard. Good work going on in the cause of well-being.
Joiner
At the fire and evacuation alarm product company Vimpex, Terry Mallarky has joined as Regional Key Account Manager. Terry brings over 30 years of experience with life safety products, and his job is to develop OEM customers.
We’re at Newport
I only just have room to tell you about the next Security TWENTY event, ST Newport, on Tuesday, June 6, as we have moved our South Wales ST along the M4, to the Celtic Manor resort. We’ve been there pre-covid, so we know it’s quite a venue, as you would expect for a place that hosted President Obama, and it couldn’t be handier for drivers. Whereas at recent informal dinners, the night before the shows, we’ve had street food, this time it’s a barbecue, so cross your fingers for fine weather. The exhibition opening from 8.30am will be at the golf club; remember that, because the resort is quite huge if you get lost!
