8 minute read
Promoting professionalism
New up and coming talent
David Scott of Skills for Security would like to introduce you all to an incredible young person he recently met
See a video of James’s visit here
James, a 12-year-old student studying at Pontville School, an independent specialist school based in Lancashire, attended our Skills for Security training centre in Warrington to run a mini project installing Texecom Premier Elite, CSL signalling and a Concept Smoke Fog Unit. At only 12, James has spent the last two years selfteaching himself all things fire and security, where he has thousands of pounds of equipment in his bedroom. James proudly showed the Skills for Security team, and he has agreed for us to share, the impressive collection of bell boxes and fire and security equipment installed throughout his bedroom.
This incredible young man has blown us away with his in-depth knowledge of the industry, and we believe James will have a great career in the industry. At just 12 years old, James has gone on to plan his route into sector. He has even begun making plans for his future company (JP Fire and Security), where he will offer high-end fire and security installations throughout the UK. We do not doubt that James will make this a massive success. Not sure his mum is impressed with the master blasters he sets off regularly in the house, but we are sure he will make it up to her when he has his own successful company.
We decided to invite James into our Warrington centre after first being introduced to him by Managing Director Matt Gilmartin, Concept Smoke Screen, to look around and talk to our tutors to gain more insight into his knowledge and ability. Quoting Matt, “To say I was impressed by James’ knowledge of our industry and technical aptitude is a bit like saying the Queen has been on the throne for a little while. To put it another way, he’s astonishing.”
Once introduced, the team at SfS wanted to do something a bit different, so on his first visit, he was provided with an operational requirements document, and from there, he was invited back one week later, where he was asked to plan and execute the installation of an intruder alarm system, signalling unit and fog generator. James, at only 12, took the challenge head-on, claiming the whole thing could be done from scratch in as little as two hours. James didn’t disappoint and arrived one week later with an equipment list, tools, manuals, and a plan to succeed.
David (SfS MD) met James and said, “James is an inspiration and a reminder that the fire and security sector can be a career of choice for everyone, regardless of age, gender or other challenges. In the short time I met him, James was proof of that, and I am excited to watch his journey over the years.”
Skills for Security look forward to welcoming James back into the centre for challenge number two; maybe we will put him through his EPA (endpoint assessment) which is the fire and security competency-based exam to see how he fares.
You can follow James on YouTube, where he posts regular training footage and product reviews; he is undoubtedly one to watch.
YOUR SKILLS QUESTIONS ANSWERED
As part of this column you can ask David questions directly about training and apprenticeships. We will aim, to publish the question and answer in the next column. If you want to participate in this, then email info@skillsforsecurity.org.uk
Are there any incentives for recruiting an apprentice?
The government still offer up to £1K incentive for SMEs recruiting 16-18 year olds.
When is your next enrolment/induction of FESS apprentices?
We enroll new apprentices every other month, with dates in September and November available. www.skills4security.com/events We would like to thank sponsors CSL, Texecom and Concept Smoke for their kind donations to James.
STANDARDS
Promoting professionalism
Rhiannon Limbert of Linx International Group talks to PSI about the importance of installation companies using standards to measure progress
By definition, professionalism involves consistently achieving high standards, both visibly and "behind the scenes" –whatever your role or profession. Whilst there are no ‘official rules’ to professionalism within security, there are ways to measure progress and ability. Measuring ourselves against verifiable standards represents four things: • A commitment to excellence • A dedication to the commitment of continual training and development • A shared desire to professionalise the wider sector (in this case, the security sector) • A marker of sector development
Much has been written about personal development in recent times. Examples of unethical behaviour from rogue traders have perpetuated feelings of distrust, wariness, and a general lack of confidence within the security consumer market. This is then unfairly painted across the technical security profession when the majority of technical security professionals are very good at what they do.
Sector-wide improvements
By advocating for technical security professionals to commit to a framework for raising professional standards, we are simultaneously advocating for sector-wide improvements which ultimately protect the consumer. This is achievable by having a welldefined set of professional standards from which an individual can measure themselves against. For example, for a professional to become CTSP Registered the applicant must either carry formal accreditations relevant to their role or demonstrate competency by submission of a portfolio of evidence meeting the required standard of qualification and/or experience. Renewal requires evidence of Continuous Professional Development. By investing the time to become formally registered with any membership body demonstrates an individual’s commitment to bettering themselves whilst upholding the integral value of that body.
Setting the standard
As many professional organisations will know, spearheading this type of progression isn’t without its challenges. Ultimately for lasting change to take place, benefits to registrants/members must be both visible and effective in improving outcomes for individuals, consumers, and businesses alike.
But thanks to the growth of respected membership and registration bodies such as the SSAIB, NSI, and CTSP we’re slowly starting to see change across the industry.
SSAIB’s remit as a certification body for example is to protect the interests of the consumer (purchasers, specifiers, and end users) by requiring registered organisations to meet criteria appropriate to the services they provide. The UKAS-accredited NSI aims to secure the highest standards of safety and security for buyers of commercial and domestic fire and security systems, through independent, third-party audit and certification. CTSP meanwhile was formed as a means of recognising the competency and integrity of technical and electronic security professionals fulfilling roles in the security and fire systems sectors. This includes: engineers/technicians (installation, maintenance and commissioning), system designers, auditors and consultants. It allows consumers, employers and contractors to search a national register to validate professional competency. In order to be accepted onto the CTSP Register, applicants must meet entry criteria and supplement their application with supporting evidence. Examples of unethical behaviour from rogue traders have perpetuated feelings of distrust, wariness, and a general lack of confidence within the security consumer market
STANDARDS
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Each of the above exists to safeguard either the employer, the contractor, or the end-user from low standards. To the consumer, it identifies that company/individual as being authentic, and able to contract out work or equipment to upheld standards, otherwise their membership could be revoked. It’s almost like an insurance policy for the consumer who can rest assured that anyone who carries one of the above certifications is working to an established bar of distinction. Benefits of membership then are experienced by both the individual and/or the business. Professionally speaking, certification (or registration) from any of these companies is a mark of excellence.
Defining measures
But what happens if we don’t have standards to measure progress? What if there’s nothing upholding the security industry to a higher, better standard? As we cannot measure ourselves against ourselves, what is ‘good’ that isn’t subjective to the individual person?
Peter Jones, one of the Directors of the Security Institute, widely advocates for reliable standards to measure one’s professional development and abilities against and for him, CTSP is one of the bodies facilitating this: “Like it says on the tin, this is a standard aimed at the technical security profession. Without standards we cannot measure anything. As professionals we should be constantly progressing and, from time to time, checking ourselves against the designated membership body or standard we’re holding ourselves to, be it a professional accreditation, training qualification, or the completion of your CPD requirement for the year. In this way, we can measure and take responsibility for our own growth.”
But there’s also a secondary argument for the support of using standards to measure progress. Whilst it’s imperative for the individual to continually develop and check themselves, verifiable standards act as a barometer for the forward momentum of the wider security sector. It can be viewed as a marker for industry development and how far we have progressed since the industry first began. Thirty years ago, there would be very few ways to gauge whether your intruder alarm fitter was certified, competent and legit. Much would be taken on trust and word of mouth. There were certainly very few training certificates from verified centres. With the advocating for improving the sector – backed by these respected bodies - we can look back and say: “Yep, this is how we used to do it, but now we know better and do it this way for XYZ reasons.”
Future issues
The opportunities and challenges facing UK security professions are great. With the advancement of technology and a DIY attitude perpetuated by the Covid-19 pandemic there are numerous opportunities for people to take technical security into their own novice hands. Professional bodies have a crucial role to play in making sure their members are able to seize the opportunities and squarely meet the challenges. At a time when the security industry is growing at an unprecedented rate it’s as much in the industry’s developmental interest as it is the employees to uphold professional standards and regulation.
In theory, the benefits of the technical security sector promoting this attitude should be felt by all: • Customers have access to high quality
