Securitas’ Academy achieves City & Guilds Approval
Securitas is proud to announce its brand new Training and Development Academy has been awarded Centre status by global leader in skills and training provision, City & Guilds.
The Academy, which sits within the security firm’s new Security Operating Centre in Milton Keynes, is being developed by one of City & Guilds’ leading security qualification consultants responsible for producing the 2015 Security Industry Association (SIA) licence-linked security qualifications.
A wide spectrum of training will be delivered via a new learning management system which will be integrated throughout 2015/16. Multiple training delivery options will include e-learning, portfolio, classroom, NVQ-style packages, on-site, auditorium and blended learning.
Securitas Chief Operating Officer, Shaun Kennedy, said:
“The new global-standard training and development system will benefit staff at all grades to achieve formal qualifications and enhance their performance and career paths. The proposed accreditation means we can also work with our customers to develop new industry-leading formal qualifications to support their specific requirements.”
City & Guilds is the main provider of qualifications to the Ministry of Defence and the Securitas Academy, which is overseen by one of the industry’s most highly regarded learning and development strategists, and is one of only a few approved security specialist centres in the UK.
John O’Neill of City & Guilds Kineo explained: “As part of the City & Guilds Group, City & Guilds Kineo is proud to partner with Securitas in launching their new Skills Academy.
“Back in 2014 City & Guilds sought feedback from employers regarding their challenges in their industries. It was identified then that, in order to respond to a rapidly evolving private security environment, we would need far more employer engagement to shape our products for the space. Working from that feedback we have changed our strategy in security education, shifting our focus to an employer-led model. This will allow us to reach beyond the regulatory requirements and to focus on all the skills that security personnel and their employers need – both to deliver best in class security and to plan, manage and develop careers.”
The Academy will deliver a professional development system guided by individual training and development planning and facilitated by highly-supportive coaching, mentoring and education to help staff achieve their personal goals. The proposed accreditation will cover a range of job roles including customer service, leadership and management, accounting and IT.
John continued: “Working with Mark Barber, Managing Director at EMSS Training Academy and the team at Securitas in setting up the new Academy has allowed us to really explore our thinking and to enhance our existing security programmes. Redeveloping our industry- led offer alongside the Securitas Academy team has given us excellent insight into the security industry’s skills challenges. Given that initial success we look forward to the relationship providing both organisations with a platform from which to reimagine the way security professionals across the industry are up-skilled.
“City & Guilds is proud to be cementing that partnership in 2015 by supporting Securitas’s new Skills Academy as its Awarding Organisation. Such active investment in the skills of their people by Securitas is a welcome development in the sector. One we have no doubt will deliver refined practice and improved standards for the private security sector in the future.”
City & Guilds works in over 80 countries with over 200 companies and has regional offices in China and Hungary, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates and USA. The awarding body has a presence in every further education college in the UK and 10,000 training centres across the globe and has awarded 20 million people a qualification since the year 2000.
“The new Academy will enable the innovative and occupationally-focused delivery of existing SIA qualifications, resulting in operatives of the highest possible calibre through highly-interactive training, practice, coaching and mastery of newly-acquired skills.” added Shaun. “After a robust training programme, successful candidates will have achieved the highest standard of training and preparation available for Security within the UK today and be truly deserving of the City & Guilds qualification.”
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