Brian Sims
Editor
Brian Sims
Editor
THE OUTSTANDING Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) recognise and reward companies, people and innovation across the security sector, with the awards scheme designed to be both independent and inclusive and realise an opportunity for outstanding performers, whether buyers or suppliers, to be honoured and their success celebrated. Entries for the 2023 UK OSPAs are now being welcomed.
A brand new category – the Outstanding Security Sustainability Award – has been added to the sixteen categories already on offer. This new accolade recognises any organisation in any sector and area of activity that’s wholly committed to outstanding practices in furthering environmental and social sustainability in whatever form, be that reducing waste, improving the carbon footprint, progressing towards circularity or perhaps using more eco-friendly materials or approaches.
The seventeen categories on offer for 2023 are as follows:
Outstanding In-House Security Manager/Director
Outstanding Contract Security Manager/Director
Outstanding Contract Security Company (Guarding)
Outstanding Security Consultant
Outstanding Customer Service Initiative
Outstanding Security Training Initiative
Outstanding Security Installer/Integrator
Outstanding Event Security Team
Outstanding Security Partnership
Outstanding New Security Product
Outstanding Security Equipment Manufacturer
Outstanding Young Security Professional
Outstanding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative
Outstanding Security Sustainability Award
The window for entry submissions runs from now until Tuesday 4 October 2022. As always, the entries will be scored by a panel of independent high-profile experts who have been chosen by supporting security associations and special interest groups to represent them. The process is strict and robust and provides a level playing field for all those that enter.
Winners of the 2023 UK OSPAs will be revealed at a black tie gala dinner and awards ceremony scheduled to take place on Thursday 23 February 2023 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in central London.
Independent awards
These independent awards highlight the best companies, people, projects and technologies that have made a significant contribution in safeguarding people, places and property from all areas of potential crime and disorder.
Commenting on the 2023 UK OSPAs, Professor Martin Gill CSyP FSyI (director of Perpetuity Research and founder of the OSPAs) stated: “Since the inception of the UK OSPAs into the global awards programme back in 2017, we have witnessed a significant rise in the number of nominations and the cohort of those who support the awards year-on-year. I believe it’s fair to state that the OSPAs are different. They are independent, open to anyone to enter and are also free to enter.”
Professor Gill continued: “We do not choose the judges. Rather, they are nominated by the leading security associations and interest groups. The judges agree to mark to a published ethics policy, score entries independently against set criteria and it’s only those entrants who reach a score threshold that will go through as finalists.”
In addition, Gill observed: “The criteria for each award category have been carefully considered and are based on extensive research across different security sectors. We’ve looked at how outstanding performance is recognised and judged in other fields. We also have an ethical sponsorship policy.”
On that point, Gill concluded: “We pride ourselves on our values of being independent, ethical, transparent, respectable and credible and that’s why many people around the world regard winning an OSPA as the most prestigious accolade to be awarded in the security sector globally.”
The OSPAs are expanding around the world with dedicated awards schemes now running in now fewer than 15 countries.
*TEAM Software serves as Headline Sponsor for the OSPAs. Category sponsors include the Assist Group, Bidvest Noonan, the British Security Industry Association, CIS Security, the National Security Inspectorate and The Security Institute
