The reasons that an individual may want to join one of the numerous UK security industry membership organisations are many and well discussed, but why would a company want to join a trade body?
Very much in the way that individual membership of an organisation may be driven by several motivations, there are different trade bodies with widely differing roles, and corporate membership will be driven by what a company wants out of it. So firstly, let’s have a look at what your company primarily wants to gain from membership.
Building Connections
If you need to build your company brand awareness, make friends and influence people within your sector, then you’ll need to look for an organisation that provides high quality networking opportunities.
Check out our GuardPass 100 guide on the UK security industry figures to learn more about key individuals driving change.
Staying Informed
Some sectors of the security industry are more highly regulated than others, and both legislation and best practices evolve regularly. Some membership organisations are great at providing updates and expert advice for their member companies.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Many organisations take great pride in their charitable work, and fund industry or indeed society improvement initiatives. Corporate involvement in these bodies helps to tick some desirable ‘social responsibility’ boxes regardless of the sincerity of your motivation.
Increasing Standards
Many security industry membership organisations are dedicated to education and raising professional standards. In general, they will have partnered with training organisations to provide subsidised courses for members at all levels. These include quick online e-learning to advanced academic degrees.
Many of these trade bodies are ‘Institutes’ or ‘Guilds.’ Some also allow members to use post-nominals (or letters after their names) to indicate their membership level.
Recommended Read: Security Industry Trends for 2025
Top 8 UK Security Industry Membership Organisations
So, what are the main UK security industry membership organisations or trade bodies, and will they benefit my company? In alphabetical order only, these are the main organisations and my very brief summary of their work:
1. ASIS – UK Chapter
ASIS (American Society for Industrial Security, although the original full name is now very much obsolete) is, by some margin, the biggest security industry membership organisation in the world. Although probably sitting in 3rd place for UK members, it is world-renowned for its training courses. Its most prestigious training is the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) qualification, globally recognised as the gold standard non-degree course. ASIS holds UK seminars and conferences, but there is also an opportunity to attend European or Global (US) based events.
2. BSIA
The British Security Industry Association is the UK’s biggest corporate security trade body, with departments covering every sector from alarm installers to guarding companies. They have a helpline providing guidance and advice. A and produce a regular newsletter containing news of legislation changes and best practice. They also sponsor the British Security Awards. Always a great networking opportunity.
3. GSIP
Founded just five years ago, the Guild of Security Industry Professionals is increasingly popular among frontline security industry professionals. It advocates improving standards by personal professional development, and has a range of free CPD courses. Membership is also free to SIA licence holders. It is supported by corporate sponsorship, and involvement is a very “good look” for guarding companies.
4. IFPO – UK Chapter
The International Federation of Protection Officers was started in the United States and made it to the UK a few years ago. It provides a range of courses for different levels of operational security professionals. Courses and individual membership are not free, however, unlike the GSIP.
5. IPSA
The International Professional Security Association has been around for a very long time in one form or another, but has experienced something of a renaissance over the last few years. It primarily supports frontline security workers, and individual membership is free. It has very lively corporate engagement, however, and company membership once more indicates commitment to staff welfare and development.
IPSA is also the driving force behind the increasingly widely recognised and adopted security industry fair charge rate framework. The IPSA is also very active across social media, and their corporate partners are often featured, be they worthy or blatantly ‘virtue signalling’.
6. ISRM
The Institute of Strategic Risk Management is the brainchild of the widely respected Dr David Rubens and has rapidly grown to global status. It provides a peer support, education and idea sharing platform for senior security and risk management professionals. Its members contain some of the most senior people in the field from across the world, and it has recently gained recognition for the geopolitical think tanks that are now examining some of the major international security problems that have evolved over the last few years. Corporate membership indicates support for and an appreciation of the significant work they are doing.
7. Security Institute
The Security Institute is currently the UK’s largest security industry individual membership organisation. Again, as the term Institute would suggest, there is a heavy emphasis on learning and development. Despite the efforts of several people over the years, there is little support for or interest in the rank and file of the security industry. Since the departure of their dynamic former CEO, Rick Mountfield, a few years ago, the SI seems to have lost its way somewhat, but a couple of high-profile events during the year, and the associated positive publicity, still attract the involvement of corporate partners.
8. UKCMA
For security companies operating in the events space or looking after large sports or entertainment venues, the UK Crowd Management Association is hugely popular. With a code of conduct for members and an emphasis on keeping up to date with trends and legislation, membership is quite an important ‘badge of quality’ for appropriate companies.
Make Security Industry Membership Work For You
It isn’t all about the money with corporate partnerships & memberships. Assess what your company wants to achieve by joining a security industry membership organisation. Make sure you do your homework first and ensure that your corporate objectives will be satisfied.
Membership of all of these organisations, however, will benefit from active participation, and the most worthwhile experience requires a degree of time and effort. Factor this in when attempting to quantify any return on investment.
If you’re exploring membership to raise standards, improve compliance, or attract quality talent, GuardPass can help amplify those efforts. With access to licensed professionals, built-in vetting tools, and expert-backed hiring support, we make it easier to align your recruitment with the professionalism these organisations represent.