More about Skills for Security; and the SITO conference awards.
About Skills for Security
The ‘key sub-sectors’ that SfS will initially cover are wider than those being licensed by the SIA: access control systems installation, alarm systems installation, dog handling, door supervision, CCTV operation (public space surveillance), CCTV systems installation, close protection, CVIT [cash and vaulables in transit], event security, IP security (electronic), IT security, key-holding and alarm response, private investigation, risk management, secure parking/vehicle immobilisation, security consultancy, security management and security guarding.
About the chief exec: Linda Sharpe worked for Group 4 for 12 years, as training manager of the UK Training Company, as head of Group 4’s International Resource Centre and finally at Group 4 International where she was responsible for top manager development. Working for the SIA since 2003, she led the competency team in setting standards for licensing. In 2004 she was appointed to lead the project to establish a new sector skills body for the private security industry.
Why the change: Quite apart from licences, the Government shook up employer training by replacing national training organisations (SITO being the one for the security industry) into sector skills councils (SSCs), overseen by the Sector Skills Development Agency ( www.ssda.org.uk). Any security SSC had to wait until SIA licensing and the necessary training standards became clear. Meanwhile there is Skills for Justice (SfJ) for police, courts and prisons, overlapping somewhat with security – SfJ training covering community safety and crime prevention; and secure prisoner escorting. In October, for example, SfJ launched Skillsmark, which marks training providers for standards of learning. One of the first five holders is the John Grieve Centre for Policing and Community Safety, in Buckinghamshire.
What they say: SIA chairman Peter Hermitage said: “The launch is the culmination of two years’ hard work at the SIA in engaging the industry in what it needs from a skills body. The SIA, through licensing, was the catalyat for raising the standard of skills in the private security industry. Now, many licence holders, for the first time in their career, hold a proper qualification, and there is an appetite within the industry to continue. It was always our intention at the SIA that the skills body should be industry-led, and from the SIA sector skills project we established a number of skills initiatives which supported the industry’s vision of what could be achieved. We have enjoyed the full support of industry stake-holders and government bodies, and today couldn’t have happened without the generosity of the BSIA in divesting SITO to enable SfS to move forward on a sound financial footing. We believe the time is now right to hand over our work and achievements to the industry.”
Outstanding work honoured
The SITO conference saw the winners of the national training awards 2005. They were:
for outstanding training practice within an organisation, sponsored by Jobcentre Plus. Guarding company Wilson James won for a staff management training programme aimed at team leaders and first line managers. Highly commended were the Initial Training Centre, for apprenticeship and systems engineering training; and the University of York, for job training and personal development for staff in its security and support services department.
for outstanding practice by a training provider, sponsored by Jobcentre Plus. Joint winners were Kennedy Scott, for their ‘Women in Security’ initiative which trains and places unemployed women in central London into security work; and the National Security Inspectorate (NSI), for an initiative to educate the intruder alarm sector on new European Standards. London-based Kennedy Scott have also talked to firms such as The Corps, NCP, Capes UK, Parcelforce and Euro Carparks, seeking to bring employers to job-seekers.
for outstanding training partnership, sponsored by Jobcentre Plus, the winner was CVIT Training Strategy Group, for a DVD and video to assist CVIT couriers in passing the examination required for SIA licensing. Highly commended was guarding firm VSG Ltd, for its work with retailer B&Q. Security officers and the DIY firm’s staff were given an extra day of training, a ‘B&Q retail experience day’.
An award for best training professional, sponsored by recruitment firm SSR Personnel Services, went to Tony Brend, of the NSI. Highly commended were David Millett, Initial Training Centre; and Sam Lewis, of Train 4 Security.
The Open Palm Award, sponsored by conflict management trainers Maybo Ltd, was won by VSG Ltd, for its conflict management strategy which emphasised risk management and deterrence rather than direct action. Highly commended was Blackpool Borough Council, for its strategy of preventing and responding to violent incidents including a work alert booklet.
Judges included Bill Fox, Maybo; Tim Geddes, SITO chairman; Eleanor Paton, Jobcentre Plus; Linda Sharpe, SIA; Derek Shaw, MOD/Careers Transition Partnership; Gary Summersgill, Littlewoods/Shopdirect Group Security; Bill Wyllie, The Security Institute; and Steve Redmore, Aberafan Shopping Centre.
Stefan Hay, Managing Director of SITO said: "The judges had an extremely difficult job in whittling down the many excellent entries we received for this year’s awards. The winners have revealed both dedication and excellence in security industry training and skills development, and more than deserve their awards and the recognition of their peers.”
