The framework is the brainchild of Skills for Security, G4S and academics at Bucks New University and the University of Worcester, with all of the individuals involved massively keen on raising the bar when it comes to professional development in the security sector.
Valerie Dale, the excellent Human Resources Director at G4S Secure Solutions (UK), was a guest speaker at Tuesday’s launch, describing how the courses form an integral part of the company’s new Learning and Development strategy – a strategy that’s being made available to all 18,500 of its UK employees.
The framework of qualifications that includes ‘Securing The Future’ – the joint initiative between Bucks New University and The University of Worcester Business School – links the Foundation Degree in Business Management for the security industries to a third year top-up and the Leading to Excellence programme (first reported by Security Management Today Online in our comprehensive review of the recent Security Institute Annual Conference at the same venue).
The hybrid security and business degree was Skills for Security’s idea (first alluded to in SMT’s interview with David Greer back in 2008, in which he made the parallel with hybrid qualifications for the IT industry in the 1990s) and officially launched at Missenden Abbey by Greer himself. “Skills for Security was the catalyst,” said Greer. “We brought the two universities together to work on the degree’s development.”
Business-critical and security-critical modules
These qualifications form a natural progression from G4S’ ‘Step Up’ and ‘Step Ahead’ development initiatives for employees. Together, these provide business-critical and security-critical modules to underpin practical experience in the industry with recognised qualifications.
Addressing delegates who included representatives of the Metropolitan Police Service, private sector security companies and security professionals from both public and private sector organisations, Dale revealed how the new courses would integrate with G4S’ “groundbreaking” new strategy.
The strategy is a simple and laudable one, its aim being to take entry level employees (often without formal qualifications) and put in place for them a cohesive plan to train and develop each individual all the way through their career path.
G4S’ Learning and Development strategy incorporates a range of mandatory, elective, bespoke elements and qualifications, from Security Industry Authority licensing, First Aid, Skills for Life and soft skills requirements through to role-specific and NVQ Level 2 courses such as the Stewarding & Spectator Safety course.
The strategy also includes G4S’ own aforementioned ‘Step Up’ and ‘Step Ahead’ qualifications, designed for those with potential to progress into management roles. These are mapped to NVQ2 and NVQ3 level.
The ‘Securing The Future’ programme then paves the way for employees to build on their portfolio, which could lead to an MBA level qualification.
Great news for the security industry
Dale commented: “The launch of these qualifications is great news for the security industry. They form an integral part of our own Learning and Development strategy to support real career progression, and equip our employees with the skills, knowledge and qualifications to carry out their roles to the very best of their abilities.”
In addition, Dale stated: “The Learning and Development strategy applies to frontline staff, management and support staff so everyone has the opportunity to learn and develop. We give our employees the opportunity to underpin their practical experience with training relevant to their role, from ‘soft skills’ such as the new course on talent fairness and equality, written in conjunction with ACAS and the GMB Trade Union, through to functional qualifications such as CIPD and CIMA where appropriate.”
Concluding, Dale explained: “G4S has recognised that investment in training, particularly during a downturn, puts the company in the strongest position possible to gain competitive advantage in an economic recovery. We aim to significantly increase the number of learners going through our programmes and qualifications over the next 12 months.”
For further details on Security Week – an event subtitled ‘Safety, Sustainability and Crowd Management’ – click the dedicated links provided on the right hand panel of this page
G4S’ Learning and Development strategy is sounding good and is essential for any new employee. The training process seems to be more useful thereby imparting the necessary knowledge and skills for its learners.
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