Sponsored by NOCN, the National Open College Network, this was the only award presented at this year’s ceremony, held at the Williams F1 Headquarters in Oxford.
The award was in recognition of VSG’s commitment to excellence in training, and in particular the company’s development of a novel and innovative training programme for security staff in shopping centres.
“This is a fantastic achievement for us,” said Sandra Warren, VSG’s training manager. “We are especially thrilled that Skills for Security – the skills and standards setting body for the security business sector – has recognised the effort and commitment that VSG puts into its training operations.
“Our success is very much the result of teamwork within our organisation. Our training staff are dedicated to the achievement of excellence, and have contributed magnificently to every stage of our new programme for shopping centres, from initial concept, through development to the final roll out and delivery.”
A worthy winner
David Greer, chief executive at Skills for Security, said: “VSG is a very worthy winner of this high profile award. There were a large number of highly commendable entries, but the judging panel, which consisted of experts who are independent of Skills for Security, felt that VSG’s work on its training programme for security staff in shopping centres is not only unique, but also demonstrably effective – a true example of using training as a bridge into career development progression.
“We are delighted to have been able to highlight this superb example of best practice to our colleagues within the industry, and to provide public recognition for VSG’s efforts and achievements”.
VSG developed its Shopping Centre Portfolio (SCP) training programme after deciding that the knowledge and skills required of a security team operating in a shopping centre were different from those required in other retail and corporate environments.
Full range of skills
The SCP programme has been formulated to provide staff with the full range of skills needed for their role including response skills, such as counter-terrorism and first aid, as well as softer skills, such as customer service and people awareness.
The programme, which forms part of the VSG tender process for all new shopping centre opportunities, and which is also being rolled out across the company’s existing contracts, has proved popular with its clients. VSG believes that SCP has been a major factor in the 18 per cent increase in shopping centre assignments that the company has achieved since its introduction.
