Enterprise, statistics, science and security businesses
You could say science, statistics and enterprise are in my blood. As a Scot, from a family of engineers and fashion entrepreneurs, it was certainly statistically likely.
My family travelled a lot so I finished my A levels part-time. At Manchester Polytechnic I studied biology and environmental science and learnt practical statistical analysis and computer programming.
I went to Imperial College (London) to do a PhD in timber technology. Professor Sir David Cox, the eminent statistician, helped me to understand the proportional hazards model. It is a way of assessing the relative importance of specific factors, and I applied this to timber decay. Then I became interested in statistical modelling and looked at plant science carbon balance issues.
I left university to set up a charity (and so never finished the PhD) - a motorbike project for youths at risk of offending. I was always interested in motorbikes (including racing), and I found that I was also fascinated by the start-up and management experience. After seven years I set up my own business in sports leisure, running UK-wide training events.
In 2002 I returned to academia, teaching statistics for business at London Metropolitan University. I started part-time, then secured a full-time post. I faced tough competition, as I’m still in the process of completing a PhD, but I hope I’m an example of not having to follow conventional routes to be successful.
Last year the London Development Agency funded me to work with a small security firm. Security is an unusual sector, made up of enterprises ranging from huge multinational firms such as BAE Systems to one-person operations. I found that there are no empirical studies even though the industry is pervasive: 75% of UK finance directors have no idea what security their firms buy.
I have secured funding from round 4 of the Higher Education Innovation Fund to establish a Security Industry Observatory at London Metropolitan Business School. Alongside this, international collaborators from Italy, Israel, Turkey and Spain are helping to develop an EU Framework 7 Programme bid. There are important large-scale projects ahead, including the London 2012 Olympics, the Milano Expo 2015 and King’s Cross Central 2020. We want to track and explore the innovation and change taking place, and feed this through in ways that help business and the economy.
There are opportunities - mostly unpaid committee work at present - so please get in touch if you are interested (you'll find my email here, at the bottom of the page).
Allison Wylde is Senior Lecturer in Business Analysis at the London Metropolitan Business School (LMBS). She is also Co-ordinator of the Security Industry Observatory. She is an elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and a member of the Economic Geography Research Group and GetSETWomen. Allison has her own web page with useful links.
The photo shows Allison (centre) with LMBS colleagues at the new St Pancras International station.
Comments
Veronica Benson:
I knew Allison had a varied career but had no idea it was so broad! Allison is a great role model for women in SET having turned her hand to so many things. She demonstrates that following a diverse career path is no barrier to success if you are focussed in what you want to achieve. Allison exudes incredible enthusiasm and optimism and her \'can do\' approach is infectious. She is very supportive towards women returners and has offered a number of work experience and training opportunities over the last 2 years. I really hope the Security Industry Observatory is a success. Anyone interested in finding out more about being involved can also contact me at the UKRC for more information.
Rachel:
Hi Allison, I wondered why you have decided to complete your PhD, when your career has taken such a turn away from geography and you are now so busy elsewhere? Will the qualification be useful to you in your career, or do you just want the satisfaction of finishing what you started?
Ruth Wilson (UKRC moderator):
Just a quick note - the Security Industry Observatory website seems to be down. Hopefully it will be live again soon.
Allison:
Veronica - thanks it's a pleasure working with ukrc4setwomen . Our current volunteer Siobhán McTIGUE REARDON works full time as a maths teacher and has managed to find time to help us develop a multimedia-learning object to help student's use calculators. We have been able to offer a one-2-one training sessions in Macromedia Flash for Siobhán.
Allison:
Rachel, mainly I wanted to finish what I started, plus, this is a great way to learn new analytical approaches. I chose Geography because it is a balance between Biology and Business: a place that lends itself to an “Ecosystem” approach.
Ruth Wilson (UKRC moderator):
Hi Allison, I am intrigued about the security business. What kinds of roles are there for SET qualified women in security? (At UKRC we also work with women in careers relating to built environment and architecture, so on reflection I guess that opens up another set of possibilities). And is it predominantly male? Do you have any sense of the career routes SET women follow that leads them into this area?
Allison:
Ruth - I think there are lots of opportunities. The security Industry involves scientists from all disciplines. The industry is countercyclical; it continues to expand even during economic downturns. I think there may be lots of vacancies for suitably qualified scientists and managers; it is just a case of making contact with the companies. Part of my current project will examine the " ecosystem" of the industry to find out who is doing what, where and we will look at the innovation in the industry. If you are interested you could look at the Industry Association websites of the British Security Industry Association http://www.bsia.co.uk and Security Industry Authority http://www.the-sia.org.uk/home There is an immediate vacancy: I am seeking an experienced EU-FP7 bid writer to help me immediately. You must be available to work from the 20th of November to the 3rd of December; hours and pay negotiable. If you are FP7 experience please email me today. There may be vacancies for project managers soon.
Helen:
Dear Allison, It would be really helpful to know what sort of opportunities there might be in relation to the 2012 Games. The \'Women in SET steering group for the 2012 Games meets every two months in London to identify opportunities for women in non traditional areas in the 2012 Games. Obviously construction and the built environment are the \'easiest\' to identify as they are very visible. Security has often come up as being an area to consider but the group hasn\'t been successful in identifying what they key opportunities are?
Ruth Wilson (UKRC moderator):
Hi Allison, Another question! At UKRC we are concerned about how the recession will impact on SET employment in general and on women in particular. Do you have any sense of how the security industry is likely to be affected? Is it one of those sectors which is essential? I wondered if in times of hardship there is an increase in crime and so increased expenditure on security.
Allison Wylde:
Helen - you are right it is very difficult to find out about opportunities. I would suggest the London Development Agency LDA or even Boris Johnson Mayor for London as the first port of call. The LDA's 2008 Annual Public Meeting (APM) takes place on 2nd of December at the Merchant Taylors' Hall, 30 Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8JB, from 08:00 - 10:00. Please register through their website or call the conference helpline on 020 8481 3394. LDA Website http://www.lda.gov.uk/server.php?show=conEvent.89
Allison Wylde:
Ruth – the security industry is countercyclical so when the economy slows down the industry keeps on growing. That’s one of the reasons we are interested in researching this industry. I was speaking with Carolyn Davies yesterday; Carolyn is the Qualification Frameworks Manager at Skills for Security the skills and standards setting body for the security business sector. She spoke about the need for research to understand this fast growing sector. They have vacancies currently posted on their website.
Ruth Wilson (UKRC moderator):
Thanks Allison - Skills for Security is a very interesting link, with a whole section on qualifications etc in the security field. See: http://skillsforsecurity.org.uk/
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