Following the launch earlier this year of First Security’s bespoke management development programme in association with Northampton College (and accreditation courtesy of the Chartered Management Institute), the forward-thinking solutions provider has again teamed up with Lambeth College to offer the Security Practitioner qualification to its officers.
The NOCN Level 2 Certificate is suitable for security officers looking to demonstrate their competence against national standards. The qualification is an advancement on First Security’s own induction training for officers. It’s designed to improve their ability in the role and develop increased confidence and motivation such that they’re able to perform to the highest standards when on duty.
First students take a bow
To date more than 150 officers have signed up, with the first students beginning to complete the qualification. Among the inaugural batch who’ve completed the course and now await their certificates are officers who provide a range of security and concierge services at 10 Upper Bank Street in Canary Wharf – home of the integrated global law firm Clifford Chance.
The Security Practitioner qualification is a workplace assessment course designed to take six-to-nine months to complete. In practice, mentors from Lambeth College will visit a given officer’s site during the allocated time period. The training programme covers important areas relating to the day-to-day job of a security officer, including the law, protecting property and premises, controlling access, customer care, conflict management and fire awareness, incidents and emergencies.
This programme has been set up under the Government’s Train to Gain initiative, and is therefore offered free of charge to all eligible First Security officers.
At the forefront of education
Mike Crump – First Security’s managing director – explained to info4security: “The security guarding industry continues to engage in a major debate surrounding the improvement of education and training of security officers. With our own training facility in Kings Cross, we’ve been at the forefront of training improvements for more than a decade. This latest initiative once again demonstrates a commitment to investing in our people.”
Crump continued: “We recognise the importance of training for our officers, for the business and also for the betterment of the service we provide to our customers. We’ve never underestimated the importance of appropriate training and, with the introduction of this course, we are offering additional training delivered in the form of a recognised qualification. We have had immense interest in this programme, and hope to see a further 100 First Security officers start the programme in the coming weeks.”
On completion of the programme all candidates receive a full Level 2 Related Vocational Qualification (RVQ), and may be able to progress to higher level courses to further advance their careers.
