Security Skills Board maps out next steps for progression at London meeting

Now a Community Interest Company, the Board includes chair Jason Towse (managing director of Mitie’s Business Services division) and deputy chair Adrian White (chief operating officer at Carlisle Support Services). On the day, Towse and White shared proposals to launch a National Skills Academy for Security and, as part of this, develop a Security Skills Passport (ideas which received overwhelming support from those industry leaders present).

Security academic Professor Martin Gill presented the findings of the inaugural National Security Skills Survey, which had a particular focus on the skills needs of security operatives employed by micro entities and SMEs (ie companies with up to 500 employees) to inform the development of services for the National Skills Academy. In total, 66% of those individuals surveyed felt that obtaining funding to pay for training courses was a significant barrier to the career development of security operatives.

Also, 44% of respondents to the survey cited the lack of accessibility to existing training courses as a barrier, underpinning the need for a National Skills Academy to support security operatives’ development in the private sector encompassing skills and knowledge, management training and career progression.

Assistance from employers

An initial phase of development for the Security Skills Board and the early development stages for the National Skills Academy have been supported by funding from the Skills Board as well as early investors and the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

Given that National Skills Academies have traditionally been funded via Government and employer-matched funding, the Security Skills Board has highlighted the need for employers to aid the creation of the National Skills Academy, duly calling on industry leaders to offer financial and pastoral support.

Bob Betts, managing director of The Elite Academy and Board sponsor for the proposed National Skills Academy’s Accreditation Scheme, and Lisa Baskott (founder and CEO of 2nd Line of Defence) held a Q&A session exploring ideas of how this will set a standard for training management, product development and delivery. Both training providers and trainers can be assessed and endorsed by the Accreditation Scheme to aspirational standards, while ensuring that all National Skills Academy training products are capability-based and aligned with profession mapping capabilities.

Capability Framework 

Further initiatives were launched during the event, among them a Capability Framework and ‘Profession Map’. These were outlined by Board member Gemma Quirke (chief operating officer at Wilson James).

A career pathway for private security and a pilot mentoring programme scheme entitled ‘Momentum’ have been designed by Rosa Osman (director of people development at Wilson James) and were presented by Paul Lawton-Jones, managing director of Mercury Training. The aim of the mentoring scheme is to produce an upskilled workforce with benefits for individuals such as career progression opportunities. Employers will enjoy access to a dynamic and forward-thinking workforce.

Jason Towse commented: “I’ve been part of the security sector for over 30 years and this has been the largest gathering of industry leaders that I can remember. I was overwhelmed by the spirit of collaboration and shared purpose in the room and have been amazed by the tremendous offers of support from the industry, including from previous members of the Board and the SIA.”

Towse added: “The National Skills Academy will be central to ensuring that our sector offers access to meaningful and practical development opportunities. We welcome the sector coming together to support it, whether that’s through investing in the Academy, mentoring, signing the Skills Pledge or just simply continuing dialogue with the Skills Board about security skills. We’re excited to work together to make security a career of choice.”

Partners and stakeholders

The Security Skills Board was established in March 2022 by the SIA and the City Security Council. The Skills Board works closely with partners and stakeholders alike to reshape the face of UK security: improving standards, leading innovation, championing what works and improving what doesn’t.

The Skills Board is made up of highly qualified and hugely experienced members from the world of private security services who have come together to propel the industry towards an enhanced future.

Members of the Security Skills Board are as follows:

*Chair: Jason Towse (managing director, Mitie Business Services)

*Deputy Chair: Adrian White (chief operating officer, Carlisle Support Services)

*Lisa Baskott (founder and CEO, 2nd Line of Defence)

*Satia Rai (chief operating officer at Leverage Security and CEO, IPSA)

*Gemma Quirke (chief operating officer, Wilson James)

*Alistair Sutherland (deputy chief constable, British Transport Police)

*Rosa Osman (director of people development, Wilson James)

*Bob Betts (managing director, The Elite Academy)

*Patrick Holdaway (superintendent, National Business Crime Centre)

*Paul Lawton-Jones (managing director, Mercury Training Services)

*Further information is available online at www.security-skills.org