Una Riley interviews Yasmeen Stratton, director of the security, fire, health and safety sector recruitment consultants SSR Personnel. She the 2016 Winner of the Professional Security Magazine-Women in Security award for the Industry Category.
SSR was founded by Peter French MBE in 1986. The company and founder since that time have become part of what is now the modern history of the private security industry. SSR recently added an office in the UAE. They have established operations in Asia, Africa, Europe, Mexico and the USA. As an ISO 9001:2008 company they pride themselves on staff retention. One of those people happens to be Yasmeen Stratton, based in London. I have known Yasmeen, and Peter French, for many years. I have witnessed her volunteerism and pro bono involvement with various industry lead bodies. The PSM-WiS Award is for women in security that don’t just do a great job in their specific work role, but also contribute to the wider world of security. Hence, helping shape the industry we all work in. There are many modern security history stepping stones in each sector that women have influenced.
My first question to most of the security professionals I meet is how they got into the security industry; it never fails to fascinate. This was no exception. Yasmeen said: “I originally started working for SSR in 1991 – what I thought would be temporary! In that first year and constantly since, there were challenges, projects, process, and staff changes. I enjoyed the flexibility. Ideas were and are still, respected here. Having spent 25 years with an organisation might certainly be enough for some people but SSR has adapted We are part of a £1bn business that allows us to be entrepreneurial, innovative, with lots of support and I have always wanted that responsibility.”
I asked how it felt winning her category in the WiS awards. Yasmeen replied: “I was absolutely delighted to be shortlisted, sincerely touched by the words in the nominations and never thought I would win in a category that had such eminent women listed. I was really honoured that such a high percentage of all the votes cast across the categories were for my nomination from such a range of individuals, making my hard work suddenly recognised by so many. It’s essential for women to be recognised. The relatively low number of successful female role models reinforce the perceived difficulty in rising the corporate ladder. It was a great occasion and with Sharon Kerr as keynote speaker – a positive stereotype for all women in security and of course an SSR placement success.”
Besides her day job, Yasmeen is a fellow of the Institute of Recruitment Professionals, a Freeman of The City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals (WCoSP). In 2010 she became a member of the Company’s fundraising committee. In 2014 she became the Financial Sponsor of the WCoSP Apprentice Scheme for 2014-2017 and holds the role of Apprentice Master to a female young apprentice. I asked her to expand upon her involvement with the WCoSP. Yasmeen said: “With my co-director Jeff Johnson, SSR are the sponsors to the WCoSP Apprentice scheme with over 25 indentured apprentices with a good representation of female applicants, and one of the most active in all the Livery companies. With so many prospective Apprentice Masters from members of the WCoSP we are giving insight to the profession of security and inducting young people into city life from the perspective of a modern livery company. My own apprentice April Chapman is a third year undergraduate studying law in Birmingham and gained Freedom of the City in August 2015. I have worked with the marketing and fundraising committee for several years.”
I asked Yasmeen is she was interested in progressing through the chair to become Master of the company in the near future. She replied: “Yes, if asked and the opportunity presented itself I would like to commence on the journey to represent the profession of security.”
How would she encourage other women to become involved in the City? She replied: “It is a great experience to be part of the Company, a Freeman of the City and now a Liveryman. For someone that loves London, its architecture and history, it’s an honour for me to be welcomed to functions that would not normally be accessible. There’s a subtle overlay of traditional values with current thinking and dedicated groups that work hard to gather money for good causes. The WCoSP is doing a great job with a vibrant apprenticeship scheme and Young Members Group, women are increasingly represented in these sectors. The serious side of Livery is the accumulative £47m distributed to charity each year. We are all on a journey, in our careers and family lives, but if we can help others on our journey, that just must be worthwhile.”
I agree. It doesn’t stop there. When Yasmeen goes through the chair she will be eligible to join the ‘Lady Masters Network’ for all female past masters. The Livery movement is the place to be for the modern female business professional.
Yasmeen has served for nine years on the Executive Committee of the OSAC London Council, the corporate interface with the US government which has been significant in recent years, internationally, and domestically with the London Olympics. I asked how she become involved. She said: “I had attended OSAC meetings at the US Embassy for a few years, the attraction then was the social and network opportunity and of course, the coffee and doughnuts. I was impressed that subject content being shared was current and far closer to the source than any other information at the time. I was invited to join the OSAC London Executive Committee meeting in 2008, at which point I had a professional relationship with many of the group and knew that I could contribute. Nine years later, I remain a trusted colleague and part of an extraordinary network of people who work hard to share information in a difficult and complex world. SSR bring to any organisation a global perspective on people, recruitment trends, information needs of individuals and analysis of corporate co-operation which SSR is uniquely placed to broker between organisations. As a trusted partner to so many companies we are keen to manage those relationships and provide an open ear to frame corporate thinking across governance environments. This year we have partnered with ASIS International to look at remuneration in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. This is our largest undertaking. We are seeking to understand the impact of CPD, graduate and post-graduate degrees on employment status. Also, the trend for senior security leadership to be part of their organisations Long Term Executive Rewards schemes against a background of corporate downsizing or dismantling of embedded security organisations.”
Yasmeen is also a member of ASIS, representing SSR as recruitment partners of ASIS International events, annually attending the Middle East conference in Dubai and the European events. In the UK, she regularly attends London-based workshops and seminars through several business and security associations including the RSMF (Risk Security Management Forum), SASIG (Security Awareness Special Interest Group), WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) and the Security Institute to name but a few. Apart from all this she is an active supporter of CVOC (Child Victims of Crime) Embrace Charity, PTSD Resolution, and Cancer Research UK. I asked her to elaborate on her involvement with a couple of the charities. Yasmeen said: “I had an early relationship with the Security Benevolent Fund which is being more used by former employees from the security sector, an idea that came from the Master Charities appeal in 2006-8 which will soon have distributed over £100,000 to people in need. I am a promoter to corporate heads for donations when the annual fund raising takes part at the WCoSP Spring dance. I understand that there are plans that security professionals in other countries could be looking to replicate the aims of the SBF. am also a long-standing attendee and supporter of the CVOC Embrace Charity that work with police officers in every force in the UK to provide support to children who are victims of crime. In 2016 and 2017 they will also be recipients from the proceeds of the SSR annual Charity Golf day fund raising.”
I wanted to keep talking about the profession and how far we have come so my question was; if you could change one thing about the UK private security industry, what would it be?” Yasmeen replied: “The industry of security rather than the profession of security should take a lead in delivering one stop advice. Clients need to stop focusing on the lower price of delivery, which removes training, development, and welfare, and then complaining about the low standards of service delivery. Security services should be mitigating the risk to business. Sometimes it appears that the supply companies are just there to mitigate the insurance cover, rather than the risks. The industry of security needs to step up to the plate and have a ‘cradle to grave’ approach to their people. There are some shining company examples and some plainly should be ashamed of themselves. For temporary workers in our managed services division, we have worked with enlightened clients, providing death in service benefits.
“If you can see what happens to a family where the sole bread winner dies, to be somewhat cushioned with a lump sum can really help, compared to another family decimated socially and financially without that safety net. This is pennies on the price of a contract, but often stripped out by procurement people who have the benefit of cover by their employer but don’t consider it for the hourly paid person? An upside-down approach.”
Lastly, I asked Yasmeen if there was a burning issue that she would like to discuss. She said: “It is now widely acknowledged and accepted, that there are no differences between women and men in capability or potential. Many sources acknowledge that companies with higher numbers of female board members perform better financially, so why are women so under-represented in the security industry? Gender behavioural traits are a key issue, where women tend to undervalue their own skills, achievements, and experiences, whereas men are more likely to overestimate their ability and are confident to demand higher salaries. There are differences in the way that men and women are mentored and sponsored, this needs to be addressed by men and women at every level from education to the office. As a woman of mixed race, many assume obstacles in my career. I would say it’s no more than the next man, or woman, we all face challenges. However, I have had the advantage of being hired by a man, who was confident in his abilities to develop mine. I have forged great trust and friendships throughout my tenure with OSAC and have received huge support and encouragement through the WCoSP and other associations. Yes, we will not agree all the time, the Brexit vote and US election have given us all opportunity to demonstrate our differences. Tolerance and Inclusion are essential traits for every senior leader and a message I hear and share frequently.”
Pictured at the WiS awards ceremony in London in September 2016; left to right, Baroness Henig, Yasmeen and Roy Cooper, MD of Professional Security magazine.
