The safety and security sector is facing ever more complex challenges, as well as an alarming shortage of qualified personnel. Many opportunities remain unfilled, putting pressure on existing teams and hampering the overall performance of security systems. Often underestimated, the potential of women in this field could well represent a powerful response to fill these gaps. However, despite their adaptability and skills, opportunities for women in this industry are still limited.
Today , the inclusion of women in this rapidly changing sector could well be an essential asset in meeting the needs of a more complex and demanding security environment.
"While the security departments of companies and organisations are still a very male-dominated world, in recent years women have shown an ever-increasing interest in these professions".
The security sector is struggling to meet its need for qualified personnel. Yet the opportunities for women are often under-exploited, despite their strong capacity to adapt and their involvement in sensitive missions. The number of women in private security is increasing, but their place in teams is still in the minority. In 2023, women will account for just 20% of the workforce in the security sector in France, according to a study by the Fédération des Métiers de la Sécurité (FMS). Against this backdrop, companies are looking for ways to attract a more diverse pool of talent, while at the same time boosting their efficiency and adaptability in the face of increasingly sophisticated threats. In fact, one of the giants of the sector, Securitas, opened a training course 100% dedicated to women at the beginning of 2024. The aim is to diversify its recruitment pool.
Indeed, by not diversifying profiles sufficiently, the sector runs the risk of missing out on a valuable resource. A number of studies have shown that team diversity enhances responsiveness and resilience in the face of the unexpected, qualities that are essential in the industrial security sector. Women’s specific skills, particularly their powers of observation, stress management and ability to thwart conflict situations, are all under-utilised assets when it comes to ensuring the safety of sensitive industrial sites.
"The awareness within companies of the need to mix profiles benefits everyone. Women and men alike. [...] Many women are moving into technical positions. Is this a reflection of our attention to detail? It could be. I've also noticed that women often show more empathy and kindness towards agents than some of their colleagues. [...] The diversity of the profiles we're looking for, the diversity of my colleagues' backgrounds and my own profile prove that these jobs are evolving and that there's a place for everyone."
Traditionally, the safety and security professions have been dominated by men. However, in recent years an encouraging trend has emerged: a significant increase in the participation of women in this sector. By 2024, women will account for almost 30% of the workforce in industrial site security services, a significant increase on previous years.
This development is the result of several initiatives, such as specific training programmes, awareness campaigns and company policies promoting gender equality. Women bring unique skills in communication, conflict management and strategic analysis, enriching the dynamics of security teams.
"Women appear at all levels and in all positions [...]. They have qualities of synthesis, communication, and analysis that enable them to adapt to any assignment. They also have good stress management and crisis management skills, which enable them to approach situations from a different angle and adapt to them.
Imagine a sector in which diverse and motivated teams are able to collaborate with modern monitoring tools and robotic devices to optimise the most critical operations. The good news is that this vision is slowly becoming a reality. As companies integrate a diversity of profiles into their security teams, they are tackling complex challenges such as risk management in sensitive industrial environments, while fostering an inclusive and collaborative working environment.
It’s worth noting that women are increasingly occupying hierarchical positions. In fact, Corinne Guerbigny, head of security at the ADP Group, points out that “women are just as legitimate as men” and that the majority of senior security managers at ADP are now women. (PSM magazine N°285)
At Running Brains Robotics, we are convinced that this new diversity of profiles is a strength for private security. By redefining security standards, our teams can build a security system that meets the challenges and requirements of today and tomorrow even more effectively.
Security companies that bet on the inclusion of women are sending out a strong signal: they are ready to adapt their methods, diversify skills and innovate in a sector that has long favoured traditional profiles.
Faced with the growing needs and challenges of industrial site security in 2024, the inclusion of women in private security teams is no longer just a question of parity or goodwill. It is a path towards enhanced security, where every member of the team, whatever their gender, makes a significant contribution to a collective mission: that of ensuring the safety of critical industrial sites with efficiency, resilience and adaptability.
Faced with these new prospects, the sector’s decision-makers are invited to ask themselves the question: what if the inclusion of varied profiles became the essential lever for building the private security of tomorrow?
Sources :
Head of Marketing & Communication at Running Brains Robotics
