Who will install, manage, sell, market and lead the security solutions of the future? More importantly, how do we ensure young people see the industry as a place where they belong?

It's a question many organisations are trying to answer as they grapple with skills shortages, an ageing workforce and increasing competition for talent. And it's a question that 22-year-old Ethan Girling has become increasingly passionate about.

As Managing Director of Protekta Security, Ethan leads a nationally operating, SSAIB-certified security company specialising in monitored security systems and compliance-led delivery. Earlier this year, he was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Security & Safety Entrepreneur Awards, recognising his achievements as one of the industry's emerging business leaders.

Yet what makes Ethan's story particularly interesting is not simply his age or his entrepreneurial success. It's the route he took to get there.

Unlike many of his peers, Ethan chose not to follow the traditional university pathway.

After leaving school, he entered the regulated security industry directly, building his knowledge through practical experience, hands-on learning and business development. While university remains the right choice for many young people, Ethan's experience reflects a growing shift towards alternative career routes, particularly within technical and professional industries.

Today, apprenticeships, vocational training and employer-led development programmes are increasingly being recognised as valuable pathways into long-term careers. The security industry is no exception.

In many ways, the sector is uniquely positioned to benefit from this shift. Modern security sits at the intersection of technology, risk management, customer experience and business operations. It requires technical expertise, but it also relies on communication, problem-solving, leadership and commercial awareness.

The challenge is that many young people still don't see it that way.

Ask a group of school leavers what comes to mind when they hear the word "security" and many will immediately think of CCTV cameras, alarm systems or security guards.

While those elements remain an important part of the industry, they only tell part of the story.

Security today is increasingly shaped by software, artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, data, compliance and digital transformation. It offers opportunities not only for engineers and technicians, but also for marketers, project managers, software developers, sales professionals, customer success teams and future business leaders.

Yet these opportunities often remain hidden from those outside the industry.

That visibility gap is something Ethan has become increasingly focused on addressing.

Alongside running a growing business, he regularly speaks with students and young professionals about apprenticeships, entrepreneurship and careers in technical industries. As a former Young Enterprise student himself, he understands the value of early exposure to different career pathways and the impact that real-world examples can have on young people's decision-making.

Sometimes, seeing someone only a few years older than yourself succeeding in an industry can make a career path feel significantly more achievable.

It's one thing to hear that opportunities exist. It's another to see what those opportunities actually look like.

This year, Ethan also became an ambassador for The Security Event's Next Gen Network, an initiative designed to support apprentices, students, early-career professionals and emerging leaders across the security sector.

The Network aims to create opportunities for learning, mentoring, networking and professional development, while helping to build stronger connections between education and industry.

That feels particularly relevant at a time when conversations around future talent are becoming more prominent across the sector.

At The Security Event 2026, Ethan joined discussions focused on apprenticeships and attracting the next generation into security, contributing to a wider conversation around workforce development and industry accessibility.

What stood out wasn't simply the discussion around skills shortages. It was the growing recognition that attracting young people into the industry requires more than recruitment campaigns.

It requires visibility.

It requires representation.

And it requires creating environments where people can see a future for themselves before they fully understand the industry itself.

The security sector has made encouraging progress in recent years. Apprenticeships are gaining momentum. Industry events are creating more opportunities for young professionals to connect. Organisations are investing more time into outreach and education.

But there is still a significant opportunity to broaden the conversation.

Because the future of security will not only depend on the next generation of engineers and installers. It will also depend on future marketers, software developers, project managers, sales professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders.

The industry needs technical expertise, but it also needs diverse skills, fresh perspectives and people who can help shape how security is understood by the wider world.

Stories like Ethan Girling's matter because they challenge assumptions about what a career in security looks like.

They show that there is no single route into the industry. No fixed timeline for success. No requirement to follow a traditional path.

For an industry looking to attract its next generation of talent, that may be one of the most important messages it can share.

Because before young people can choose a career in security, they first need to know that the opportunity exists.

Interested in supporting the next generation of security professionals? Find out more about The Security Event's Next Gen Network and how to become an ambassador: Next Gen Network - The Security Event 2027