The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals

What The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals does

The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals (WCoSP) is a UK-based membership organisation and the 108th Livery Company of the City of London, founded in 1999 as the Guild of Security Professionals and granted Livery status on 19 February 2008. It was awarded a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth II on 15 February 2010. The organisation's core function is to bring together security professionals for networking, recognition, and charitable activity; membership of over 500 is drawn from corporate security leaders, security consultants, academics, investigators, electronic surveillance firms, and serving and retired police and armed services personnel.

The Company's core services include membership, the Charitable Trust (£1 million raised for charitable purposes over 25 years benefiting 40,000 individuals), the Sheriffs' Award for Bravery (a national award with a £5,000 prize), an Apprentice Scheme (over 30 apprentices) with a Young Members Group, the Whittington Course (annual careers programme for Harris Garrard Academy students), the Security Benevolent Fund, and the KCL Essay Prize Award. It maintains six military Service Affiliates (RAF Regiment, Royal Military Police, RAF Police, 3 MI Bn, HMS MEDWAY, 35 Engineer Regiment EOD) and Operations are administered from a single office in North Warnborough, Hampshire.

The business model is community-led and operates on recurring annual membership dues supplemented by branded merchandise sales (ties, scarves, pens, cufflinks, commemorative items at unit prices of £11–£117). Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Marketing is conducted through the Company's website, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, YouTube, monthly newsletters, and a calendar of in-person events (Annual Dinner, Christmas Lunch, Court Luncheons, Service Affiliates' Lunch, City of London Police Commissioner's Dinner).

Name

The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals

Legal name

The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals

Website

https://wcosp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals is a UK Livery Company and membership organisation, founded 1999, that brings together over 500 security professionals for networking, charitable work, awards, apprenticeships, and military affiliations within the City of London livery system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

North Warnborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues and merchandise sales: Revenue generated through membership fees and the sale of branded merchandise including ties, scarves, pens, cufflinks, and commemorative items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals is a City of London Livery Company that operates as a membership organisation for individuals working in the security profession. It provides professional affiliation, networking, charitable giving, education support, and ceremonial functions connected to the security industry.

Product overview

The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals is a membership organisation and the 108th Livery Company of the City of London, founded in 1999 as the Guild of Security Professionals and granted Livery status in February 2008. The organisation offers membership for security professionals and provides merchandise through its online shop. Its core services include a Charitable Trust supporting education and health for security professionals, the Sheriffs' Award for Bravery (a national bravery recognition), an Apprentice Scheme for young people, a Young Members Group, The Whittington Course (an annual careers programme for students), a Security Benevolent Fund, and the KCL Essay Prize Award. Merchandise includes branded items such as pens, ties, scarves, cufflinks, pendants, pins, shields, mugs, bags, Christmas cards, baubles, and commemorative coins including items celebrating the 25th Anniversary.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• £1 million raised for charitable causes over 25 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 35 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Search)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Military affiliate since 2021; receives awards at annual Service Affiliates' Lunch; presented with Hector's Shield
• His Majesty's Ship (HMS) MEDWAYcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Royal Navy affiliate since 2018; receives service affiliate recognition and visits to vessel
• 3 Military Intelligence BattalioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Military affiliate since 2012; hosts annual 3MI Intelligence Challenge competition; 3MI Bn Commanding Officer speaks at Service Affiliates' Lunch
• RAF PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Military affiliate since 2009; participates in annual Service Affiliates' Lunch and award ceremonies
• Royal Military PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Military affiliate since 2007; annual awards presented to RMP personnel through the Service Affiliates' Lunch program
• Royal Air Force (RAF) RegimentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Military affiliate since 2004; company supports RAF Regiment through service affiliate awards and recognition programs; RAF Salon Orchestra provides entertainment at major events
• Harris Garrard AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Whittington Course hosts students for a day in the City of London to learn about careers in banking, security and policing; program began in 2002
• Reeds School, CobhamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool partnership enables annual apprentice enrollment from Reeds; company visits school and hosts Foundation Appeal Lunch
• Northern TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Whittington Course 2025; hosted breakfast and financial careers presentations for students
• BarclaysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for Whittington Course 2025; provided CV workshop and career presentations for students
• CIS SecurityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing goody bags for Whittington Course participants
• Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage DriversminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner livery company providing black taxi transportation for Whittington Course students
• The Worshipful Company of EducatorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner Livery Company hosting Military Lecture events at Bakers' Hall
• Union Jack ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue for annual Service Affiliates' Lunch; provides discounted rates for military and security personnel
• City of London PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Commissioner dinner hosted by company; presentations on policing careers at Whittington Course; joint events at Guildhall

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Royal United Services Institute (RUSI): UK defence and security think tank producing research, convening policy discussions, and serving as a membership-supported platform for security professionals. Thematically adjacent: both anchor UK security discourse, though RUSI's research/output model differs from WCoSP's livery/networking model.

Broad incumbents

• ISACA: Global professional association for IT governance, risk, and security practitioners, with certifications (CISM, CISA). Broad incumbent in the security/risk professional body segment with established chapters, publications, and credentialing.
• (ISC)²: Global, larger membership association for cybersecurity professionals offering CISSP and similar certifications. Broad incumbent in adjacent security-professional body space; useful comparison point for scale, certification economics, and global member base.
• ASIS International: Global professional membership organisation for security management practitioners, offering certifications (CPP, PSP, PCI), standards, and chapter-based networking. Broad incumbent in the same security professional body category with much larger international footprint; both organisations compete for senior security leaders' affiliation.

Direct peers

• Worshipful Company of Educators: Another Livery Company formally partnered with WCoSP (hosting Military Lecture events at Bakers' Hall). Directly comparable as a Livery Company using the same governance and event model, though for the education profession.
• The Security Institute: UK-based chartered professional body for security professionals, offering membership, certification (CSyP), and continuing professional development. Most directly comparable peer in the UK security professional-association category, addressing the same membership persona and serving overlapping security-industry practitioners.
• Worshipful Company of Information Technologists: Fellow City of London Livery Company that bridges a specific profession (IT) with the livery tradition, granting awards and running education programmes. Direct structural peer operating the same Livery Company model for an adjacent security-adjacent discipline.
• International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO): International membership body focused on security protection officers, providing certifications (CPO) and professional standards. Directly comparable as a security-professional membership body, though with a more practitioner-operational focus versus WCoSP's industry-leadership positioning.
• Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers: Fellow City of London Livery Company formally partnered with WCoSP (provides black taxi transportation for Whittington Course students). Direct structural and operational peer within the livery system, sharing the same governance tradition and ceremonial event model.

Emerging players

• Security Management Excellence (part of The Security Institute): Adjacent to The Security Institute's educational arm delivering CPD and training for UK security professionals; functions in the same continuing-education and credentialing segment that complements (or competes with) WCoSP's Whittington Course and KCL Essay Prize.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WCOSyP
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZN99HdKcw31jwrNgQiY5TQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/worshipful-company-of-security-professionals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals