Assessing the risks
With the UK security and resilience market one of the most mature and diverse in the global market, Stephen Phipson, Founding Chairman of RISC and Group Managing Director of Smiths Detection, explains how the UK has evolved into a safer, more stable place for US companies to invest, trade and spend time
To say that the world is facing a broad
range of security threats and challenges has
become something of a cliché.
It is no longer striking to argue that
increasing global interdependence requires
nations and industry to co-operate more
closely than ever to tackle the challenges
more effectively.
That the private sector has an increasingly important role to play in this context – as both a provider and a recipient of security – is also a well-documented phenomenon. What is of significance, particularly for international investors, is how recent reforms and new initiatives have strengthened the frontline of security in the UK – giving ever greater confidence to its businesses and people.
As a leading industrialist that has worked closely with public security and counterterrorism agencies, both in Britain and abroad, I can objectively say that operators, asset owners and investors will do business in one of the most secure and resilient markets available.
Rising to the challenge
Over the past century and during times of military conflict, the UK has always risen to the challenge with pioneering technology and innovation. Today’s defense and security companies are building on a legacy built up by the enterprise and inventiveness of Alan Turing of Enigma fame and Barnes Wallis of the Bouncing Bomb. The UK security and resilience market is one of the most mature and diverse in the global market. When the government’s Security Minister, Lord West, asked for a report detailing the domestic capabilities of industry he was taken aback by the number of global leadership positions we have achieved.
We have expertise in Border Security, CBRN Defensive equipment, Explosive Device Protection, Space Satellite Communications, Surveillance and Systems Integration. Since 9/11, British manufacturers have benefited from our industrial heritage in science and engineering and strong international trade ties to establish competitive positions in key security sectors. My own business, Smiths Detection, partners over a 100 governments worldwide in order to protect airports, borders and critical infrastructure from terrorist threats. As a result of examples like this, we retain an indigenous knowledge and skill base that provides the UK government with the agile capability it needs to counter rapidly changing threats.
Private sector suppliers, however, make up
only one component of the nation’s security
apparatus. Encouragingly for US business
operators, the government places no higher
premium than on protecting its workforce
and citizens. As such it has invested billions
of pounds and undertaken major policy
reforms to create a modern security and
resilience strategy that is fit for purpose.
Later this year, the Prime Minister will publish
the second National Security Strategy.
What was ground-breaking in the original
strategy was how non-military threats such floods, pandemics and energy insecurity were included in the
overall analysis.
Importantly, this reflects the shift towards preparedness and resilience and tries to answer the question “if natural and terrorist attacks are inevitable, how can we best mitigate the consequences?” On that front, the Centre for the Protection of Critical National Infrastructure has brought a clear structure and focus to ensuring transport stations, energy assets and economic centers are much better protected. 2009 will see further deepening of the government industry strategic partnership in security and resilience.
The relationship between the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT) in the UK Home Office and RISC, the UK Security and Resilience Industry Suppliers Community is beginning to transform the nature of security provision in the UK led by companies such as Thales, BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and QinetiQ. Early stage conversations through a single secure channel between government agencies and the best industry minds is undoubtedly building a more trusted, coherent and focused space for the provision of critical security services and equipment. Not only does this equip the state with better capability more quickly, it strengthens the industrial base to invest and innovate.
Having built up that dialog it is now possible for very best of industrial and academic ideas to be securely shared and exploited by the UK government. The value of this new security infrastructure is a safer, more stable place for US companies to invest, trade and spend time. As a benchmark of what the UK can offer, the US Department of Homeland Security comes annually to the UK to share its research and capability requirements in the hope of benefiting from UK expertise.
The aspiration of RISC is to continue to help make the UK more resilient to risks and vulnerabilities in order that its businesses and citizens enjoy a safe and secure way of life. I am confident that the many American companies already trading here will testify to how hard we work to deliver on that promise. Much is talked about the special relationship between the UK and US, but on the matter of international security we remain united and together.
For more information, visit: www.riscuk.org
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