The Value of Training and Apprenticeships in the Security Industry

A skilled workforce is the cornerstone of every profession.

At IFSEC 2016, Mark Cunningham made a convincing case for choosing an apprenticeship in the security industry. The training manager at Skills for Security outlined how trainees work alongside experienced staff, gain job-specific skills, earn a wage, get holiday pay and study towards a related qualification to boot.

“Apprentice installers are the future of this industry and we should do everything possible to encourage them to attain and uphold the highest professional standards,” Cunningham said.

A supporter of the Engineers of Tomorrow installation competition, which takes place every year at IFSEC, Skills for Security is certainly playing its part on encouraging apprenticeships.

Not only do apprenticeships underpin industry standards, they can also result in a satisfying and rewarding career, as the following three case studies prove.

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“You don’t need to be technically-minded or involved in security to appreciate the benefits of managing your personal and company information”

Terri Jones, director general, Skills for Security

I didn’t know much about the security industry before I came to work at Skills for Security. Whilst at BSI I had a colleague who managed our security and risk section. I had worked with him briefly when SIA licensing was introduced and later on when I became an information security auditor.

I did find information security management fascinating and it is something I am still pleased to talk to anyone about as you don’t need to be technically-minded or involved in security to appreciate the benefits of managing your personal and company information.

My current role is varied and interesting; as a company we are the largest deliverer of electronic security systems apprenticeships, which is extremely rewarding, and we recently set up a new training centre in Birmingham, which is reporting 100% exam pass rates for our learners.

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“Security isn’t a small profession; no one person can be an expert in every part”

Neil Boulter, Security & Risk Manager, Experian UK

One of the things that makes security interesting for me is that it’s an integral part of every business process and solution, so you get to see a lot of the business and how it works. Security isn’t a small profession; it’s huge and no one person can be an expert in every part.

Everyone has a role to play and I’m there to provide guidance in any area of business to ensure we end up with a secure process, solution or service.

What I enjoy is the variety, the chance to be involved in every aspect of a business and to provide people with the knowledge they need to do business in a way where they understand the risks, have taken the steps they are comfortable with to mitigate those risks and know how to handle any issues that may occur.

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“The guard on a gatehouse is how I imagined security before I came to work in the industry. Now I know differently”

Dawn Holmes, Vice President Corporate Security for Bank of America Merrill Lynch

I lapped up the courses and soon found myself with an amazing CV. Education wise, I have completed many foundation courses and I have an Advanced Certificate in Environmental Design & Crime Prevention and a MSc in Security & Risk Management.

The guard on a gatehouse is how I imagined security before I came to work in the industry. Now I know differently. The security industry is so varied and every day is different.

I was really lucky. In my first few years in security I worked in retail, logistics, corporate and manufacturing. I worked with special branch, dealt with bombs and handled investigations. I really saw just how wide-ranging the industry is and how there would be a facet of the industry that would appeal to many different people.