Professional Security Operative apprenticeship approved by Government

The funding announcement has been made by the Private Security Industry Trailblazer Group and represents the culmination of three years’ worth of diligent work transacted by employers and stakeholders across the security sector in tandem with the Security Industry Authority.

The new apprenticeship* offers a route to employment for those wanting to join the private security industry and those already in employment who wish to progress in their career. It will be reviewed subsequent to the first three years of operation in the sector.

In practice, the apprenticeship – for which external quality assurance is being delivered by Ofqual – will provide funded opportunities for professional training in core security skills and allow employees to choose a specialism: Operational Security Operative, Cash and Valuables in Transit, Mobile Security Patrol or Security Control Room Operative.

The Professional Security Operative apprenticeship is available in the UK. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, employers seeking to access apprenticeship funding should approach their local apprenticeship funding body. Apprenticeship Levy payers in England – ie those employers in the private or public sector with an annual wage bill of more than £3 million – will, for the first time, be able to use their levy to pay for high-quality training for their private security operatives.

Major step forward

Mark Williams, security operations manager for the Parliamentary Security Department and chair of the Private Security Industry Trailblazer Group responsible for developing the apprenticeship, stated: “I’m really pleased that the hard work of employers and others has paid off. This is a major step forward for the industry. This apprenticeship will address some of the workforce issues that we have in play by helping to attract new talent to the industry, as well as assisting in the retention and development of existing staff. I’m extremely proud of the tenacity and collaboration shown by members of the Private Security Industry Trailblazer Group to in a bid to help professionalise the industry.”

Heather Baily QPM, chair of the Security Industry Authority, commented: “We are really pleased to have supported the Private Security Industry Trailblazer Group to achieve this outcome. It’s another great example of the progress that can be made when industry collaborates on skills issues with our support. Hopefully, this development represents a further step along the way towards making the private security industry a career of choice.”

Learners set to enrol

Mitie has confirmed its first cohort of 30 learners are ready to join the Professional Security Operative apprenticeship**, with the company ambitions to welcome more colleagues to the programme “in the near future”.

As soon as the Professional Security Operative apprenticeship programme was approved for delivery, Mitie worked quickly to promote this opportunity within the company and has since witnessed a high demand from colleagues looking to develop a long-term career in the security industry.  

By offering the Professional Security Operative apprenticeship, Mitie aims to “unlock a wealth of opportunities for talent” in the security industry, with a specific focus on the sector’s under-represented groups (including females).

The apprenticeship programme is designed to cater to individuals with a wide range of career backgrounds, which is precisely why Mitie has encouraged applications from any colleagues who may be interested in building a new career within the security industry. This includes aspiring security professionals, such as those who do not currently hold formal qualifications, as well as those individuals who are new to the security industry, among them Mitie colleagues from different parts of the business.

Empowering the workforce

Mitie’s rapid adoption of the new apprenticeship programme is part of its wider commitment to empowering its workforce and driving further development opportunities within the security industry. This includes the company’s close involvement with the Security Skills Board for which Jason Towse (managing director of business services at Mitie) serves as chair.

Towse explained: “As the UK’s leading security provider, we are proud to have been involved in the development of the first Level 2 Professional Security Operative apprenticeship standard for the security industry. We believe every colleague should have the opportunity to progress from the front line to the Boardroom. The launch of this new qualification is just the start in helping more people to realise their career aspirations.”

*Further information on the Level 2 Professional Security Operative apprenticeship can be accessed online by visiting the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education’s website

**Note that enrolments on the apprenticeship programme will only be possible once a suitable end point assessment organisation has given an ‘in principle’ commitment to the Education and Skills Funding Agency to deliver assessments on this new Level 2 apprenticeship standard