From the December print magazine.
A guarding MD comments on the warning from the SIA, reported last issue, that relatively few guards are so far applying for a licence.
Ray Redmore of Bristol-based Security 2000, said: “Has no-one realised that 120,000 guards cannot be trained and tested in such a short period of time? No company can release more than a few guards at at time to take the course without jeopardising the sites on which they are contracted. That alone and the delays caused by booking them on the courses at suitable times, when available; the delay in getting the results back and the delay in applying for a licence and receiving it back; make it very clear that the deadline will have to be extended by at least another six months and probably longer. Left as it is, it means that over 20,000 guards a month must take the course, pass it, apply for the licence and receive it back. This is logistically impossible with such a diverse and widely spread number of individuals such as we have in this industry.”
Short cuts complaint
A grumble much heard in door supervision and now contract security guard circles concerns short cuts on training. That is, staff pass through the necessary training in a fraction of the time they are supposed to; and when cases are put to the SIA, it says that it’s not a matter for the regulator.
Barry Davis, of Newcastle upon Tyne guarding company Hall Associates gave the case of a recent joiner from another company who reported that while there he went through training for the SIA contract guard licence (should be four days) in four hours. As Barry Hall commented, the guard’s firm was still charged £200 for that officer’s training: “Which is nice money if you can get it. We are doing it by the book, but it appears other people aren’t.” Barry Davis reports that the company is looking to become a SITO-approved trainer, not only to train the firm’s own staff – and save money there – but to fill what Barry calls a severe lack of training in the north east. His take on the months before the March deadline for guard licences: “A lot of smaller companies are burying their heads in the sand.” Namely, they will not spend money now, instead waiting to see the SIA deadline extended. The SIA’s approved contractor scheme is frightening a lot of smaller guard firms, Barry Davis adds, but he does not think the ACS should be frightening, if you follow the documents offered. While the SIA is vague about the cost of the ACS, in his view, the seeming cost of £1-2,000 for a smaller company isn’t bad, in his opinion. But it may be ‘telephone numbers’, he adds, for larger firms. Is his firm looking to join the ACS, then? “We would have to,” he replies, because it would be difficult to trade otherwise, a common feeling among guard firms. As for security officer pay, he agrees with Bill Muskin of VSG that there will not be an immediate rise in pay rates. Officers can ask – indeed, are asking – if they will get an extra £1 with a licence, but Barry’s point is that any rise has to come from clients. Any rise will be gradual, he believes.
SIA view
On that question of who to complain to about training irregularities, the training and exams are totally independent from SIA control, according to the regulator.
The SIA says that training courses are designed by the SIA with the industry and the qualification awarding bodies. Once a course and qualification is approved by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, it becomes an independent qualification and the delivery of the course and exam is overseen by the relevant awarding body. There are strict guidelines for the delivery of training and exam conditions so if anyone has any concerns over quality of training, they should contact the awarding body. Awarding bodies’ contact info is on the SIA website.
