At the ninth UK Outstanding Security Performance Awards (UK OSPAs) in London last week, Carlisle Support Services was named as the 2025 Security Company of the Year.
Held on February 20 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, the OSPAs mark excellence and honour those who promote change for the greater benefit. The OSPA judges drawn from security industry bodies praised the company’s ethical leadership in driving industry transformation, pointing to its commitment to employee development, operational excellence, and innovation. Carlisle emphasised its journey has always been about leading change in the sector, from eliminating sub-contracting in core, non-specialist, and events roles as announced last year to showcasing innovation and championing career progression; some 58pc of newly created salaried positions filled by internal candidates.
With a 95 per cent-plus customer retention rate sustained over the past decade, Carlisle credits its success to a commitment to collaboration, transparency, and a true partnership approach. Key to this success is its annual Innovation Lab conference, on March 27 at Excel London, for clients and other guests.
After the awards ceremony, Carlisle’s CEO Paul Evans, pictured second from left, said: “This is a truly humbling moment. From the day I joined Carlisle nearly ten years ago, I have seen a business that strives to lead change. This award is a recognition of our values and the incredible work done by every single one of our 5,300-plus Carlisle family members.
“Such industry recognition wouldn’t be possible without the support of our clients – a select group of 65 ethical and world-leading brands – who make it possible for us to achieve our purpose of being different and truly offering our team members enjoyable and rewarding careers. To every Carlisle family member: thank you for your continued dedication and passion. You are all simply outstanding, and I am incredibly proud to work alongside you.”
As featured in the January edition of Professional Security Magazine, Carlisle is in discussions on an Integrated Policing and Private Security (IPPS) industry-wide initiative. The aim; to work out ways of working towards one common goal of public protection, whose stakeholders include the Home Office, National Police Chiefs Council, and the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
As one of 14 category winners, the firm will be featured in the second Global OSPAs, due in February 2026.
