Grab a cuppa and join us for a chat with Jason Towse, Managing Director of Mitie and Chair of the Security Skills Board.
Jason has worked in the security sector for more than 30 years, and he now leads a team of over 40,000 colleagues. We sat down with him to hear more about his career journey, his inspirations, and his vision for the future of the sector.
Q: Afternoon Jason, thanks for joining us today, tell us, how did you find yourself working in the security sector?
Jason: I’m not afraid to admit it wasn’t my first plan. Initially I had my sights set on being a rugby professional, but a bad injury put a stop to that.
However, as a young man, it was important to me to work in an industry that could offer me career progression, job security and meaningful work. It’s always been important to me to have the opportunity to make a positive impact. The security sector has given me all these things and more, so you could say it all worked out for the best.
I started in frontline roles, which gave me a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the industry and that put me in a great position to build my own security company in the retail space. I was lucky enough to sell the good will of my business to Midas Security and they kept me on in a leadership role. From there the opportunities have come thick and fast and I haven’t been afraid to grasp them with both hands.
Q: That’s inspiring Jason, it sounds like you’re a busy man, why did you decide to become the Chair of the Security Skills Board?
Jason: I wanted to give something back to the sector and leave my mark on the industry. We’ve long encountered challenges in security attracting and retaining talent. So for me having the chance to contribute to building an inclusive and industry leading Security Skills Academy to serve private security felt like an opportunity I couldn’t let pass me by.
One of the best parts of my job is supporting my colleagues to achieve their career goals and it’s been an honour and privilege to have played an important role in their journey to success, however they define it. For me this is just that, but on a much larger scale.
I’m also a huge advocate of sector collaboration, and this project has been instrumental in bringing people together to tackle the issues that impact all of us in private security. It’s been inspiring to see what is possible when we come together and I’m very proud of the progress we’ve made so far and the direction we’re travelling in.
Q: That’s amazing, so what’s next Jason and what can we expect to see from the Skills Board in the near future?
Jason: Well, you can read all about the three great initiatives we’ve already launched in our newsletter.
We have a comprehensive plan to further enhance the Security Skills Board’s impact and next on the agenda is to get cracking with building the Security Skills Academy. This feeds into our wider mission to raise the standards of security by attracting, training, developing, and retaining the best security professionals.
To do this we need to put in place a Skills Academy Trustee Board. This will bring together Security Skills Board members and industry leaders to ensure effective governance and operational efficiency. The Trustee Board will guide the development of the Security Skills Academy with their wealth of experience and expertise.
We also need to recruit some key roles, including a Managing Director, Head of Learning and Development, and Head of Marketing. These roles will be crucial in setting and implementing the overall strategy, developing high-quality training programmes, and promoting the Academy to a wider audience.
Additionally, we have a funding model in place, designed to ensure long-term sustainability through industry donations and government funding. Our immediate focus is going to be on engaging the right people and securing the funds we need to bring our plans to life.
There is a lot to do, and we’d love to hear from anyone in the world of private security who’d like to help us – without collaborative effort, we’ll undoubtedly reach our goal a lot slower than anticipated.
Q: That sounds exciting and it’s obviously a great time to step up and participate, can you tell us, how do contributors benefit from getting involved?
Jason: Contributors have a fantastic opportunity to be part of something transformative.
You can help us shape the future of the security sector and you’ll have the chance to collaborate with industry leaders and expand your professional network.
Contributors will get to participate in a high-impact project that will make a meaningful difference in the lives and careers of security professionals across the board. And you’ll get to play a pivotal role in raising the standards of security for generations to come.
It’s a win-win situation. Every individual has the potential to contribute to the industry’s success, and by working together, we can achieve great things.
Thanks to Jason for his time and energy, we hope this conversation has left you feeling as inspired and excited as we are about the future of private security. If you’d like to get involved, and find out more, you can reach Jason directly at jason.towse@mitie.com