IFSEC International is supporting National Apprenticeship Week with the launch of Engineers of Tomorrow, a UK apprentice skills challenge to be hosted at IFSEC International in May.
The four day challenge is sponsored by CSL Dualcom and will put the skills of security apprentices to the test through a series of activities.
In pairs, participants will carry out a fault finding exercise before re-commissioning an existing system in line with EN standards. They will also be required to demonstrate installation skills to be in with a chance of winning the top GB pound 1000 cash prize.
Runners up will be honoured at the Security Excellence Awards in October.
The challenge is being supported by a number of organisations including Skills for Security and the National Security Inspectorate, and will take place 14-17 May 2012, alongside IFSEC International at the NEC in Birmingham.
It is hoped the challenge will underline the opportunities available to businesses at a time of record youth unemployment.
Funding available for apprentices
Skills for Security’s Mark Cunningham said, “It is essential to encourage businesses to seize the opportunity to tap into the pool of readily available young talent by recruiting and training young people in readiness for the economic upturn.
“During National Apprenticeship Week we would like to remind potential employers that there is funding available to help them train young people and taking on apprentices is a positive way to access this and position your business for the future. Apprentice Installers are the future of this industry and we should do everything possible to encourage them to attain and uphold the highest professional standards.”
Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, today announced as part of National Apprenticeship Week that businesses would be given a GB pound 1500 cash incentive for taking on their first apprentice under the age of 24, as part of the Government’s ‘Youth Contract’ to get 400,000 young people into work.
Mr Clegg said in a video statement, available to watch below, “I’ve long believed that we, as a country, need to put apprenticeships right at the heart of how we educate and train people.
“It’s high time we broke down the outdated divide between the academic route and a more vocational path.”
The message from the team at IFSEC International is that the security sector can, and must, play its part in breaking down this divide.
Charlie Cracknell, Event Director for IFSEC International, said, “At a time of record youth unemployment, IFSEC International is proud to endorse Engineers of Tomorrow – The UK Apprentice Skills Challenge for 2012. With approximately 500,000 people currently employed within the security sector the work being done to encourage young people into the security profession is extremely significant; however, as National Apprenticeship Week recognises, there is still ample opportunity for further improvements.”
For more information about the challenge, and to enter, visit www.ifsec.co.uk/engtom
