Page 27 - SyI Quarterly 7

It is worthy of note that the volume of Professional Member leavers has fallen year on year
since 2018 from 200 in that year to 127 in 2020.
The first two months of 2021 has shown a continuance of the increasing membership
trend with an additional 215 members being recruited. A significant milestone was
achieved at the end of March 2021 when a membership figure of 4000 was reached and
passed.

During the year, the Validation Board Working Group (VBWG), under the leadership of
John Davies FSyI, were instrumental in conducting, and making recommendations to the
Board, a number of projects including:

The creation of a knowledge and skills matrix for VB members to ensure that specialists
were available to advise upon the widest volume of sectors within the security community.

A comparison of police and military courses to ensure fairness and parity when awarding
validation points.

A review of validation points able to be awarded from educational courses offered by
other security membership organisations not currently included in the Scoring Matrix e.g.
The Security Institute of Ireland.
I would like to place on record my thanks to all of the VB and VBWG members who give
freely of their time. Their professionalism, dedication, and integrity, demonstrate exactly
why the Validation Board is viewed with envious eyes by other security membership
organisations. Mention must also be made of all those other groups and individuals,
including the Chief Executive Rick Mounfield CSyP FSyI, Membership Registrar Paula
Stanbridge, the Board of Directors, Senior Lead Team, and Head Office team. Their
support and commitment to the VB is second to none.

At this point, I especially mention Nigel Carpenter FSyI. He has recently stood down from
the VB having been a member for 15 years since 2006. The number of membership
applications he must have reviewed during that time is incalculable. His sagacious and
wise counsel, and his wry sense of humour, will be sorely missed.
2020 was a challenging year for the VB, but one which brought its own rewards and
successes. At a time was businesses and organisations across the UK suffered in a
whole raft of ways because of the pandemic, growth of membership into the Institute
thrived, providing even more evidence that the Security Institute has become the security
membership organisation of choice within the United Kingdom.

Anyone wishing to enquire about joining the Validation Board should contact Paula
Stanbridge: [email protected] 01803 663275.