Bob Doyle, Director of Commercial Services at Skills for Security reports on the skills body’s conference in Belfast on November 11.
Pictured is classic car enthusiast and ex-Royal Ulster Constabulary crime prevention man Norman Gibson’s red TR6, parked impeccably at The Security Institute stand.
In its second conference in Northern Ireland Skills for Security retained the "Time to Change Gear" theme used for its England & Wales conference but here, with licensing set to be introduced in 12 months time, the speakers concentrated on the changes that regulation would bring.<br><br>Speaking at the impressive La Mon Hotel close to Belfast, Andy Drane, Deputy Chief Executive of the SIA, gave a clear and forthright appraisal of the operational difficulties that the SIA has struggled with, and the actions that have been taken to put things right. His message was a positive one for Northern Ireland in that the regulator has learned from its previous challenges and really is stepping up a gear.<br><br>Jane McKenna, a training director, pulled no punches when she explained the amount of resource – both administrative and financial – that her previous employer, a major Guarding company, had to devote to the preparation for licensing its English workforce. <br><br>Jane’s message was a warning to employers in Northern Ireland, of whatever size, that the preparation for licensing needs to be planned and managed if disruption to the business is to be minimised. <br><br>This being the 11th November, the delegates observed a two minute silence at 11am before hearing from Siofra O’Reilly of the Federation for the Licensed Retail Trade. Siofra provided an overview of the positive impact that training has had on the security of licensed premises and those that visit or work within them. The role of the door supervisor is changing, she explained, and it is only by equipping the teams with the right skills and knowledge that they can reduce the frequency of violence and deliver the higher standards of customer service now expected of them.<br><br>One of the major factors in determining whether a security operative is granted a licence is the attainment of a relevant qualification. Professor Jill Brunt, Chief executive of the awarding body NOCN, urged delegates to look beyond this simple basic necessity and to recognise the wealth of benefits that flow from a workforce that is encouraged to continue to learn and develop, and the importance that recognition, in the form of attainment of qualifications, plays in motivating staff towards continual professional improvement.<br><br>In an entertaining presentation Norman Gibson, security advisor to Belfast schools, asked "What’s wrong with the gear I’m in?" (He was talking about the security situation in Northern Ireland, not the clothes he stood up in!) and discussed the way in which security, crime and policing has changed and continues to change since the start of the peace process.<br><br>The Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Paul Goggins MP, congratulated the audience for their commitment to raising standards, evidenced by their attendance at the conference. He reiterated the need to bring Northern Ireland into the regulatory framework that exists in the rest of the UK and outlined the benefits that would flow from a unified cross-country approach to licensing individuals. The minister accepted that there would be difficulties and that some individuals would not meet the new criteria, but the SIA’s purpose was to improve public safety and raise confidence in the industry’s ability to deliver quality services, and that was being achieved.<br><br>Brendan Flynn, Managing Director of Federal Security Services (which also won the "Contribution to Skills Development in Northern Ireland" Award at the event) welcomed the introduction of licensing into the province. Brendan urged delegates to seize the opportunities that would be presented by the introduction of minimum standards and the ACS scheme, and encouraged them to look upon the new requirements for training as a statutory minimum which employers should be seeking to exceed.<br> <br>Summing up the messages delivered by the speakers, Skills for Security Chief Executive David Greer said "This new era offers opportunities for those security professionals who have the courage to adapt to the new order and make it work for them. The new licensing regulations are – or should be – just the beginning of a journey. A journey that will help this industry to raise its game, raise its profile, raise its status and take its rightful place as an important, respected and valued member of the business community. <br><br>He went on to urge employers to face up to their individual responsibility for improving standards of professionalism, saying "They are your employees. They are your decisions. It’s your future. You need to make the commitment. But Skills for Security is here to encourage you, to guide you and to work alongside you in trying to smooth the pathway towards the future that we all want to see."
