In-house security managers/directors can operate in different ways, they may work as advisors to the organisation or be a head of a team or department. Whatever the role, this category recognises those who through security expertise, business acumen and/or skilful and innovative leadership approaches, have led the security portfolio with distinction. Outstanding performers will be leaders and innovators who are setting examples that others will wish to follow.
The judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding performance in:
Contract security managers/directors can operate in different ways, they may work as advisors to a client organisation or be the head of a team or department on behalf of a client. Whatever the role, this category recognises those who through security expertise, business acumen and/or skilful and innovative leadership approaches, have led the security portfolio with distinction for both their company and their client organisation. Outstanding performers will be leaders and innovators who are setting examples that others will wish to follow.
This award recognises outstanding security teams in the private, public or voluntary sectors – open to contracted teams, those employed direct or a combination. An outstanding team is one that has implemented an approach which has contributed to the overall performance of the organisation. This can include roles in protecting the organisation against different types of threats, some or all of which may be innovative or exemplary, as well as showing outstanding performance in enabling the organisation to operate in ways or areas that would not be possible without the contribution of the security team.
This OSPA recognises those who are outstanding suppliers of manned security guarding. In the modern world the provision of manned guarding services has become a much more skilled task. Motivating staff, managing resources in an increasingly competitive and price sensitive environment, up-skilling, recognising the distinct importance of front line leadership, making the most of technologies, forging internal and external partnerships and making them work are just some of the trends that are leading to new approaches and thinking about manned guarding. The object of this category is to recognise the outstanding performers in making a positive difference.
This OSPA recognises the security consultant – individual, team or company – demonstrating outstanding performance in any aspect of security consulting. Consultants often play a key role in security in offering expertise and insight which can transform the quality of service, product or system that is offered. It recognises the existence of distinct skill sets and crucially the ways these are harnessed and managed to make a difference to security strategy and/or practice.
This OSPA recognises individuals or companies that operate a successful training scheme, which promotes outstanding performance and has produced identifiable results. There is a tendency to talk about training and up-skilling as a good thing in itself. In fact in the very least, training should most often be undertaken in response to an identified need, with a programme that is suited to best meeting a skills gap, that is well articulated and delivered, and results in an benefits in terms of better performance. This OSPA looks to recognise those who have made a difference to improving security practice via training.
This OSPA recognises an outstanding new product that has been designed and implemented to improve any area of security practice, and has been introduced to the US security market in the last 12 months. The key point about new products is that they have a marked effect on improving security performance; that is that they add value and have clearly identified benefits.
This OSPA recognises a successful security partnership that delivers outstanding performance. ‘Partnerships’ is an over used word in security. Frequently partnerships are identified as crucial to good security but often may involve little more than collaboration, a very different thing. What is known is that effective partnerships are most often the result of good planning around identifiable objectives designed to deliver specific benefits, and are typically characterised by good management/co-ordination.
This OSPA recognises an outstanding manufacturer of products that service the security market. Manufacturers of any security product in any market can enter. The winner of this OSPA will have shown outstanding performance in manufacturing a leading-edge security product (or products), which has produced clear beneficial results for customers.
This OSPA recognises the security officer (up to supervisor level) demonstrating the most outstanding performance. It will be awarded to a security officer who is highly committed to security work, showing enthusiasm, initiative and displaying security competence in different areas including in the development of stakeholder relationships. The officer will have had a beneficial impact on the workplace positively influencing operations and having been recognised for achieving outstanding service.
This OSPA recognises a young security professional – that is anyone below the age of forty (there is no restriction on the number of years spent in security) – who has excelled in his/her early career performance. This OSPA will be awarded to someone who has made an impact in the area of private security, for example as a analyst/researcher, working for a security supplier and/or corporate security (rather than police/military). This could be in any area of security activity, as a student, in the workplace or a combination, but it will be someone who has made a difference and is laying the basis for an outstanding career in security.
This OSPA recognises a senior member of the security community. It recognises an individual who has consistently shown outstanding performance over an extended period of time and has had a substantial impact upon defining and driving standards in the security sector.
I have read and understood the rules of entry.
