Corps Wins At OSPAs – But It Isn’t All About The Winning
February saw the awards ceremony for the Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) 2023, and Corps and our customers were there in force as we were shortlisted for 6 gongs.
Alongside our partners Moonhub – Corps was delighted to win the Outstanding Security Training Initiative Award which was sponsored by the BSIA. Our partnership with Moonhub brings our training alive by integrating essential training with world-leading virtual reality solutions. Training is vital in our industry, so to lead the pack with our site and situation specific training is quite an accolade for the company. As we approach the new Martyn’s Law legislation, Moonhub will be an essential resource in the training of potential terrorist activity.
A massive thank you to all those involved in the Moonhub project.
Our colleagues are winners in our eyes
Of all our shortlisted entries in the OSPAs, we are always very proud when it is you, our colleagues that are in the spotlight. In this year’s OSPAs, we were delighted that two of our colleagues were shortlisted. A big well done to Harry Secker and Daniel Baquero. Perhaps you haven’t met the two of them before, so here is a summary of why they were shortlisted.
Harry Secker – Royal Opera House: Shortlisted for Outstanding Security Manager/Director
Harry is the Contract Manager at the prestigious Royal Opera House. Harry was nominated for many reasons, including his work with Moonhub, and integrating the training at a listed building location which provides the security with many issues. Harry has been instrumental in changing the security culture, engaging with the customer, its employees, and the site users to increase awareness of essential security procedures. Harry is also leading the way in education around Protect Duty legislation due this year, at a site that is considered high risk from the threat of terrorism.
Harry you are a winner to Corps…well done on your shortlisting.
Daniel Baquero – CBRE / Channel 4: Shortlisted for Outstanding Young Security Professional
We were delighted to see Daniel Baquero – who works at the CBRE managed, Channel 4 site – shortlisted for Young Security Professional. Daniel is responsible for the security of all Channel 4’s sites, nationally. Channel 4 is a 24 hour operation, including live broadcast locations. Daniel has a background in intelligence, which made him perfect for this role.
Daniel is a credit to Corps Security, CBRE and Channel 4 and a winner to us. Well done, Daniel.
A lifetime of service, and a well-kept secret
It is rare to be in the presence of someone who has helped to shape the modern security landscape, but we do every day – well one or two days a week nowadays. I am talking about Corps Consult’s Mike Bluestone.
Mike’s career – summarised below – shows a lifetime of dedication to security and the protection of the public. So, who is more deserving than Mike of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the OSPAs.
Mike was nominated, in secret, by your colleagues. In fact, he attended the award ceremony without any idea that he was on the shortlist. It was a highly contested award, and with great humility, Mike said that he was delighted for the winner who he had known for some time. Sadly, it was not Mike’s award this year, but the shortlist should let him know how much we all respect him and the incredible career behind him.
I want to take this opportunity to share a summary of why he was nominated, and shortlisted…
Mike joined the professional security sector in 2007, becoming Director of Security Consulting at Independent Consulting Group until 2010. April 2010 saw Mike’s first role within Corps Security, where he joined the company as Director of Security Consulting. Mike has since held the title of Executive Director of Security Consulting at Corps Consult. Mike is the cornerstone of the Corps Consult team, using his military and defence experience, alongside his professional and academic qualifications, to enhance the security review and consultation process for the UK’s longest-running private security company.
Throughout his career, Mike has spent many years contributing to raising standards and professionalism in the private security industry. An early Member and Fellow of the Security Institute, Mike spent four years on the Institute’s Validation Board and a further eight years on the Main Board, of which four years were served as Institute Chairman. He is now Chair Emeritus.
During his tenure as Chairman of the Security Institute, Mike led the team which developed and implemented the ground-breaking Register of Chartered Security Professionals in 2011. Mike has since spent over ten years as the CSyP Ambassador.
Mike has subsequently been involved as the Panel Leader for BS16000:2015 ‘Security Management and Operational Guidelines’, a role which later saw him appointed as the Chair of the Technical Committee under BSI SSM1/2. Additionally, Mike is a member of the BSI Security Strategy Group.
Mike has also been an active member of the ‘Skills for Security’ Working Group, which in 2012 updated the National Occupational Standards for Security Search Operations.
In 2013, in his capacity as a member of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) Police and Public Services Section, Mike was invited to lead the development of the new BSIA Code of Practice for security Searches.
Mike’s community engagement goes beyond security into his other life passions, not least giving back to the Jewish Community.
Mike may not be holding a trophy, but he has the unfaltering respect of his team and 3,500+ colleagues across Corps Security and the company is where it is today thanks to his incredible work. Thank you Mike – we salute you!