S12 Security Guarding Leadership Group marks First Anniversary

In the intervening 12 months, the S12 Group has grown its membership, broadened its reach and streamlined its priorities. Indeed, the S12 Group now comprises 16 Board members, adding two new non-Approved Contractor Scheme members this year as well as an impartial core management team.

For their part, S12 Group workstreams bring together more than 350 registered members from no fewer than 237 organisations.

The S12 Group continues to represent the industry’s interests through direct engagement with key stakeholders, policymakers and regulators. Partner organisations include the Home Office, the Security Industry Authority (SIA), His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, Ofqual, the Fair Work Agency and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

The S12 Group has submitted formal communications and consultation responses shaped by industry feedback. Key topics include the Business Approval Scheme, the MR8 Mandatory Business Licensing consultation, Approved Contractor Scheme fees, the SIA Buyers’ Charter, Section 12 Martyn’s Law guidance and additional Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000-centred powers for the SIA.

Great progress

Paul Evans (CEO at Carlisle Support Services and chair of the S12 Security Guarding Leadership Group) said: “The S12 Group has made great progress this year by listening to feedback from the industry and using its position to highlight priorities to central Government, initiate conversations within different sectors of the industry and provide evidence-based feedback to support meaningful change.”

Evans continued: “Most notably, we’ve supported Government and industry on the preparation for Martyn’s Law. Our dedicated workstream offers a unique platform for people to raise concerns, clarify their understanding and offer their perspectives. We have formally written to the Government about our support for the implementation, offering our expertise as well as amplifying industry feedback to help shape the guidance.”

Further, Evans noted: “We continue to work in collaboration and offer our thanks to those individuals and organisations that have supported or contributed to our workstreams.”

Following the streamlining of activity into nine workstreams, the organisation has delivered significant levels of engagement across the sector. More than 40 workstream meetings have been realised since April. This includes two in-person workstream sessions and three industry webinars.

Industry reach and representation 

Approximately one in every three security officers work for a company represented on the S12 Group’s Board, thereby demonstrating substantial industry reach and representation.

The organisation’s reach has grown significantly through regular workstream meetings, increased communications and event attendance. Bringing industry leaders together to tackle one of the sector’s most important challenges, the S12 Group unveiled its new Labour Exploitation Guidance Document at a recent in-person workstream event. The document offers practical guidance, establishes common definitions and addresses the critical topics regularly highlighted by industry.

In order to further strengthen its commitment, the S12 Group has also signed up to a Labour Exploitation Charter, marking a significant step towards greater accountability, transparency and trust.

Looking ahead, the S12 Group will continue to focus on key priorities across the sector including:

*canine survey focused on improving standards and professionalism

*MR8 (Mandatory Business Licensing) Position Paper showcasing the S12 Group’s position on the proposal of Mandatory Business Licensing for the sector

*Protecting the Front Line Workstream (a refocused workstream aimed at improving standards, safety and support for front line security professionals)

Security professionals from all sectors can sign up to help shape the future of security by joining a given workstream (https://securityleaders.co.uk/workstreams/)