As an organisation that advocates Continuing Professional Development (CPD), we very much welcome the fact that this subject is being addressed by the security business sector’s leading trade journal, and applaud you personally for your ongoing and valiant attempts to work alongside the sector in helping to raise both the skills and profile of practitioners within it.
It has long been our belief that you have an innate talent for identifying the ‘Big Issues’ in our industry. On this occasion, you have done so once again, and we are delighted to say that Skills for Security can – and does – accept the challenge laid down in your April Editorial!
You are quite correct in saying that, at the present time within the security business sector – and, more specifically, at managerial level – a ‘professionally qualified’ security practitioner is not necessarily someone holding a formal qualification. For many sub-sectors, it is recognised that qualifications have only recently become available, or are at various stages of development.
In many cases, non-National Qualifications Framework provision (in other words, quality training solutions that do not necessarily lead to formal qualifications) has been essential to the development of people working in the sector. As you rightly pointed out, many of those individuals have transferable skills obtained in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, the police service or perhaps other related and uniformed professions. Naturally, this issue must also be addressed.
Although we are committed to actively promoting and supporting qualifications uptake in the security business sector, for those sub-sectors such as risk and security consultancy, someone who has demonstrated – and is able to continue to demonstrate – a defined level of competence and commitment to the profession should also be considered a worthy practitioner.
Following extensive consultation with stakeholders from the security business sector, we have determined that there is indeed a genuine need for the introduction of a Register of Security Professionals. We are now in the process of establishing that Register. Indeed, similar Registers are currently under development with Skills for Justice.
Meantime, the Institute of Chartered Engineers (ICE) has been approached by the National Security Advice Centre to develop a Register of Professional Security Engineers in order to address concerns over a proliferation of unregulated companies and individuals offering services in the wake of 9/11 and 7/7.
Discussions have also been held with the team at the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) and representatives from ICE with regard to reciprocal arrangements in relation to Register membership ‘transferability’, joint skills requirements and assessments.
In establishing the Register of Security Professionals, we are mindful of the fact that the demand for security expertise within the UK and overseas is rapidly expanding. Much of the publicly available advice and services are – according to competing suppliers and their customers – of variable quality.
The introduction of the Security Industry Authority’s (SIA) competency requirements for licensing will go a long way towards improving the situation. However, some sub-sectors and individuals remain outside of the SIA’s remit.
Others have – potentially, at least – no mandatory competency requirements, while CPD does not feature in any meaningful way at this stage of the debate. There remains, then, a strong argument that a Professional Register would be an essential tool for buyers, employers and individuals within the sector. It would serve as an effective barrier to the further proliferation of poor quality services, while restoring order and confidence in all of the security information and services available.
The proposed sub-sectors covered by the Register of Security Professionals are biometric security services, door supervision, CCTV operation, close protection, Cash-and-Valuables-in-Transit operations, dog handling (security), event security, key holding and alarm response services, locksmiths (to be confirmed), private investigation, risk management, secure parking, security advisors, security consultancy, security co-ordinators, security engineers (linked to the ICE Register), security guarding, security management, security systems installation, store detection and vehicle immobilisation.
It’s fully acknowledged that this list may not be exhaustive, and that other sub-sectors could join the Register when appropriate. For example, members of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces and a number of specialist police units have already shown interest. Indeed, the audience for the Register across these sub-sectors and related professions is estimated to be in the region of 300,000 to 450,000.
We are also introducing a Security Professional Development Passport (SPDP). This is currently being piloted by six leading security guarding companies, but is intended for widespread use across all sub-sectors as a means of providing a record of career history, training undertaken, qualifications obtained, membership of professional bodies and other CPD events in which the holder has participated. A system will also exist to update and validate the information in the SPDP on an annual basis.
In addition to the obvious benefits of such a document as far as employers are concerned, particularly in TUPE-related situations, it is proposed that this would be the future access route to assist new entrants to the sector in joining the Register at Affiliate level. The SPDP will be launched at IFSEC on Monday 8 May.
CPD is a vital component of both the SPDP and the Professional Register, and would certainly be mandatory for all those who wish to remain on the Register. We would make annual proof of CPD activity a personal responsibility for registrants.
Given the diversity of sub-sectors within security, it would be impossible to prescribe specific CPD for members. However, we will support the process by holding regular CPD events and partnering with other bodies including The Security Institute, ASIS International’s UK Chapter 208, the universities and Security Management Today’s publisher CMP Information to make sure that CPD credit transfer arrangements are in place.
Aside from membership of the Professional Register itself, we hope to offer registrants the opportunity to link into the City & Guilds Senior Awards Scheme. The City & Guilds Senior Awards are administered under its Royal Charter, and are an essential validation of employment experience. The City & Guilds name provides potential employers with independent verification of the holder’s abilities, skills and experience, adding value to the Senior Award holder’s CV in what is now an increasingly competitive job market.
The SPDP and Register of Security Professionals, in combination with an ever-improving training and qualifications framework, is considered by many of those we have consulted to be a genuine opportunity. A viable approach to enhancing professionalism and promoting CPD within the security business sector.
Provided the initial enthusiasm and interest levels can be generated through the Sector Consultation Groups and other stakeholder networks, it’s anticipated that we’ll be introducing a robust system that recognises the expertise of those working in the sector while offering a progressive employment-based route to higher level qualifications.
As our chairman Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington said at the launch of Skills for Security: “We need everyone to work with us.”
It is good to know, Sir, that you, your journal and CMP Information are doing exactly that!
Stefan Hay FSyI MIoD Director of Strategic Development Skills for Security
The Editor replies:
Thank You for this cogent and prescient response, Stefan. It is heartening to know that Skills for Security is responding to our calls for CPD for security professionals.
It’s interesting to note that Gardiner Security has just become involved with CPD training events aimed at fire prevention professionals tackling the specification and use of fire systems. The seminars are supported by the British Standards Institution and the British Fire Protection Systems Association. Yet another industry that is taking CPD seriously. The security sector must do likewise, and as quickly as possible.
