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TheUKsecurity industry represented by ADS comprises around 450 companies of all sizes and directly employs 50,828 people. The innovation and high-technology products and services that the sector produces deliver security to theUKpopulation and bring rising economic benefits through the successful export of our world-leading equipment, systems and technologies overseas. SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) comprise over 90 per cent of the security-related ADS membership with a heavy focus on upper tier technologies

The security industry helps to keep the country and its people safe. Innovative UK-based security companies provide the capability for UK Government departments to deliver for the whole British population as well as for their counterparts overseas to do the same for their countries. ADS Member companies achieved domestic security sector turnover of £1.8bn in 2010 of which the rapidly growing cyber security and information assurance market accounted for 14% (£249m).

Overseas Markets

Figures issued in July 2011 by the UKTI Defence & Security Organisation (DSO) suggest that despite the recession theUKsecurity industry’s exports were valued at £2 billion in 2010. ADS Members accounted for £430m of these exports - 19% of their total turnover.

Our challenge is to increase theUK’s contribution to these global markets by promoting our capability to global customers. The global security market is growing and is currently estimated to be worth about £260bn per annum. It is estimated that it will reach £337bn by 2015. The UK Government and the security industry in the country share the goal of a major uplift in the performance of UK security exports with the Government playing a similar role in security to that played in relation to defence exports.

National Security Objectives

Further to this, ADS works in close cooperation with industry partners comprising the UK Security and Resilience Industry Suppliers’ Community (RISC) to support the Home Office, the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism (OSCT) within it, the UK police service and other associated national security departments and agencies in support of national security objectives and to fulfil the growing economic potential the world-leading UK security industry.

Governance

The sector represented by ADS is governed by a Security Sector Board consisting of companies of all sizes interested in the sector, which is led by the Vice-President Security, who is elected by the membership. ADS also facilitate Special Interest Groups (SIGs) in the security market, which focus on niche aspects of the sector (such as, for example, Olympic and Paralympic security, security exports and national security and resilience policy).