Conviction to succeed... and some help to make it happen

The MSD/NZSA Skills for Industry Security Programme gives a young man with a rough start and dreams of better things a hand to succeed in the security industry.

In his 23 years, Luke* has faced numerous challenges. Homeless, on a benefit at 16 and with a conviction to his name, he was determined to expand his horizons.

“I was driven to put all my skills and life experiences into something that will better myself and help people from all places and walks of life.”

He was struggling on low-paying jobs, when he went to Work and Income (WINZ) for help and saw a poster for a Skills for Industry programme. It offered a pathway to work in the security industry.

Security was an industry that had always appealed, but he considered out of reach because of his previous conviction.

Luke made a call and the very next day he was contacted by Andrea Charlton, the New Zealand Security Association’s (NZSA) employment broker manager for the Skills for Industry Security Programme.

The programme is a partnership between the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and the NZSA. It helps to recruit and train Work and Income clients with the skills the security industry needs.

Andrea saw his excellent attitude, and although she advised his conviction could make securing a licence and position more difficult, she encouraged him to pursue the opportunity.

Luke needed to be issued a Certificate of Approval (COA) by the PSPLA in order to start training in security. His first application failed because of his conviction, but Andrea encouraged him to appeal.

“From experience, the best things in life don’t come easily,” Luke said. “I constantly reminded myself that everything was out in the open and I had nothing more to hide and nothing else to lose.”

The NZSA provided a letter of support while Luke obtained references from family, friends, previous employers and his counsellor. His appeal was successful and a COA was granted.

With his COA in hand he was recommended for a role in a security company.

His new employer said that Luke came dressed to impress with a great attitude and maturity. He was signed up that day, and with a high-end event scheduled for that evening he was working within hours of the interview.

“I won’t lie, it was definitely nerve racking…but I did everything in my power to assure it went by like a breeze,” he said.

Luke’s long-term plans include more training, and he has his eye set on cyber security and the goal of becoming a CISO.

The NZSA has many member companies who need staff but require vetting before they will consider them. The Skills for Industry Security Programme acts as a filter, ensuring that candidates presented are the ones that have a very good chance of succeeding.

It also covers wages for the first six weeks of employment while the new recruit is training. There are further incentives for the employer when the employee reaches three and six months of employment.

Andrea says that “while around one in ten of those who come forward for the programme are suitable for uptake, the long-term employment prospects of those who succeed are excellent.”

When a young person makes a mistake, it can affect their ability to gain quality work for many years. Through the Skills for Industry Security Programme, the MSD and NZSA are keen to ensure those who want to move forward and into a rewarding career in security are not being held back at the door. *Not his real name