Annual report from the NZSA CEO

In this report, originally published in the NZSA Annual Report for the 2019/20 financial year, NZSA CEO Gary Morrison looks back at an eventful 2020 and looks ahead to the challenges of 2021.

In last year’s report I commented that with continued strong governance of our revenue generating activities and financial performance, the NZSA would be well positioned and resourced to be able to offer our members additional and enhanced benefits from their membership in coming years and to secure our stability and viability in case of future economic uncertainty. Little did I appreciate how relevant those comments would be with the global impact of Covid-19!

Whilst our Annual Report, including the commentaries from both the Chairperson and CEO, correctly must focus on the financial year that finished 31 March 2020, we cannot ignore the immense impact that Covid-19 has wrought across most industry sectors as well as the New Zealand and world-wide societies and economies.

Our security industry has responded very well to the pandemic with businesses responding quickly and effectively to changing business demands and ensuring continuity of service expectations. From our surveying we are aware that in excess of 80% of security providers experienced significant revenue loss however from our knowledge there have been minimal business closures or employee lay-offs attributable to Covid-19.

From member feedback it is also very apparent that the NZSA has provided a valuable role during this period by effectively lobbying government agencies on industry needs (particularly around the determination of essential service providers), providing clear, concise and timely communication to the wider security industry and identifying available resources and support mechanisms for those in need of assistance.

Whilst the effects of Covid-19 will unfortunately be very long reaching, we are far better placed than many other industry sectors and the NZSA remains committed to providing our members with continued support and guidance that will ensure the continued growth and development of the security industry.

Moving on from Covid-19, the last financial year (April 2019 to March 2020) was very positive for the NZSA, with a number of highlights including:

Membership – we achieved membership growth of 18% over the year and from the records available, this is the highest ever achieved. In part this probably reflects a growing awareness of the activities we are engaged in and increased media profile, however, our regional visit programme has also been very successful in enabling engagement on a face to face basis with nonmembers. Profitability – our profit of $243,724 was the highest in our 48-year history. Whilst we are a Not for Profit, the result places us in a very sound financial position and supports the investment in industry resources such as the Virtual Reality training platform and Industry Career Pathway Website, developments that are nearing launch.

MSD Skills for Industry Work Broker Programme – during the last annual contract we placed 178 MSD candidates into full-time employment in the security industry. We also paid out $413,000 to our members in the form of subsidies to assist with training and induction of these employees and an additional $101,500 in milestone payments where the employees remain in long term employment.

We are the top performing industry sector in the MSD Skills for Industry programme and have signed a new contract with MSD for the 2020/2021 year based on 200 employee placements.

Launch of Security Services Good Practice Guideline – this document was originally recommended in the 2015 Coroners Report into the tragic death of Security Officer Charanpreet Dhaliwal in 2011, where MBIE and WorkSafe were tasked with developing an Industry Approved Code of Practice or Good Practice Guideline. Unfortunately,

these agencies cited other priorities as taking preference and it required the NZSA taking ownership for preparing this document.

The Security Services Good Practice Guideline was launched early this year and is recognised as the standard for all companies operating in the guarding and security patrol sectors. Copies of the guideline can be downloaded from the NZSA website (www. security.org.nz) and the PSPLA refers all new company license applicants to the document on the NZSA website.

Following the launch, we have formed a working group focused on developing an Event Security section which will be included in the guideline in coming months. Similar working groups will be formed next year to develop additional sections for other industry sectors such as Hospital Security and Cash- InTransit Services.

Launch of additional Member Benefit Programmes – over the last year we have launched three new member benefit programmes: • HR Advisory Service – this service is free to members and provides immediate access to advice from HR experts and the ability to source template HR documentation including contracts and policies. 0800 Speak-Up/Integrity Line – again this service is free to members and provides a fully confidential reporting line for employees. Uniform and equipment supplies – our programme with Tactical Solutions provides a 10% discount on the purchase price for all NZSA members. Industry Training – with the ROVE (Review of Vocational Education) process creating significant change to the training landscape, there have been a number of challenges in maintaining progress on the development of industry NZQA qualifications.

The NZSA Training and Professional Development Special Interest Group (SIG) – has been a valuable resource in ensuring appropriate focus and pressure on all stakeholders to ensure that we have industry qualifications that are current, relevant and ‘fit for purpose’. Whist delivery of training resources for the new Level 3 and 4 New Zealand Certificate in Security have been delayed, we remain confident that these will be available in the near future and that training outcomes will be improved with the new qualifications and training materials.

Whilst it is pleasing to report on such positive developments, as noted in my introductory comments Covid-19 will continue to provide challenges for us as an industry and there are other hurdles that we will need to face.

At the time of writing my report the election has yet to occur however it appears very likely that business owners will be faced with covering an additional five days per annum sick leave allowance and significant increases to the minimum wage and the guarding sector will in likelihood move to mandated Fair Payment Agreements.

We are already engaged in consultation with the relevant government agencies on these matters and will continue to act in the best interests of our members.

I remain very confident that the NZSA is recognised as the industry peak body and has the credibility and support of all stakeholders to be the true voice for the industry going forward.