As the S12 Security Guarding Leadership Group concludes its first three months in operation, the committee has taken stock of past achievements and is setting a strategic course for the future. The group has captured notable interest from the industry, with numerous security professionals stepping forward to support its mission and participating in workstreams to unify the sector’s voice.
Established following a government request, S12 collaborates with Security Minister Dan Jarvis to enhance standards, influence policy, and bolster public safety. The group has formally incorporated as a Community Interest Company, signaling its commitment to supporting the UK private security industry comprehensively.
Organizational Realignments and New Appointments
Recognizing the scope of its tasks, S12 is reevaluating its organizational approach to boost efficiency and effectiveness in the coming year. These considerations have led to significant changes being implemented within the group. Paul Fullwood, currently serving as Chief of Staff, will take on the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO). This shift aims to secure consistent leadership across S12's various workstreams.
The COO will manage the day-to-day strategic operations of S12, coordinating with workstream leads to align responsibilities and provide unbiased leadership. In the weeks ahead, the workstreams will be streamlined to eliminate overlaps and concentrate on key priorities, with some becoming central to S12's operations. Furthermore, a new administrative position will be introduced to enhance communication and engagement efforts.
Industry Support and Strategic Challenges
Evans’ heavy workload underscores the need to strengthen strategic leadership and support functionsPaul Evans, Chair of the Security Guarding Leadership Group, expressed gratitude for the sector's overwhelming support so far. “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from across the industry so far. The S12 group has made an excellent start with hundreds of people getting involved, and many positive in-roads already made into a number of big issues affecting the sector,” he stated.
The substantial workload acknowledged by Evans highlights the necessity of reinforcing strategic leadership and enabling functions. The three-month review underscored the urgency of clarifying priorities to maximize impact on pressing industry challenges promptly. The new COO will provide essential leadership, governance, and workstream oversight, collaborating with various stakeholders.
Paul Fullwood's Leadership and Future Directions
Paul Fullwood brings a wealth of experience from his tenure as Executive Director for the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and Assistant Chief Constable (Policing). His expertise is poised to support S12’s objectives of raising standards, framing policy, and enhancing public safety within the UK private security industry.
Looking towards 2026, S12 plans to streamline existing workstreams to consolidate overlapping tasks and establish clearer objectives. Fullwood will play a pivotal role in recruiting two additional 'Non-ACS' board members to diversify leadership. His commercial independence and past record will guide the selection of candidates for these vital roles.
These latest appointments and strategic decisions position S12 favorably as it enters 2026, laying the groundwork for progress in its mission to elevate industry standards and public safety.
As the S12 Security Guarding Leadership Group marks its first three months in operation, the committee has been reflecting on everything achieved so far, and the strategic direction for the future. There has been significant interest from the industry to get involved, with hundreds of security professionals pledging their support and joining workstreams to represent the sector with one united voice.
Set up at the request of Government, the S12’s mission is to work alongside Security Minister Dan Jarvis to help raise standards, shape policy and improve public safety. The group has now been officially incorporated as a Community Interest Company to reinforce the intent to support all parts of the UK private security industry.
It’s clear there’s a lot of work to do, and as it enters a new year, the S12 has taken the opportunity to reflect on the best way forward from an organizational point of view, to ensure the group can be as effective and efficient as possible. To that end, a number of key changes will be made.
New chief operating officer appointed
In recognition of the need for consistent and dedicated leadership across the S12 workstreams, Chief of Staff Paul Fullwood will transition into the role of S12 Chief Operating Officer (COO).
This role will oversee the day-to-day strategic leadership of the S12’s aims and objectives, working towards an agreed ‘delegation of responsibilities’ as Senior Responsible Owner for the S12 workstreams, alongside workstream leads.
The new role will include voting rights as a member of the S12 and will provide independent and impartial leadership of the S12 workstreams. Over the next few weeks, the workstreams will be harmonised to reduce current overlap, and place greater focus on specific priorities, while others will become core S12 business.
The COO will oversee a new administrative role, which is currently being recruited, and the communications and engagement function, to drive forward the essential work required to support the S12’s strategic aims and mission.
Overwhelmed by support
Paul Evans, Chair of the Security Guarding Leadership Group, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from across the industry so far. The S12 group has made an excellent start with hundreds of people getting involved, and many positive in-roads already made into a number of big issues affecting the sector."
“But the workload is huge and we recognize that the committee members are all senior security leaders with busy full-time jobs, who give their time to the S12 on a voluntary basis. The three-month review has highlighted the need to bolster the strategic leadership and enabling functions, and to streamline our priorities to ensure we can have as much of an impact, across as many of the industry’s big challenges, as quickly as possible."
The new COO role will therefore provide the S12 day-to-day leadership, strategic oversight, governance, engagement, workstream oversight and will work in collaboration with key agencies and partners.
About Paul Fullwood
Paul Fullwood’s background as former Executive Director for the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and Assistant Chief Constable (Policing) will continue to add significant leadership, experience, and knowledge to support the S12’s aims to help raise standards, shape policy and improve public safety across the UK Private Security Industry.
Through 2026 they will also look to streamline the current S12 workstreams to bring overlapping areas of work together and define clearer objectives. Paul will also directly oversee the selection and appointment of the two additional ‘Non-ACS’ S12 board members we will shortly be advertising to diversify representation. His previous background and commercial independence will ensure we select the best candidates for these crucial S12 roles.
Along with the latest appointments to the S12, these changes put us in an excellent position to start 2026, laying the foundations for us to build real progress towards our mission of raising standards and improving public safety.
