MD of Professional Security magazine Roy Cooper writes after the latest of the magazine’s regional conference-exhibitons, Security TWENTY 13, ST13 Newcastle at the Gosforth Park Marriott Hotel.
I don’t want to give anyone the impression that as the managing director of a magazine for UK private security people that I am the head of a vast network of surveillance, but I have been informed that the ASIS UK man on the spot at the event, Mike Hurst who was manning the ASIS stand at the exhibition, was tucking into a good English breakfast on the Tuesday morning. Also he was in the bar before the networking dinner on the Monday evening, discussing I am told matters of security interest to himself and the gentlemen also holding pint glasses around him. In fairness I have to add that Mike did depart the breakfast room at 8.10am to make final preparations for ST13, which opened officially at 8.30am. For a fuller report on Mike’s movements during ST13, please apply.
Seriously, I can appreciate the sheer time and work that goes into making any event such as the ASIS UK quarterly meetings, now the magazine is running its own. That said, there is a huge amount of enjoyment, some of it hard to judge or put down on paper, such as the good relationships made and renewed and the good conversation. ST13 is about a mix – first, the golf on the day before, for the outdoor types. Someone played the course twice! Then the dinner to get to know people, and the proper conference-exhibition. How the sun shone on the golfers, like the south of France! It was overcast on the Tuesday, but we were indoors, by then, so what did it matter? Some of the gain is practical. At each ST13 so far, Birmingham in March and west London in July, we try to raise money for some local good cause. A cheque for £1340 was presented to ME North East, the charity for sufferers from ME and their carers. That cash was raised by diners the evening before the conference, in donations, a raffle and from the by now traditional heads and tails game. To recap briefly, everyone in the room stands, and decides before the toss of a coin whether they will ‘bet’ heads or tails, by putting their hands on their head or their rear. If the coin comes up heads and they have guessed heads, they stay in the game. If they guess wrong, they have to sit down – they’re out! The last few still in the game get to go to the front and in no time there’s a winner.
May I thank all the sponsors, exhibitors including Mike, and those who took the time out from busy jobs to attend the conference – and the speakers for giving their views and case studies. To name only a few people, Danie Adendorff of the University of Loughborough scared us with the prospects for the future, Trevor Elliott of the BSIA updated us on SIA business licensing, and the consultant Rod MacKinnon was an able and amusing chairman for the day. If I have missed anyone out, apologies, and you know I am looking forward to seeing you at ST14 events next year. Dates and venues to follow.
