The sixth annual Security Excellence Awards ceremony, held last month at the Hilton Hotel on London’s Park Lane, proved to be yet another glittering affair in this event’s history. Brian Sims reviews the Excellence Awards, and highlights the 2004 winners – all of whom have demonstrated great professionalism and a willingness to push back the security boundaries.

700 guests seated in the sumptuous surroundings of the Grand Ballroom at London’s Hilton Hotel on Park Lane. Consummate BBC sports presenter and TV personality John Inverdale offering many a sporting tale to delight the audience. A Charity Casino and Auction that raised thousands of pounds for SPARKS (SPort Aiding Medical Research for Kids) to the delight of former England rugby captain Roger Uttley, who represented the organisaion on the night. And let’s not forget dancing into the small hours with music from funksters Frank The Cat!

The Security Excellence Awards 2004 will live long in the memory for all in attendance as a fantastic night. Now into its sixth year, the industry’s ‘Oscars’ attracted more entries and sponsors than at any time in the past (with Deloitte and Tavcom Training joining our established supporters Southern Monitoring Services, Intrepid Security Solutions, Dedicated Micros, Prima Corporate Wear, Third Millennium, Panasonic, Safe Sec Security and CMP Information).

Plenty of people wanted to be there. Nearly 100 more than last year, which is why we’ve moved to the London Hilton – one of the Capital’s best night-time entertainment venues for awards ceremonies.

Although the Black Tie event maintained a serious purpose as always – that of honouring the very best companies and individuals in the business – there was also more than a hint of fun. This is as much a social occasion for the readers and supporters of event organisers Security Management Today, Security Installer and CCTV Today as it is an important ceremony to honour the very best in the industry.

Much deliberation on the part of the Judging Panel had whittled down a substantially increased number of entries on the 2003 event, enabling the assembled throng to salute the Best Security Manager, the Best Guarding Company, the Best Training Initiative, the Best Security Manufacturer, the winners of the Best Customer Care Initiative and the Best IT Initiative. Also honoured were the winners of the Best Partnership Initiative, the Best Security Consultant and the Best Security Installer.

This year’s Judging Panel covered a broad spectrum of the industry, all of the individuals concerned rightly seen as experts in their field. Sitting on the Panel for 2004 were Professor Martin Gill (director of Perpetuity Research and Consultancy International), Stefan Hay (director of SITO), Mike Bluestone (principal director at Integra Security Solutions), Alex Carmichael (the BSIA’s technical manager), National Security Inspectorate chief executive Tom Mullarkey, John Davies (group security manager, British Nuclear Fuels), Ian Johnston (chief constable, British Transport Police), Geoff Whitfield (principal consultant, Geoff Whitfield Consulting), SSAIB chief executive Geoff Tate and Chris Smith, the head of regional security EMEA at HSBC Bank plc.

As always, the Panel was completed by Security Management Today’s editor Brian Sims, Alan Hyder (editor of Security Installer) and CCTV Today’s editor Ron Alalouff.

The Home Office and the SIA: supporting the Awards

Our winners received their awards in the presence of industry VIPs representing all of the major end user organisations, trade bodies, manufacturers, installers and consultants in the private and public sectors. A quick glance around The Grand Ballroom would have left you mentally noting a ‘Who’s Who?’ of the industry.

With a programme introduction by Home Secretary David Blunkett and KeyNote Address courtesy of Security Industry Authority chairman Peter Hermitage, guests could easily reconcile the fact that the Security Excellence Awards are without question the premier awards strand in the industry. Indeed, this is the only awards scheme to recognise practitioners right across the sector.

SMT, Security Installer and CCTV Today convey their sincere congratulations to all of this year’s winners and runners-up. We’re already looking ahead to the 2005 judging sessions. And remember... Next time it could well be you or your organisation being honoured!

The 2004 Security Excellence Awards

The Sponsor
There were ten sponsors in all this year. They were Dedicated Micros, Panasonic, Intrepid Security Solutions, Prima Corporate Wear, Southern Monitoring Services, Third Millennium, Deloitte, Tavcom Training, Safe Sec Security and CMP Information (organiser of the highly successful IFSEC and Securex exhibitions, and publisher of Security Management Today, Security Installer and CCTV Today).

Dedicated Micros – the producer of video multiplexers and digital multiplex recording systems

Panasonic (UK) – the single source contact for CCTV, EAS and source tagging systems now also developing biometric capabilities

Intrepid Security Solutions – provider of integrated loss prevention solutions for both retail and non-retail end users

Prima Corporate Wear – the leading supplier of corporate clothing to the private security sector

Southern Monitoring Services – market leader in the provision of remote monitoring and associated services

Third Millennium – one of Europe’s leading designers, manufacturers and distributors of cost-effective access control readers and security solutions

Deloitte – a pioneer in the field when it comes to the delivery of audit, tax and consulting services to blue chip clients

Tavcom Training – the UK’s leading security systems training company, covering the installation and operation of CCTV, access control and intruder alarm systems

Safe Sec Security – supplier of tailor-made security solutions to end users, including the provision of manned guarding, mobile patrols and CCTV monitoring

Best Security Manager

Dennis Ahern of Tate Modern accepts the trophy from Intrepid Security Solutions’ md Noel Verbruggen, one of our major sponsors.

Best Security Client

Group security director Colin Moore is clearly overjoyed to be picking up the Best Security Client of the Year Award for Tibbett & Britten.

Best Guarding Company

Three-in-a-row for Wilson James! A delighted Stuart Lowden is congratulated by sponsor Nick Atkinson, md of Prima Corporate Wear.

Best Security Training Initiative

Tavcom Training’s Paul Tennent (second left) hands over the Best Security Training Initiative Award to Kings Security Systems’ Anthony King.

Best Security Partnership Initiative

Inspector Richard Taylor from the Hampshire Constabulary proudly holds the partnering trophy won by the Portsmouth security initiative.

Best Security Consultant

SMT’s editor Brian Sims (second left) presents Arup Security Consulting’s director John Haddon wih the trophy for Best Security Consultant.

Best Security Innovation

Third Millennium’s md Peter Jones (second right), a major sponsor of the Excellence Awards, offers WebWayOne’s Paul Carter many congratulations!

International Achievement Award

The inaugural winner of our newest category was Pyronix. MD Julie Kenny receives the trophy from IFSEC event director Richard Clarke.

Best Security Manufacturer

Security Installer’s editor Alan Hyder (second right) presents the Best Security Manufacturer Award to Panasonic (UK’s) Simon Wright.

Best Customer Care Initiative

VSG’s operations director Keith Francis gratefully accepts the prestigious Customer Care Award from the BSIA’s technical director Alex Carmichael.

Best Integrated Security Solution

CCTV Today’s editor Ron Alalouff (second left) greets Steve Webb, director of Reliance High-Tech – the Best Integrated Security Solution winner.

Best IT Initiative

WebWayOne again! An ecstatic Paul Carter scoops the company’s second ‘gong’ of the night from Yag Kanani of new Excellence Awards sponsor Deloitte.

Best Security Installer

Main sponsor Steve Kimber of Southern Monitoring Services (second left) welcomes Steve Webb of winner Reliance High-Tech to the stage.

Best Promotional Campaign

CMP Information’s group director Simon Parker (second left) joins Dedicated Micros’ commercial director Chris Boyce in his celebrations!

Source

SMT