![Mark Harding speaks at FSOA Conference Mark Harding speaks at FSOA Conference](https://www.securitynewsdesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Mark_Harding_speaks_at_FSOA_Conference-300x199.jpg)
Showsec, as the official Main Partner to the Football Safety Officer Association (FSOA) and conference sponsor, was proactive in engaging conference delegates at the associations Harrogate Conference, 10th October 2012. The focal point of the Company’s offer to delegates was to learn about the new online e-learning platform.
FSOA Chairman John Newsham’s opening speech highlighted the advances made by the association in 20 years, particularly in learning important lessons from the Hillsborough disaster and he applauded the efforts and achievements of members in raising safety standards at football grounds. He stressed the strategic and commercial benefits of the new partnership with Showsec, introducing an address to the delegates by Managing Director Mark Harding.
Mark stated:
“We are proud to be associated with the FSOA members and to support the conference, sharing information with the common objectives of public safety. Looking forwards we all are facing new challenges in times of economic austerity and we are looking to share our experiences and ideas for innovative measures to improve efficiency whilst striving for high standards.”
Mark focused on three areas relating to education and professional development of Safety Officers and football stewards that could be of help to clubs of all sizes, he explained:
“As a company we embarked on producing a Management Development Program in 2007. This involved writing industry relevant training modules incorporating administration, leadership and operational topics. We partnered with University of Derby Corporate to underpin course content and accreditation. These courses have been created to enhance what the FSOA offer rather than replace, which can lead to qualifications and be used as part of continual professional development towards foundation degree and we are now offering to deliver these courses for FSOA members.”
“In partnership with University Derby Corporate we now have an online e-learning platform with 60 training modules appertaining to event security and to date have delivered 11,000 modules on line, including courses with content specific to large events this summer. The e-learning platform gave us the flexibility and made it economically viable to train 1,500 staff, at multiple geographic locations across the UK, with modules including specific anti-terrorist security knowledge for staff working on the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London and parallel Olympic events in Hyde Park and Victoria Park.
Mark explained the cost saving and other benefits this training platform offers and invited delegated to experience a fully interactive demonstration on the Companies exhibition stand throughout the conference, where Ian Cobby from Showsec’s training department joined colleagues to give delegates hands on explanations as to how it could work for them.
FSOA members can either call Ian Cobby on 0116 2043317 to discuss their specific training requirements, or send an email to ian.cobby@showsec.co.uk to gain access to Showsec’s e-learning platform and find out how it can help them save money and introduce flexibility and convenient access in their delivery of staff training.
For more information on courses available through the University of Derby Corporate please visit http://www.derby.ac.uk/corporate/cepd/programmes