Training

Apprentice plea at summit

by Mark Rowe

With an aim to get as many Londoners as economically active as possible, Kit Malthouse, the first Deputy Mayor for London for Business and Enterprise, presented a Mayoral Address at the inaugural Global Security Summit London, at the London Olympia Conference Centre.

Having been set a target to achieve a quarter of a million apprenticeships by 2016 Mr Malthouse is promoting the benefits of apprenticeships to young people, business, and London as a whole.

Calling for the security industry to get behind the Mayor’s campaign, and take on more apprentices, Mr Malthouse, said: “The security industry is an important player in the youth employment market, generating a range of jobs from guarding right through to management.”

Discussing the early successes of the Campaign Malthouse reported that about 76,000 young apprentices have received placements, seeing 900-1000 new starters every week.

Malthouse added: “I encourage people to seriously look at apprenticeships, not out of the goodness of your heart, but because it can offer a fantastic opportunity for your business.”

Mr Malthouse was joined by Peter French, Director at SSR Personnel and a past Master of The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals, who went on to say: “The UK security sector employs over 500,000 people.  It has long been an investor in skills although perhaps we do not always promote initiatives with apprentices; yet every organisation receives as much as it gives from a relationship with enthusiastic people.

“The following organisations have given their commitment to support apprenticeship placements in 2013: MITIE, Wilson James, Securitas, G4S, VSG, and Shield guarding, with an emphasis to also look at London opportunities.”

Simon Banks, Group Managing Director and co-founder of CSL DualCom, followed French by adding: “Our sector is diverse, challenging, and recession resistant because of the nature of the business we’re in.”

Mentioning the 100 in 100 Apprenticeship Program established by Skills for Security and CSL DualCom, Banks said: “The unique 100 in 100 Apprenticeship Program pioneered by the security industry has been an outstanding success. The drive to create career opportunities for young people looking to launch a fulfilling career in a recession-resistant sector adds another level of credibility to this new and exciting event.”

Mike Britnell, Interim CEO at Skills for Security ended the session at the show by saying: “The security world offers a lifetime of interesting work for youngsters and with government funding; there has never been a better time for employers to recruit apprentices. Skills for Security is here, keen to match security employers with potential employees – good for youngsters, good for employers, good for society and, vitally, good for security!”

About Global Security Summit London

Global Security Summit London is run by UBM Live, organisers of IFSEC International and Firex International, part of the Working Buildings Series which includes the FM event (www.thefmevent.com <http://www.thefmevent.com> ).

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