Skills for installers

SKILLS

It’s competition time!

David Scott, Managing Director of Skills for Security discusses WorldSkills and Engineers of Tomorrow, the UK's only fire and security competition

This month will see twelve of the best apprentice engineers go head-to-head to be crowned UK's Engineers of Tomorrow (EoT) and WorldSkills (WSUK) champions.

The competition, which encompasses two separate events – one for electronic security installers and the other for installers of fire safety devices – aims to help tackle the growing engineering skills gap and attract and retain the next generation of security and fire systems installers. This year saw over 180 entrants take part across the two competitions, a number only set to increase as the competition continues to grow.

Despite continued disruption due to the pandemic, the 2021 event is in full flow, with the finalists now having been revealed. The standards were once again extremely high this year.

The final of this year’s competition will take place at Skills for Security in Warrington. Skills for Security are contracted with WSUK as competition organising partners to run and manage the event on behalf of the fire and security sector. Skills for Security, as the leading sector apprenticeship and training provider, works closely with partners throughout the sector to ensure the competition is delivered above industry standards.

The competition is a gruelling two-day event, where the apprentices need to survey, design, plan, install, commission, repair, maintain, and audit fire and security systems. The competition is designed in such a way to be a level above the standard of even the best engineers in the UK. The purpose of this is that the apprentices are challenged above their normal day to day duties. To do this, they will be using the latest technologies, such as Texecom Cloud, CSL Gemini and HIK Connect to carry out full remote maintenance and diagnostic activities throughout the competition.

The competition couldn't be a success without our partners and friends and this year is no different. SSAIB and the NSI auditors will work closely with lead judge Darrell Gilmour (SfS) to assess and judge this year's competition. "Having the leading inspectorates from both the NSI and SSAIB really adds great value to the judging process” says Darrell, “I am both thrilled and excited to be leading this year judging for the competition."

The fire and security sector is well-represented at this year's competition with all four nations being involved in the competition, we have finalists from Scotland, Northern Ireland, the North West of England and the South. Apprentices will receive grant funding through WSUK and Skills for Security to attend the competition (for security competition only).

This year saw over 180 entrants take part across the two competitions, a number only set to increase as the competition continues to grow

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 emailinfo@skillsforsecurity.org.uk

How much is the ECS Systems Operative course and card? At present, SfS is the only organisation offering a systems operative level 2 course, and this is priced competitively at £100 plus VAT. The cards and assessments cost another £150, and this is payable to ECS.

How do I sign up to do the course before applying? info@skillsforsecurity.org.uk – the team there will give you all the info you need.

SKILLS

The fire and security sector is wellrepresented at this year's competition with all four nations being involved in the competition, we have finalists from Scotland, Northern Ireland, the North West of England and the South

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THE FINALISTS OF THE SECURITY COMPETITION ARE:

Richard Collingwood • Training provider is Banham Academy • Employed by JCI Gianluca Mori • Training provider is Banham Academy • Employed by Banham Group Owen Nelson • Training provider is Skills for Security • Employed by EFT Thomas Docherty • Training provider is NCL • Employed by JCI Sean Kent • Training provider is Banham Academy • Employed by JCI Tony Steer • Training provider is Banham Academy • Employed by JCI Peter Smylie • Training provider is SERC • Employed by Beacon NI Lucas Hearn • Training provider is Banham Academy • Employed by Banham Group THE FINALISTS OF THE FIRE COMPETITION ARE:

James Mcintyre • Training provider is SfS • Employed by EFT Josh Stewart • Training provider is GTG • Employed by Assured LTD Adam Smylie • Training provider is SERC • Employed by Beacon NI Leo Green • Training provider is SfS • Employed by BK Fire Jessica Goodson • Training provider is Banham Academy • Employed by JCI Like all years, there are many sponsors involved in providing a range of support to organise and run such competitions. This year’s sponsors are: Skills for Security, Texecom, CSL, Hik Vision, Apollo, Advanced, IFSEC, FIREX, BSIA, FIA, NSI and SSAIB. Want to become a sponsor and support the future of the sector? Please email d.scott@skillsforsecurity.org.uk

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