The square mile in the city of London always conjures up for me a real sense of Christmas, writes our regular contributor Una Riley.
And never more so than the WCoSP (Worshipful Company of Security Professionals) holiday events, from the established Christmas lunch to the carol service ringing in the Christmas spirit. It always seems that no sooner has the Masters dinner in October been and gone than it is Christmas. With a seasonal frame of mind I recently caught up with the 13th Master of the WCoSP. Brian Hughes to enquire more about the man behind this prestigious role. I discovered that in his early career he spent 29 years as a commissioned officer in the Royal Air Force (three in the RAF Regiment and 26 in the RAF Police) which included overseas postings in Aden, Germany, Cyprus and Hong Kong.
Group Captain Brian Hughes retired from his last appointment in the Ministry of Defence and joined Standard Chartered Bank in the City in 1994. He retired from Standard Chartered where he was the global Head of Protective Security in 2002. Brian and his wife Judy then split their time between Crick in Northamptonshire and Robina on Australia’s Gold Coast. Since 2006 they have been living permanently in Crick. Brian has also held senior management positions with two not for profit international airshows – the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire (which raises funds for the RAF Charitable Trust) and the biennial Australian International Airshow near Melbourne. In the UK he was installed as Master of the Worshipful Company of the Security Professionals in June at Drapers’ Hall. He is a Founder Member of the Company, a Freeman of the City of London and a Fellow of the Security Institute.
I am always interested why and how people choose security. So my first question was what made him choose security, as a civilian. Brian replied: “I had experience in many aspects of security including protection of people, property and information, counter intelligence, vetting and investigations and had worked in senior management roles. I had therefore much to offer a potential employer. A suitable post with global responsibilities became available at Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) and I applied. I was attracted to the banking industry and by the opportunities for foreign travel provided by the SCB which has operations in many emerging market countries. Since 1976, I have also worked at a senior level in the civilian event industry managing various aspects including, security, emergency services, traffic, car parking and show co-ordination both in the UK, for the Royal International Airshow and for the Australian International Airshow which is the Australian equivalent of Farnborough International.”
What changes has he seen in the industry and how has he seen it develop?” Brian took a moment to think. “Much has changed after the tragic events of September 11, 2001 … when SCB lost its office in 7 World Trade Centre. We had excellent crisis management and business continuity plans, which meant that our operations recovered very quickly. However, threats are now taken more seriously particularly at board level. As a result I believe that the industry has become more professional. When I joined SCB there were few university courses available. I ended up doing my university certificate in security management at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. Now, many UK universities run degree courses in risk and security management and of course the development of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals’ Charted Security Professional [CSyp] qualification is a major step forward. Perhaps we will see a time when all senior security managers and directors are required to hold a recognised security qualification whether it is a degree or charter status.”
With that in mind I asked what he would like to see in the world of security future. He replied: “Recognition that Security is a profession with the same status as architects, accountants and the like. The profession needs to attract more women and young graduates. However, understandably companies require people with experience and as a result few graduate trainee positions are available. We still have a way to go to achieve this.” It is easy to see what motivated Brian to join the WCoSP and I asked him to expand on his reasons for joining. He said: “I am a founder member having joined the Guild as it then was on March 1, 2000. Many of my friends in the Selwyn House Group and the Sister Banks Group joined at the same time. The Guild provided an opportunity to support the charitable works of the Guild whilst attending very enjoyable meetings and social functions with likeminded people from the security profession.” Now as Master how has he seen it develop and where does he see it going? I asked. Brian replied: “It is amazing that we became a full Livery Company with a Royal Charter in the space of ten years. This is due to the vision and hard work of my predecessors who have chaired and served on the Company’s committees and the trust board. We need to continue to build on this work. It is crucial that members progress through the Company and become Freemen and Liverymen. We must also attract new members from the profession and encourage diversity. We have too few members who are women. We must also encourage young people to join and the revamped apprentice scheme will help us achieve this.” I explained as a principal member of the company and now a Master Emeritus, the WCoSP has led the way encouraging women to become involved in the wider world of security. As the Master of the year Brian will be a judge of the ‘Women in Security Award’ which recognises women’s contribution to the profession and encourages young women to choose security. All the good work of the WCoSP filters into the industry.
I asked Brian his thoughts on whether he felt there was a place in business for the modern livery movement? Brian immediately replied: “Of course, the Modern Livery Companies rely on people in business. Our Royal Charter contains a great deal that is relevant to our profession and could relate to most modern professions or trades. The aim is to promote, support and encourage standards of excellence, integrity and honourable practice in conducting the profession of security practitioners and to aid societies and other organisations connected to such profession.”
As Master how does he intend to encourage the wider world of security to become more involved? Brian replied: “By growing our membership and by encouraging our members to introduce guests to events and functions where they will meet others from the profession. We will continue to encourage the expansion of the CSyP qualification which has been made more available by the inclusion of ASIS International as an entry point without any reduction in standards.” How is his year going so far and what is he looking forward to? Brian smiled and said: “My year so far has been enjoyable and very busy. Being retired, I am able to devote a lot of time working with the Clerk to improve the way the Company is run. We have changed our email system and are continuing to improve the website both of which are vital communication tools for the membership. I am also chairing a strategic financial review. We have produced an updated financial strategy for approval by the Court of Assistants which is the board of the Company. We are also looking at the way the Company is staffed. There is much to do as the Company grows and matures. Socially the highlights have been the Constable of HM Tower of London’s beating retreat and reception, our City of London Police Commissioner’s dinner, which was for the first time generously hosted by JP Morgan at their office in Canary Wharf, the ‘Big Curry Lunch’ in aid of the Soldier’s Charity at Gratte Brothers, our annual dinner in Merchant Taylors’ Hall and of course the presentation dinner of the Lord Mayor Elect, Fiona Woolf CBE. With my wife Judy, it has been an honour to represent the Company at many Livery events in the City. It is a privilege to be a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals but it is also fun and a way of giving something back through voluntary work and raising funds for charity. To keep the Company alive we need new members who are prepared to make the lifelong personal commitment which joining the Livery entails. I should like to encourage security professionals of all ages both women and men to consider joining the Company. If applicants don’t know a member who could sponsor their application, they can still apply and be interviewed by the Membership Committee.”
Finally I asked what would be his Christmas message. Brian said: “I hope that everyone in the industry has a happy and most importantly peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year free from all crises.” What about a New Year’s resolution? Brian replied: “My New Year’s resolution should be to lose weight but it will be difficult to do this during my last five months as Master!”
Like the Master I would like to wish everyone a ‘merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone’.
