The central control room of Crewe-based Cheshire East Council dates from June 2011, monitoring 24-365. Its 150 ‘on street’ and 90 car park CCTV cameras are spread across 14 towns. Operators manage about 1,100 incidents a month.
Its CCTV Manager, Stuart Hobson, was looking for a training provider. When attending the annual exhibition IFSEC in London, he heard presenters from the electronic security training company Tavcom. The neighbouring control room in Chester had already received training from Tavcom. The first course Hobson took was Managing CCTV Control Rooms, at Tavcom’s offices in Hampshire. Hobson says: “It was a very challenging course, but the trainers were incredibly supportive. They really do enthuse you and ensure you get the most out of the course.”
He decided on Tavcom as the control room’s training provider. Tavcom tutors also worked on-site in Macclesfield for two-weeks, to deliver its SIA public space CCTV operator course. Hobson adds: “Closing the control room for training is not an option, so the fact that Tavcom were willing and able to accommodate our busy schedules was fantastic. Tavcom tutors understand their subject matter inside out and that is what enthuses people to learn and want to better themselves.” Cheshire East Council staff have completed six courses with Tavcom. Hobson says: “I can’t stress how much it has done to prepare me for my career. As soon as I finished the course I was confidently fielding briefings with the BBC and meetings with our chief executive. What’s more, everyone now comes to me for advice. That is the difference a course with Tavcom can make. Working in a control room can be very stressful if you do not have the right training behind you. Thanks to our Tavcom training, I know we have the right staff in the right place with the right knowledge to do the job.” Due next is the ‘Advanced Control Rooms Skills’ course.
