Brian Sims
Editor
Brian Sims
Editor
THE ASSOCIATION of University Chief Security Officers (AUCSO), the leading organisation for security professionals working in the higher and further education sectors around the world, has announced that entries for its Annual Awards 2025 opened on 11 November.
Last year, the AUCSO Awards, which celebrate the outstanding work security teams have transacted within their institutions, witnessed a record number of submissions for all categories.
Free to enter and open to all AUCSO members, the 2025 categories are:
AUCSO Security Officer of the Year
Awarded to the security officer who has consistently performed to a high degree of excellence and professionalism, going ‘above and beyond’ the usual expectations of their job role
AUCSO Security Team of the Year
Awarded to the security team whose teamwork or involvement in an incident has required them to perform outside the requirements of their job role, displaying courage and determination in dealing with incidents and supporting the campus community
AUCSO Security Manager of the Year
Awarded to the security manager how has introduced innovations which have added value to their institution, positively participated in the wider security community, led positive change in reducing security risks and has consistently demonstrated leadership across the security team
AUCSO Initiative of the Year
Awarded to the security team that has introduced a unique and innovative initiative which has added value to the security operation, the student community and the host institution
Bill Blythe Award
A new award introduced last year, the Bill Blythe Award is named after the inaugural recognised chair of AUCSO who worked at the University of Liverpool. This award recognises outstanding service to the industry and is awarded by the chair of AUCSO
High standard
AUCSO’s chief operating officer Julie Barker stated: “We’re delighted to announce the opening of our Annual Awards for 2025. We are very much looking forward to receiving the many great submissions from our members’ institutions, both here in the UK and across the globe. The standard of entries is always incredibly high, which makes selecting the shortlist so difficult.”
The deadline for entries is 29 December. Judging takes place week beginning 13 January 2025 and the shortlist will be announced week beginning 27 January.
The winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner to be held on the final evening of the AUCSO Annual Conference on 9 April 2025, which is being hosted at the University of Warwick.
*Further information is available online at www.aucso.org
