Page 12 - the SyI Quarterly 14 Booklet Format

Know your Institute
Know your Institute
The IS SIG milestones
The IS SIG milestones
Diversity & Inclusion Survey
Analysis Publication and
beyond
- By Anna-Liisa Tampuu & Lisa Reilly, Co-chairs of the IS SIG
The 30th July 2020 marked the launch event of the Inclusive Security Special
Interest Group (IS SIG). The weight of the pandemic and restrictions highlighted
the importance of safe and supportive spaces with the added complexity of social
distancing and fear over what the future might hold. Launching the IS SIG was a
great first step to bringing people together, even if it had to begin online. It was
also a vital step in the journey of building a new community that helps create
positive change and brings hope during such challenging times.
The IS SIG set itself ambitious goals, from arranging and facilitating specialist
activities, meetings, and visits relating to work around diversity in security. The
IS SIG advocates for diversity of ideas, variety of perspectives and growth of the
talent pool in the security industry to foster innovation.
The group also aims to understand how the Security Institute can build an
inclusive programme which encourages participation from all members of society
and has conducted research with Institute Membership to understand its current
diversity and how to improve the involvement of different groups in its work.
Although the group had aspiring goals, it was aware of the challenges associated
with setting achievable objectives, that would see practical action taken when the
road ahead is long and unclear. In 2020 the movement of DE&I initiatives in the
security sector was only just gaining momentum.
In the two and half years since it formed the IS SIG has held monthly meetings,
written several articles, presented at different conferences and organised a series
of Thought Leadership webinars on the topics of ‘Starting Out’; ‘Covid Security;
Ethnicity and Gender’; ‘Staff Diversity’; ‘Wellbeing and Safe Spaces’; ‘International
Women’s Day: Embracing Your Whole Self’; ‘Improving international negotiation
through cultural intelligence’ and many more.
It was recognised that one hindering factor towards diversity is the current
perceived homogeneity of the security sector and the lack of diverse role models.
To counter this the group launched the #OurSecurity Campaign to show the
different career journeys of the Security Institute’s members through their
personal narratives. The campaign aimed to spotlight various stories from a wide
range of backgrounds in order to show that security can be a career of choice
without needing a particular route and that everyone brings their own unique
story.
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The IS SIG was fundamental in creating a safe and brave space for the creation of The Rainbow
Group in 2021. The Rainbow LGBTQ+ Group was launched to support professionals and help
create a security industry that is reflective of the wider community it protects. The Rainbow
Group has since embarked on the journey of success and is aiming to establish a network
throughout the UK (and eventually globally) for the community and its allies.
One of the IS SIG’s priority tasks was to conduct a survey to provide a benchmark for diversity
in the SI and across the security sector. The group recognised that the lack of existing data
makes it difficult to identify areas for improvement as well as the need for an evidence base
to tackle the current status quo. Thus, in 2021, the IS SIG launched an Inclusivity and Diversity
questionnaire, aiming to understand the security sector’s workforce in greater detail. After
receiving over 500 responses from Security Institute members, the questionnaire was opened
to the wider sector.
In 2022, the survey results were analysed and in November 2022, the Security Institute
Diversity & Inclusion Survey Analysis was completed by David Clamp. In summary, the survey
respondents were 78% Male, 63% aged 45 or over and 83% were white. 88% identified as
heterosexual and 12% identified with a disability.
The survey showed that the biggest variation between representation within the security sector,
in comparison to the general population, is gender, with only 22% female respondents. Women
in particular face barriers getting into the sector and then, once within it, progressing.
The survey analysis also highlighted that there were fewer respondents with disabilities than
might be expected. Of those that did identify with disabilities, many stated they had not received
the support they need, particularly those identifying with dyslexia.
The publication of the survey analysis is an important milestone, and although the first survey
had its limitations, it was a crucial step in gathering such important data about the sector. As
David Clamp writes in the executive summary: “The report examines some of the underlying
factors that have led to the current context. It also notes growing views within the sector that
to develop and thrive, the sector needs to recognise that profitability and diversity are not only
compatible; but that a diverse workforce will make the sector more profitable.” In collaboration
and to mark this milestone, Yolanda Hamblen for IFPO launched a series of interviews with
David Clamp around the report.
Finally, collaboration within the sector around DE&I was identified as a gap by the IS SIG. Since
initiation by the IS SIG, several virtual roundtable meetings with other relevant groups in the
sector were held in 2022 to listen and learn from others, and to understand how groups can
work together for maximum impact for driving DE&I initiatives. These will continue in 2023.
The IS SIG is currently reviewing the foundational years and is shaping its course for the 2023
and beyond.
With many important milestones accomplished, one of the most important has been bringing
people together to support each other during the challenging times of the covid-19 pandemic.
The IS SIG demonstrates that caring about people is a fundamental cornerstone to creating an
innovative sector that looks after its talent. And at its core, this is where the IS SIG began.
Announcement: The IS SIG is looking for an enthusiastic co-chair to help carry on the work in
order to take the group forward in the next phase. Please email the Security Institute if you
are interested in the position.
The Security Institute Diversity & Inclusion Survey Analysis is available HERE!