The seventh UK Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) event took place at the Royal Lancaster London on 23 February 2023.
More than five hundred security professionals gathered to celebrate the very best from across the sector with dinner and a presentation event hosted by one of the country’s best loved stand-up comedians, Hal Cruttenden.
OSPAs founder Professor Martin Gill commented “This year the competition was particularly tough; with the number of nominations significantly exceeding those received in previous years. The thirty-one security experts who made up the judging panel had no easy task in selecting the finalists and winners.
‘The OSPAs event is a true celebration to acknowledge and recognise the fantastic work that is taking place within the security industry – to enhance the safety and security of our communities – and all those that were nominated should feel very proud” he further said. Lifetime Achievement Award
One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Joe Connell. Joe has served the United Kingdom as a Crown servant and then as a committed security professional for over 30 years, recently retiring as Chairman of the Association of Security Consultants (ASC). Judges commented Joe’s impact was felt across many areas of security and security association partnerships and has a strong influence internationally. Joe’s ability to instantly understand his audience, assess situations, and facilitate development of security solutions are some of the many qualities noted by the judges.
UK OSPAs Award Winners 2023
Outstanding In-House Security Manager/Director – sponsored by Bidvest Noonan
Gary Stephen – University of Glasgow
Outstanding Contract Security Manager/Director
Tom Meredith – Mitie
Outstanding Security Equipment Manufacturer – sponsored by International Security Expo/The Security Event
Gallagher
Outstanding Security Team – sponsored by Trackforce Valiant & TrackTik
London Bridge City Security Team – CIS Security
Outstanding Security Consultant – sponsored by CIS
Jonathan Eddery – MAST
Outstanding Customer Service Initiative – sponsored by Danhouse Security
‘Safe Strides’ Initiative – CIS Security/London Bridge City|
Outstanding Security Installer/Integrator – sponsored by NSI
SecuriGroup Systems
Outstanding Event Security Team
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Stewarding Team – FGH Security
Outstanding Security Training Initiative – sponsored by BSIA
TITAN – MOONHUB and Corps Security
Outstanding New Security Product
Safe Haven App – Croma Vigilant
Outstanding Security Partnership – sponsored by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives
Darren Conway – Lodge Service, Iona Blake – Boots and the National Business Crime Centre
Outstanding Security Officer – sponsored by Corps Security
Barry Roberts – CIS Security Limited
Outstanding Young Security Professional – sponsored by Zinc Systems
Arran Perry – FGH Security
Outstanding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative – sponsored by Assist Group and supported by Sycom
STM Group (UK)
Outstanding Contract Security Company (Guarding) – sponsored by Team Software by WorkWave
CIS Security
Outstanding Security Sustainability Award – sponsored by KeolisAmey Docklands
Bristol Zoological Society, IDIS and KIS Fire & Security
Lifetime Achievement – sponsored by The Security Institute
Joe Connell
Winner’s comments:
“I feel very proud to win such a prestigious award at an event that is attended by the best security professionals from around the UK. It is an honour to be shortlisted and to have won was very special”
Gary Stephen, University of Glasgow – Outstanding In-House Security Manager/Director
“It was a true honour to be nominate and even more so to win, I am so proud to be part of the security community and strive to deliver excellence every day.”
Tom Meredith, Mitie – Outstanding Contract Security Manager/Director
“We are proud to win, for a second year in a row, the Outstanding Security Training Initiative award in partnership with the oldest security firm in the world at the 2023 Outstanding Security Performance Awards. This award recognises our commitment to excellence in security training and is a reflection of our dedication to providing our partners with the most innovative training solutions via VR. For the last 100 years, Corps Security has been at the helm of the security industry, and with their expertise, we are paving the way for our national security sector to continue to stay ahead in the next century. We are proud to be acknowledged by our peers and the security industry as a leader in the field of security training and we are grateful for the chance to help create a safer and more secure world for everyone.”
MOONHUB Team – Outstanding Security Training Initiative
“I feel very honoured to have been nominated for the award, to be in a category with so many amazing professionals was unbelievable, winning the award was just incredible. Its great to see hard work really paying off & I couldn’t be happier how my career at FGH security is developing. I must pass on my thanks to my brilliant team for helping me achieve this.”
Arran Perry, FGH Security – Outstanding Young Security Professional
“Just being nominated in this category against the other finalists was a great honour but actually receiving the award on the night was amazing. All of the finalists are winners in their own right”
Jonathan Eddery, MAST – Outstanding Security Consultant
“As you may have guessed, I was overwhelmed with the ‘OSPA Lifetime Achievement Award’, which was most unexpected. I am truly grateful to the colleagues and judges who considered me to be worthy of such recognition.”
Joe Connell – Lifetime Achievement
The event organisers would like to thank all those who have helped to make the seventh UK OSPAs event such a success including: all the supporting associations and judges; sponsors: TEAM Software by WorkWave (headline sponsor); Edith Cowan University (trophies and certificates); Guardhouse (drinks reception); K4 Security Services (dinner menu); Corps Security (security commissionaires); Assist Group, Bidvest Noonan, BSIA, CIS Security, Corps Security, Danhouse Security, International Security Expo/The Security Event, KeolisAmey Docklands, NSI, Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, The Security Institute, Trackforce Valiant + TrackTik, and Zinc Sytems (award categories); and media partners – AllSecurityEvents, City Security Magazine, Infologue, Professional Security, Security Matters and Security Journal UK.
