From corporate premises to high-value assets, our expert manned guards deliver the highest standard of on-site security with professionalism and discretion.
From private gatherings to large-scale public events, our experienced security professionals ensure seamless protection, crowd control, and peace of mind — allowing your event to run safely and smoothly.
From corporate offices to commercial facilities, our professional cleaning teams deliver the highest standard of cleanliness and hygiene — ensuring a pristine, welcoming environment every day.
From corporate receptions to luxury residences, our concierge security professionals combine exceptional customer service with vigilant protection — ensuring safety, discretion, and a welcoming first impression.
From perimeter patrols to high-risk environments, our expertly trained K9 units and handlers deliver exceptional detection and deterrence — providing an intelligent, responsive layer of security you can trust.
We deliver expert-led Security and Cleaning services backed by accredited quality systems, performance-driven management, and a commitment to supporting charitable causes. Skysharp Security Services Limited is an SIA Approved Contractor for the delivery of Security Guarding Services, reinforcing our commitment to the highest industry standards and regulatory compliance.
Dedicated guards delivering reliable protection for businesses, Construction Sites, and events.
Providing professional, mobile security patrols to keep your property and estate safe around the clock.
Our no-code development enables the creation of fully functional web apps with user roles, dashboards, and views
A risk-free approach that saves time, enabling you to test your product’s viability and collect valuable user feedback
Expert handlers and trained dogs delivering advanced detection, deterrence, and perimeter protection.
Professional security teams ensuring safe, controlled, and seamless events from start to finish.
SIA honored five trailblazing women for their leadership and innovation in advancing biometric and identity technologies.
Skysharp Security Ltd
The Security Industry Association (SIA) has honored five outstanding leaders in the biometrics field as recipients of the 2025 Women in Biometrics Awards. This year’s awardees—Lena Abdelahad (HID), Kristen Halligan (U.S. Department of Homeland Security), Vanessa Pires (Control iD), Kelli Tippett (U.S. Secret Service), and Nicole Williams (EY)—represent a diverse range of expertise across biometric identity technologies, forensic science, access control, and government identity services.
The winners will be formally recognized at the 2025 Identity and Biometrics Symposium on December 3 at the Tower Club in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Each awardee has made significant contributions to advancing biometric innovation within government, commercial, and public-sector applications.
Lena Abdelahad has spent nearly two decades at HID, where she now leads the Biometric Identity Technologies division, overseeing global solutions including facial recognition and authentication technologies. Her leadership has been instrumental in driving innovation, strategic partnerships, and industry adoption of key standards such as SIA’s Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP).
Kristen Halligan serves as a biometric program specialist and law enforcement liaison at the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM). She plays a pivotal role in coordinating biometric services and strengthening identity-based decision-making for frontline personnel across DHS and its partners.
Vanessa Pires, channel sales director at Control iD, has guided the company’s growth in access control and facial identification technologies. Over her 11-year tenure, she has built high-performing teams, expanded national sales channels, and helped position Control iD as a leading name in the market.
As laboratory director for the U.S. Secret Service Forensic Services Division, Kelli Tippett oversees critical forensic operations and co-founded the agency’s Biometric Capabilities Integrated Project Team. Her work has significantly advanced forensic science and strategic planning for emerging biometric modalities, including DNA analysis.
Nicole Williams, managing director at EY, drives identity-centric modernization initiatives for DHS. A recognized expert in biometrics and border security, she has led major innovation and communication efforts supporting DHS missions, including during and after EY’s acquisition of Dignari.
SIA CEO Don Erickson praised the group as “an inspiring class of leaders driving change and innovation across biometrics and identity services.” He highlighted their contributions to improving safety, security, and mission readiness across government and industry.
For the first time, the Women in Biometrics Awards will be presented during a special ceremony at the Identity and Biometrics Symposium—an event that brings together government and industry experts to discuss the future of identity management and critical mission applications.
The SIA has begun a comprehensive review to update licence-linked qualifications, strengthening the skills, standards and training required for modern security roles.
Skysharp Security Ltd
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has announced a comprehensive strategic review of all licence-linked qualifications, marking the most significant update to security training standards in years. Launched on 5 November 2025, the review aims to ensure that security operatives possess up-to-date, safety-critical skills that reflect modern threats, technologies and operational challenges.
The review will assess qualification content across key areas, including physical intervention, searching, counter-terror measures, emerging technologies, spiking awareness, specialist search techniques, close protection requirements and testing of English language and first aid competence. It will also examine the integrity of assessments, trainer expertise, training delivery standards and opportunities for technological innovation to reduce malpractice.
Informed by extensive engagement with industry professionals, employers, frontline officers, awarding bodies and training providers, the review will unfold over 18 months. Key milestones include early engagement forums through early 2026, a public consultation in spring 2026, publication of updated qualification specifications in summer 2026, and the rollout of mandatory new qualifications by spring 2027.
This initiative is part of the SIA’s wider 5-point plan to strengthen public confidence, improve training quality and protect the integrity of the licensing regime—supported by new partnerships with Ofqual and the enforcement initiative Operation Resolute, targeting fraud and malpractice within the training sector.
Stakeholders are invited to participate in upcoming webinars throughout November 2025 to provide feedback and contribute to shaping the next generation of security qualifications.
From 1 April 2025, door supervisors and security guards must complete new refresher training to renew their SIA licence.
Skysharp Security Ltd
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has confirmed that, starting 1 April 2025, refresher training will be a mandatory requirement for door supervisors and security guards renewing their licences. The new refresher courses, available from October 2024, are designed to update and reinforce safety-critical skills, ensuring operatives maintain the competence needed to protect the public in an increasingly challenging security environment.
This update builds on the SIA’s 2021 enhancements to licence-linked qualifications and ensures that all licence holders, who by late 2024 will have completed their top-up training, remain aligned with the latest standards. The refresher modules include key areas such as searching procedures, physical intervention (for door supervisors), supporting vulnerable people—including spiking awareness—and updated counter-terror content. Security guards will undertake training in searches, protecting vulnerable individuals and terror threat awareness.
Licence holders will also be required to present an up-to-date Emergency First Aid certificate. Door supervisors may choose to complete either the door supervisor refresher course or take the security guard refresher to transition to a security guard licence. The SIA has provided a six-month preparation period for the industry, training providers and operatives to adjust, mirroring the rollout approach used for previous qualification updates.
This initiative supports the SIA’s goal of continually raising standards across the private security sector, ensuring operatives retain essential skills and remain prepared to meet evolving public safety expectations.
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