BSIA's David Evans awarded prestigious Imbert Prize

David Evans, Project Director - 2012 at the British Security Industry Association was awarded the prestigious Imbert Prize at the Association of Security Consultants' annual lunch.

The Imbert Prize is awarded annually for the development of ideas in the advancement of risk and security management, which, in David's case, relates to his pivotal role in the development of the Bridging the Gap project. Bridging the Gap is an initiative which, with the initial aim of ensuring security support for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, will also provide a gateway for long-term careers in the industry and a lasting legacy for young adults.

The Bridging the Gap initiative was developed by the BSIA in partnership with Skills for Security, Bucks New University and North Hertfordshire FE College. The project has been funded by the Home Office, the Department of Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), and created in liaison with PODIUM, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and Skills Active.

The breadth and depth of the concept will extend far beyond the 2012 Games, through a continued relationship between education and industry to secure employment for full-time students on a regular basis. Its legacy for the industry will serve to highlight the potential of the security sector as a viable career choice, establishing a new route to employment from further education colleges to the security and crowd management industries. The addition of security or crowd management related training modules, will enable students to gain qualifications and an SIA licence (where appropriate) on completion.

James Kelly, Chief Executive of the BSIA, comments: "David's foresight in this initiative will, without doubt, leave the private security industry with one of the greatest, if not the greatest legacy, of this decade, providing practical, long-term career opportunities for young people and boosting the prosperity of the industry as a whole."

Award winner, David Evans, adds: "I am delighted and honoured to have been awarded the Imbert Prize, and am pleased to see that the Bridging the Gap project is receiving the industry recognition it deserves. I would like to thank our partners for their contribution and ongoing dedication to ensure the project is a success, and I look forward to seeing our hard work come to fruition in 2012."