Corps Security: Celebrating 166 Years
Today, Corps Security is thrilled to be celebrating 166 years of service in providing meaningful employment to its colleagues by securing customers’ assets throughout the UK. Our rich heritage continues to guide our values today, while embracing a pioneering spirit, new ways of working and advanced technologies to spearhead the modern-day security threat landscape.
How we respond to threats may have changed over the years, but there’s one thing that hasn’t. Our social mission to be an ethical business that prioritises care for its people and the wider world. Our history keeps us anchored to the trusted values that our customers all know and love.
How it all began
In 1859, Captain Sir Edward Walter, had a mission to provide employment opportunities to brave veterans returning from the Crimean War. On the 13th February 1859, he officially founded the Corps of Commissionaires, marking the beginning of a long-standing commitment to supporting those who had served their country.
Putting people and planet first
In 2021 we officially became the first national security guarding company in the UK to be awarded social enterprise status. It is important to us that this status is celebrated among our workforce, and with our customers. We encourage all colleagues to learn more about what being a social enterprise really means and why it is so important to us, and to society at large. We’ve even created a Social Enterprise Module on Securing Excellence as part of our training programme.
And for our customers, we can now better support them in reaching their ESG targets. Every £1 spent with us counts as diverse supplier spend.
Continuing our legacy
In 2022, we formed the Corps Veterans Association (CVA), staying true to the founding value that Corps Security was built on to support veterans in finding meaningful employment and creating a support network and a platform where they can have their voices heard.
We support a number of veterans charities. Through our Charitable Donations Committee, last year we distributed £100,000 to charities that align with our mission. These contributions were made possible through the support of our trustees. Our colleagues also held many activities to help raise much-needed funds for charities, raising an astonishing £265,164.
Last year, His Majesty King Charles III was appointed the Chief Life Governor and Royal Patron of Corps Security. This follows a long-standing tradition dating back to 1901, when King Edward VII first took on the role. It was then carried forward by King George V, King Edward VIII, King George VI, and, from 1952, by Queen Elizabeth II.
A special thank you as we celebrate the past and look to the future
As the oldest security company in the world, we couldn’t maintain the incredible work we do without the dedication and professionalism shown by all of our colleagues, and the support from our loyal customers.
Thank you to each and every person that has contributed to continuing the Corps Security success. Here’s to another 166 years of providing exemplary security services with a social mission.
