A year ago, as featured in Professional Security magazine, the Security Institute launched its Inclusive Security Special Interest Group (ISSIG). The group is running an Inclusivity and Diversity questionnaire. The aim; to understand the security sector’s workforce. After receiving over 500 responses from Institute members, the questionnaire is now being opened to the wider sector.
As the organisers say, there is a lack of data about diversity for the security sector. That makes it difficult to identify areas for improvement, and hinders any efforts to track changes in the workforce. Hence the questionnaire as a benchmark for the sector, providing quantitative data as well as offering participants the opportunity to – anonymously – share their experiences, if they wish.
This data will be used to inform initiatives by the Institute to improve industry practices and it says build a stronger, more inclusive workforce. The questionnaire addresses a variety of demographic categories including but not limited to age, educational background, gender as well as both visible and non-visible disabilities.
The ISSIG Co-Chairs Anna-Liisa Tampuu ASyI and Lisa Reilly ASyI said: ‘As a sector, it is our responsibility that our workforce of security professionals reflects the people that we serve to protect. A diversity of viewpoints and backgrounds will mean that, as a sector, we are best prepared to tackle the threats of both today and tomorrow. This is why the Security Institute, through our Inclusive Security SIG, is working so hard to make the sector inclusive for all. This sector-wide survey has been created by our Inclusive Security SIG members, and will help us benchmark diversity figures for our sector as a whole, informing the projects that we focus on in the coming years.’
Follow this link to complete the questionnaire: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/security-sector-inclusion-questionnaire.
You have until September 13, as the results of the questionnaire will be shared at the Institute’s annual conference on October 28 in London. Invited speakers include Chris Smith of WPP; and Frank Cannon from Hinkley Point. It’s a hybrid event – in person at 1 Wimpole Street, The Royal Society of Medicine; and online.
Organisers stress that all responses will be stored anonymously with no personally identifiable information, in accordance with GDPR.
