We have all heard comments such as “He/ She is very professional” or someone describing another’s actions as “so unprofessional”. But what does it mean? How do we assess that?

My opinion is that standards of professionalism and appropriate behaviour filters are largely built into a person. You start learning them from a young age and they have lots to do with your learnt and taught behaviour as a child, youth and adult.

Professional Standards is the term often used to describe an organisation’s rules of behaviour or ethics. I worked at various levels within Professional Standards departments for about a third of my policing career and I have seen behaviour that would definitely be described as unprofessional when held against a backdrop of policing London (or any city for that matter).

It is my experience that frontline operatives of any profession are expected to have higher standards of professionalism than other members of the general public. Frontline shop staff, rail and road workers, police, healthcare professionals and security teams are all subject to greater scrutiny. This has only been exacerbated in the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will continue as lockdown measures ease. Frontline operatives are regularly exposed to incidents involving conflict whereby they are verbally and sometimes physically abused – their action, inaction, or indeed, reaction being filmed in order to sensationalise across social media. Everyone will take a view. Many will take to commenting, few will support. How do we help ourselves?

My only advice during the COVID-19 pandemic and into the future is: “Maintain your professionalism and implement your training”.

There is that word again. Professionalism. So let’s examine what it means for the security professional.

I think there are three basic stages:

• Training
• Service delivery
• CPD Training

It all starts with the right training. A lot of frontline security is licensed by the SIA and you need to choose a training provider to teach you how to deal with the experiences you will encounter. You need to choose one that is professional.

There are some training providers that have seen an opportunity to make money. They have identified  opportunities in the awarding body’s processes that allow them to exploit people for money.  They are often significantly cheaper than others; you may even arrive and never get taught anything. They will “complete” the course for you and send you away on the first day declaring they will fill out the paperwork and sort everything out. You think you have had a result; after all, you are busy and they are doing you a favour.

Everyone is happy. They advise you to apply for your licence some weeks later after you receive a certificate for a course you have never actually completed.

You get a licence, they get their money and no one is any the wiser.

You are “trained” and you hold a licence.

But you don’t actually know what to do, professionally, in situations of real conflict. You can revert to basic human instinct, you can react as an ordinary member of the public, but you can’t revert to your training, as you haven’t had any. Despite what your licence says.

You know it’s not right, you must know this, but you don’t care because it was cheap and you have been earning money as you have a licence.

It’s not professional, the company is not professional. We don’t need the awarding body list of professional standards to tell us this. It’s obvious …. .isn’t it?

True professionals in security would choose a respectable and professional training provider. If confronted with the above situation they would walk away and seek someone else. However hard a course is , there is personal satisfaction and pride in completing and passing. Maybe that’s the difference? Pride?

Service Delivery

We have seen that our unprofessional operator doesn’t care about their training, so they’re unlikely to care about the client or the quality of the service delivered. They just want to earn money. They might be late sometimes, leave early, not follow company process, be a bit aggressive, leave things lying around, not lock gates, fall asleep during shift, take photos of client property, upload private information onto social media in order to promote themselves. They might be a bit scruffy, gossip about everyone and go all out to try and make others around them look bad. We have all met them. None of us want to work with them.

But do we challenge it? Is this sort of behaviour inbuilt? Surely no training course in the world could have righted those traits? Probably not, but a good training provider might have failed them.

Our professional operator is smart and on time,  they do some personal research on the area and determine what may be a risk to them, they are subtle and discrete and they know not to post photos or comment on social media that could embarrass them. Perhaps they learnt some of that research and service delivery tips on their training course, the rest will be inbuilt standards. The company professional standards policy /lists of behaviours come as no surprise to this operator because they have high standards of professionalism.

CPD

Our unprofessional operator doesn’t know what this is; they have their licence, that means they can work and earn money. What’s the point? New laws, learning lessons from tragedies, new skills, modern thinking, keeping the public safer. Who cares? Not this call sign. It’s all about the money.

Our professional operator is keeping abreast of the news, they are watching, with interest, the development of new legislation and training that will help them to deliver a better service, they are on webinars mixing with other professional operators learning good practice and sharing best practice. They are signing up for career development courses and webinars. They care. They have pride. Some may want to sign up to one of the security membership organisations where they  can demonstrate and evidence how professional they are. Others may gather a following on business platforms and encourage healthy debate using respectful and inclusive language, their best practice opinions may resonate with others and they may change and shape the thinking of others.

Most professional operators don’t fear the professional standards of the company they work for because their standards of professionalism already moderate their behaviours. Nothing in the list causes them to have to change their behaviours, because the list is obvious, right?

We all strive to be just like the professional operator. We all want to work with people and companies just like that. If you are like that, come and work with me at the Security Institute

 Angie Clarke CSyP FSyI

Director

The Security Institute

www.security-institute.org

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Security Covid-19 back to work training

The Security Institute, the UK’s largest non-profit membership organisation for security professionals, has launched two new online COVID-19 Back to Work training courses. The ‘Standard Operating Procedure for returning to work COVID-19: Induction Course’ and ‘COVID-19 Compliance Officer’ courses have been created to help organisations train their staff according to the public health requirements, addressing the current COVID-19 associated risks.

As lockdown measures start to be eased across the country, on site work can now recommence for many organisations. Navigating the work environment post-lockdown presents an array of new challenges for organisations to consider in order to ensure the safety of their employees, customers and the wider general public.

There have already been several instances of COVID-19 outbreaks that have been traced back to a specific workplace reported in the national news, take Dura Beds in Bately as a recent example. Organisations have a duty of care to their employees, customers and the wider community to ensure that any return to the workplace is conducted safely, and strictly follows the current government guidelines.

These new courses from the Security Institute help ensure that organisations and their teams are ready to safely return to work. The courses clearly outline the procedures to follow during the recommencement of work, which will help maintain a sanitary workplace as well as improve employee confidence as we collectively face these new unprecedented changes.

The ‘COVID-19 Compliance Officer’ specifically focuses on workplace management best practices, detailing the essential considerations and processes that need to be implemented, to ensure that your site is employee-friendly and prepared to combat the spread of infection.

In addition to expanding on the now-familiar 2-metre social distancing measures, the courses also provide guidance for other imperative workplace considerations to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading on your site; this includes how First Aid can be safely administered to prevent any cross-contamination, and how to correctly address suspected and/or confirmed cases of COVID-19 within your organisation.

The Security Institute is currently offering a discounted bundle package on these two courses, which can be purchased by individuals or in bulk for employers. To sign up please visit: https://thesecurityinstitute.hiuphub.com/purchase/bundle

Completing these courses will also earn you double formal CPD points in the Security Institute’s CPD Scheme, helping you continue your professional development and gain a competitive edge over other practitioners.

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The Security Institute provides security training during Covid-19

The Security Institute, the UK’s largest membership organisation for security professionals, has worked with its partners to launch a series of webinars and a variety of different resources to assist security professionals during the lockdown period.

The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in unprecedented social change and uncertainty; the security industry has been presented with unique challenges that make it particularly hard for security professionals to undertake networking, career and professional development at this time.

To help members and the wider community adapt and ensure they are prepared for success during and after the crisis, the Institute has introduced a range of different resources available via their website and digital events.

At the beginning of March, a series of weekly webinars was launched. Leveraging the vast knowledge of the corporate partners and members, a diverse range of topics will be presented in half-day CPD workshops and shorter webinar presentations. These events can be booked via the Security Institute website and the smartphone App, with new webinars being announced continually. All webinars will be presented live with interactive features that allow attendees to ask questions, ensuring that everyone can gain an in-depth understanding of the topic. 

Each event will also be recorded so that members can download and watch all webinars at their convenience in the Members’ Area of the Security Institute website: https://security-institute.org/members-area/

Highlights of the line-up so far have included collaborations with the SIA, Nedap, TrakTick, Aviligion, Business Insight 3 and G4S.

In addition to these weekly informative webinars, the Security Institute has now launched SyI Morning Features every Friday morning. These are informal Member meet-ups that you can attend from the comfort and safety of your own home. This is a unique opportunity to meet other security professionals from across the UK and beyond, helping you remain well-connected with the security community during this prolonged period of lockdown. 

It is hoped that these short free-to-attend SyI Morning Feature sessions will provide some much needed social interaction, as we all collectively adjust to day-to-day life under lockdown.

Previous instalments have centred around member book reviews, exploring different SyI member benefits as well as discussing some of the latest industry developments.

These can again be booked via the Security Institute website.

For the immediate future, Chartered Security Professional (CSyP) Application Workshops will be delivered live to small groups via webinar. These workshops can be booked on a first come first-served basis. As with the physical workshops, the group will be kept to a small cohort to allow individual development.

Due to exceptional demand, the CSyP Application Workshop Webinars will be delivered every week during May and June.

For more information, visit the Security Institute website.

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The British Safety Council has developed a series of Live Online courses to help remote workers continue their health, safety and environmental training and learning as the nation changes its working habits to meet the threat of Coronavirus.

The courses will be delivered live online by the same tutors who deliver British Safety Council face-to-face training. Students connect to the courses remotely using a PC, laptop or tablet and download the relevant software in advance to access a platform where they can see and interact with the tutor and with each other throughout the course.

Speaking from his home office the Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of the British Safety Council said:

“There are many positive as well as challenging aspects of remote working and we want to ensure that as many people as possible still have access to the health, safety and environmental training that they need. 

“At the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis the British Safety Council launched a series free online resources to help employers and employees adapt to new ways of working and the feedback we received has been very positive.  Live Online now takes that one step further, for people that want structured support from a tutor without having to be in a classroom. Unlike other providers our tutors are on hand throughout the course to help and advice.

 Live Online here: https://www.britsafe.org/training-and-learning/how-can-i-study/live-online/

The Courses available include:

• IOSH Managing Safely
• IOSH Working Safely
• NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
• NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
• NEBOSH National Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management
• NEBOSH National Certificate in Construction Health and Safety
• NEBOSH HSE Introduction to Incident Investigation
• IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management
• Health and Safety for Directors and Senior Managers
• Mental Health: Start the Conversation
• Mental Health: Manage the Conversation

About the British Safety Council
The British Safety Council believes that no-one should be injured or made ill through their work.

Since its foundation in 1957, the British Safety Council has campaigned tirelessly to protect workers from accidents, hazards and unsafe conditions, and played a decisive role in the political process that has led to the adoption of landmark safety legislation in the UK. Its members in more than 60 countries are committed to protecting and improving the wellbeing of workers, believing that a healthy and safe work environment is also good for business.

As part of its charitable work, the British Safety Council leads health and safety networking forums for all sectors, facilitates and promotes best practice in Britain and overseas. It also offers a range of services and products, including training, qualifications, publications, audits and awards. The British Safety Council works closely with organisations, charities and individuals who share its vision of ensuring that every worker goes home at the end of the day as healthy as they were when they went to work.

See other articles on training for security personnel in our Security Training category.

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With increased competition in the job market, many professionals are turning to the proven shortcut for development: a security postgraduate degree.

Studying a security postgraduate qualification doesn’t just strengthen your CV, it also helps you stand out from other candidates when being considered for a promotion or new role. The ideal qualification is industry-focused, and allows you to specialise in an area that is necessary for your line of work, so that you can build key skills and make connections with like-minded people in your industry.

Boost your lifetime earnings

It is also shown that gaining a security postgraduate qualification can boost your salary. In 2013, the Sutton Trust released a report that claimed that those with a postgraduate degree earn, on average, £200,000 more over their lifetime than their contemporaries. Taking the time to study also shows to employers that you are serious about your career path, and worth investing in.

Flexible options for study now available

The barrier that most people find with postgraduate study is that they can’t afford to take a year off work to complete a qualification. Today, however, there are many more flexible options available for those in full-time employment, including part-time and online study at Master’s, Postgraduate Diploma, and Postgraduate Certificate level.

Develop your understanding

These kinds of flexible postgraduate courses help you gain an academic qualification in your field, developing your skills of analysis and strategic thinking, and demonstrating to employers that you have a broad understanding of security.

Sir Jon Murphy QPM, Professor of Advanced Policing Studies at Liverpool John Moores University, explains: “As the former Chief Constable of a Metropolitan Force, a career detective and Head of National Police Chiefs’ Council Crime Operations Business Area, I know there is an increasing requirement to bridge the gap between the practical application of security legislation, sensitive investigative techniques and the academic study of the phenomenon that is terrorism.

“There needs to be a joined-up understanding of why those who threaten national security do what they do, how they do it and how the threat that they present can be neutralised. “Postgraduate study in security-related areas draws together each of these strands and will equip those in charge with keeping our citizens safe, with a firm base of theoretical understanding and practical knowledge to complement existing skills and prepare individuals for more senior levels of responsibility.”

To find out more visit: www.security-studies.com/city-security-autumn

The post Why should security professionals study for a postgraduate degree? appeared first on City Security Magazine.

Ciaran Barry, Group Operations Director at Linx International Group, analyses the regulations in force in security in the UK and how a range of initiatives in security training and qualifications is supporting the professionalisation of the sector.

Security touches every part of our lives and livelihoods, yet there is still confusion amongst many outside the sector over the professional qualifications and standards being offered when it comes to engaging with security providers.

Sometimes unfairly seen as a secondary career choice, private security professionals deserve far more respect. To help address this, we need to continue raising standards and promoting the professionalism of our practitioners to correct any misconceptions.

Professionalism

Whilst many people in the security industry proudly demonstrate impressive professionalism and the Security Industry Authority (SIA) enforces compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities, there is far less regulation in the UK than the public might imagine.

There are significant sections of the industry that aren’t obliged to be licensed, relying instead on self-regulation. This is in marked contrast to other parts of the world such as Dubai, where anyone (at any level) who carries out private security work must be licensed by law. To address this, the UK security industry has already put its own schemes in place.

For example, the Register of Chartered Security Professionals (CSyP) enforces a Code of Conduct and a Professional Disciplinary Code, and registrants must undertake continuing professional development training each year, making it the gold standard of competence in security.

The Register for Certified Technical Security Professionals (CTSP), which launched in September 2017, has been very successful in publicly demonstrating individuals’ competency and qualifications. The SIA also manages the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme, which measures private security suppliers against independently assessed criteria.

Demonstrating qualifications

Without Government and legal enforcement, there will inevitably be gaps in the regulation of some parts of the UK security industry. We must encourage and foster an expectation (both inside our industry and by the public) that security professionals should display their qualifications openly.

This is already the case in other industries. For instance, when looking for a gas appliance fitter you would insist they were on the Gas Safe Register. Businesses looking to employ security professionals should expect the same: if you aren’t registered with CTSP or SIA to openly show your expertise, why should anyone hire you?

Wider understanding of security

Raising awareness of professional security standards is only part of the equation; there also needs to be greater public awareness of security needs and the responsibility of organisations and individuals for this.

Excellent initiatives such as Project Griffin and Project Argus are educating the commercial sector and the general public, highlighting that security affects and must involve all members of the community. Employers need to ensure staff are appropriately trained/qualified and security measures are practised.

There is also an increasing interest in security measures, awareness and training from those outside the traditional security role. Due to demand from a demographic that is new to security training, we have introduced an online Essential Security Practices course. This is specifically designed for those who increasingly find security tasks added to their professional remit and need help to understand what the core principles really are.

At the same time, this makes it more important than ever for dedicated security professionals to be recognised for the qualifications and skills they offer. As the lines blur between, say, IT or FM roles and the security needs of an organisation, it’s vital that employers also understand the significant differences.

Improved education

Undoubtedly, security professionals need to build trust with their clients and internal stakeholders, right across the business. The UK Government shows no sign of increasing mandatory regulation of the security sector, so it’s up to the industry to instil and maintain this trust itself.

One of the best ways to raise professional standards is through education, testing and certification. This openly demonstrates adherence to accepted and measured practices and standards from industry-recognised providers.

This approach must include the whole industry, not just certain parts of it. Third party contractors, installers and integrators all need to be trained and knowledgeable, not just in their specific areas, but also over a more general security remit. The context in which they are carrying out their particular role is essential to the overall security landscape.

Security should be part of the bigger picture in any organisation. This means using key skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity and innovation along with sound commercial awareness to ensure security is mindful of its deliverables.

We, as security professionals, have a responsibility to ensure every role in the industry, from security guard to security director, has a vocational pathway that enables people to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to fulfil their role to the very best of their ability.

Cairn Barry, Group Operations Director, Linx International Group

www.linxinternationalgroup.com

The post Raising standards in security appeared first on City Security Magazine.

This article was nominated for the City Security magazine Article of the Year Award. 

Mike Hurst brings clarity to the wide range of educational and training options available in security and how these can impact on your own practice and help you answer the question: are you a security professional?

In the UK, the regulated part of the security sector is controlled by the Security Industry Authority and affects hundreds of thousands of licensed individuals. Whilst a licence is required and needs to be renewed every three years, there is no requirement for CPD and no requirement for further education for those individuals seeking career progression. For security managers and directors there is no licence or specific qualification required at all, although many individuals are well qualified as well as experienced. A question prompted by this is ‘Is security a profession?’

Definition of Profession

Professions Australia defines a profession as a ‘disciplined group of individuals who adhere to ethical standards. This group positions itself as possessing special knowledge and skills in a widely recognised body of learning derived from research, education and training at a high level, and is recognised by the public as such. A profession is also prepared to apply this knowledge and exercise these skills in the interest of others.’

For a shorter definition, Wikipedia lists it as ‘a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification’.

The issue is what education path to choose, assuming of course you feel that education is worthwhile: I, of course, do. There is a plethora of qualifications in the security sector, ranging from university degrees (including master’s, doctorates and postgraduate courses) through to the many security training companies offering courses in general security management, specific skills (e.g. interviewing techniques) and technical disciplines.

Security qualifications

There are also a few globally recognised certifications such as the CPP, PSP and PCI from ASIS International and CISSP from (ISC)2. Additionally, ASIS is launching a new early career certification of Associate Protection Professional (APP), with the description ‘Board Certified in Security Management Fundamentals’. This is being launched in Q2 2019, but an initial cadre will start to study for this in Autumn 2018.

When considering what educational route to take, individuals need to understand what they are looking to achieve. It may be a case of assessing what additional skills and knowledge you need to undertake the role you have or hope to have and what qualification will have the optimal effect on your career. Master’s degrees remain popular in security, although this is not the case with many professions, but will they help you secure that next job: are they too academic and less practical?  Certifications, which can be seen as ‘lagging qualifications’, demonstrate knowledge, skill and competency in particular disciplines but are perhaps seen as and not having the same academic credibility as a master’s. There is also the personal, internal benefit of study. When I achieved my CPP Certification, it was not for any career or financial reason, but for my own satisfaction. That said, it was nice to achieve this certification held by so many friends and colleagues globally.

The Chartered Security Professional (CSyP) designation is also worth considering for some individuals, and the Register of Chartered Security Professionals has attracted around 125 registrants since its launch in 2011. Not that it is a question of either/or when it comes to education as a route to career development. People need to look carefully at the range of opportunities available; be aware of their own learning style; consider whether they want to work in the UK or internationally; find out what qualifications their potential peers have; what qualifications are looked for by employers and recruiters; what the CPD/CPE requirements are; and, of course, look at costs and the time commitments needed.

In 1597, Sir Francis Bacon wrote ‘ipsa scientia potestas est’ (‘knowledge itself is power’), and I suspect this still hold true, but now, more and more, it is a question of defining and quantifying that knowledge.

Sharing your thoughts with ASIS

I have recently joined the ASIS Leadership and Management Practices Council, one of the 34 ASIS Councils whose task is to focus on specific security practice areas to increase professional effectiveness, and programming. The Leadership and Management Practices Council communicates relevant, measured and sustainable global security best practices. The Council collaboratively identifies and communicates proven people, process and asset protection strategies that address business skills, management principles and practices, and strategic programming, in an effort to help professionals interact, as well as communicate with business leaders on challenges and opportunities unique to the security profession. We’d be keen to reach out to readers of City Security Magazine who would be interested in sharing some of their thoughts and ideas.

Mike Hurst CPP

Vice Chairman of the ASIS UK Chapter, Director of security recruitment specialist HJA Fire and Security and the security events listings site www.AllSecurityEvents.com

The post Are you a security professional? appeared first on City Security Magazine.

Mike Bluestone highlights how the Register of Chartered Security Professionals is gaining real traction, in both the public and private sectors, since its official launch in 2011.

In the world of security, ‘good news’ stories aren’t always in the public eye, so readers will be interested to hear about the significant progress of the Register of Chartered Security Professionals in 2018. The Register provides chartered certification of security professionals, who must undergo a formal and rigorous application, screening, and interview process, before being admitted as a Registrant of the Register of Chartered Security Professionals.

Competencies required to be a Chartered Security Professional in 2018

Qualifications and experience jointly reflect the competencies that an applicant to the Register must be able to demonstrate, together with their strategic impact. The competencies required are as follows:

A: Knowledge. Use a combination of specialist and generalist security knowledge and understanding to optimise the employment of existing and emerging methods and technologies.

B: Practical Skills. Apply appropriate techniques, methodologies and processes to resolve security and risk related issues.

C: Leadership. Provide technical and commercial leadership.

D: Communications. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills.

E: Professional Commitment. Demonstrate a personal commitment to professional standards, recognising obligations to society, the profession and the environment.

Recognising the formal practice of security

The vast majority of readers will of course be aware that there have always been security professionals out there in the market place, providing expert security management, advice and support to companies and organisations in both the public and private sectors. The problem, however, was one of perception and recognition, in that unlike other long-established and recognised professions, such as law, accountancy, surveying, medicine, engineering and the like, the professional practice of security had never enjoyed similar formal recognition and public acknowledgement.

Growing appeal of Register of Chartered Security Professionals in 2018

A look at the list of current CSyPs (available on the CSyP page: www.csyp-register.org) is solid proof not only of the eclectic nature of CSyP Registrants as individuals, but also of the diverse locations of the organisations, businesses and sectors in which they operate.

A steadily increasing number of CSyPs are based overseas, including some foreign nationals, which provides welcome evidence of the growing global appeal of the Register.

Seven years of steady promotion of the Register has led to engagement, and ‘buy-in’ from a number of public and private organisations which include departments of Her Majesty’s Government, such as the Centre for the Protection of the National Infrastructure and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office; Manned Guarding companies; the Banking and Financial Services sector; the Transport sector; the Pharmaceutical industry; and the Energy and Utilities sectors.

Promoting the Register of Chartered Security Professionals

In the meantime, work continues to promote the Register, which has become known as the security sector’s ‘Gold Standard’,  through a number of different routes, including media feature articles, talks at industry events, through the licensees’ websites, and professional events. A major programme to raise awareness of the Register is currently underway and being driven by a number of Chartered Security Professionals including the writer of this feature.

The outreach programme is not limited to physical security professionals, but also encompasses cyber threat specialists, several of whom have already become CSyPs, and others who are in the process of applying. The objective is to spread the word about the benefits to businesses and organisations of employing the services of Chartered Security Professionals. This means getting the message out there right across the wider business community, to both the public and private sectors.

Of course, it is not enough that promotion of the Register is an item for discussion within the security sector alone. The message must be escalated throughout the UK business community, and indeed overseas.

The significance of security professionals possessing chartered status should also resonate with the insurers, particularly in relation to Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance, and the current campaign is also being focused in that direction. Equally, the campaign is targeting the major recruiters and largest employers of security professionals. Our objective must be to influence those who put together the job descriptions for senior (especially strategic) security positions to include possession of the CSyP certification as a fundamental requirement for such roles.  This means reaching out to HR personnel, and their own professional bodies.

This journey of promoting the Register, and ‘spreading the word’, has inevitably encountered a few hurdles along the way, but then has there ever been a time when efforts to professionalise the security sector haven’t hit a few obstacles?

Our determination, however, to achieve broader recognition of the Register remains solid and emboldened by the quality of applicants. It is reassuring that a number of CSyPs (who are busy enough in their own day jobs) have stepped forward to assist in the current campaign. They are rightly proud of their achievement in having become chartered, and are keen to share their enthusiasm with as many people as possible. The following testimonials provide a snapshot of what Chartered Security Professionals say about being chartered:

Bob Boote CSyP, Independent Consultant: “I found the application process to be very positive and very beneficial to my personal development. The process is very thorough and the award of CSyP is a prestigious accolade.”

Bill Stables CSyp, Foreign & Commonwealth Office: “The independent accreditation implied by attaining Chartered status in any profession is fundamental; when you add potential risk to life activity it becomes vital. I was keen to have this level of qualification as it provides an externally audited record of my experience. In addition it encourages CPD and prevents me becoming static.”

Mike Bluestone MA CSyP FSyI

Vice President, Security Institute, and Ambassador for the Register of Chartered Security Professionals.

For more information, please contact the RCSP Admin Manager at the Security Institute www.security-institute.org

The post The Register of Chartered Security Professionals – Seven years and growing appeared first on City Security Magazine.

As a security practitioner, how many times have you asked yourself, “what now?” in terms of the next step in your career?  Perhaps it is time you think instead about who really holds responsibility for your growth and development as a security professional.

What does the market tell us about your future? Two things:

• Security has never before been so high on the agenda for the executive committees around the world.
• There have never been so many interesting roles available in the risk and security space for candidates to consider or aspire to.

Each of our SMR locations has seen an increase in first-time senior security hires within organisations that may not have had such roles previously. Multi-national corporations are additionally hiring security management for regional locations. This is perhaps due to increased global threats (actual or perceived) on the part of companies and their customers, or the company’s economic growth.

Individuals who are able to effectively market themselves will flourish and win the race to take on the most interesting challenges. Those who fail to take responsibility whilst doing the same thing they have always done will professionally calcify.

What constitutes professional development in a sector that historically has always operated to a lean, particularly flat model?

The struggle of professional development

Let’s look at common scenarios faced by many candidates. First, consider the professional who is seeking to advance from a regional security role and facing the realisation that the organisation’s head of security isn’t going anywhere for the next five years. Second, another common issue: the professional who is managing security at a prestigious single site, but is unable to move into a regional role because they don’t have expanded professional skills or regional experience.

How do you improve these situations? Does the answer to professional development lie in education, diversification, convergence or just patience?

Education

Education clearly pays a significant part in professional development. We do see the demand for a degree beginning to appear more regularly in the job specifications we receive. Perhaps five years ago, there was no to little demand from our UK clients for further education, but the bullet point now resides in the “preferable” section of every job description we see. For many US companies looking to hire in Europe, this is often a non-negotiable. So, we are seeing different regions pull closer together in their academic expectations, a marked change as geographic nuances become less pronounced.

When asked about this, companies respond that candidates who have ambitions to progress within their structure will need a degree to do so. Fundamentally, companies want to see that you are taking responsibility for your own development and perhaps a degree is the easiest metric for that.

Whilst security-focused qualifications clearly offer immediate and significant value, consider what a broader business degree could offer. Learning the language of business is non-negotiable if you wish to progress within the profession because aligning yourself with the business leadership is imperative.

Also, consider whether there are learning opportunities within your business. Perhaps voluntary roles exist that will give you an audience and access to the executive committees, over and above what you have access to in your core role.

Move in professional circles

How else can you educate yourself and set yourself apart from everyone else? Consider moving in different professional circles, taking networking seriously and contributing to the wider sector.

Examine which groups exist in your niche and involve yourself in them. Show yourself to be a leader amongst your peers and your subsequent standing within your own business and future employers will grow immeasurably. Networking is fantastic, if you don’t view it simply as an opportunity to tirelessly self-promote.

Be a life-long learner in every respect. Embrace change, diversification and business acumen.

We know that routes to risk and loss within a company change apace. Perhaps learn how to conduct a due diligence investigation or look to align yourself with the compliance investigative teams.

Investigations around internal misconduct are front page news, as international brand after international brand falls short when it comes to knowing what its own employees are doing and how they are doing it. As a regional security leader, you will be able to establish patterns, understand people on the ground and advise on potential issues.

Security is high on the agenda for executive committees globally. Security management professionals who can effectively market themselves will flourish and win the race to take on the most interesting challenges. You can be one of those people if you take an active role in your own professional development.

Whether you pursue formal education, volunteer opportunities, leverage the opportunities presented by convergence, or combine these and other efforts, it is up to you to ensure that you have the skills for key roles of the future.

James A. Butler

Managing Director, EMEA & Asia Pacific Security Management Resources®

SMR Group of Companies

www.smrgroup.com

The post The importance of professional development in security appeared first on City Security Magazine.

We need only catch a television screen or scroll through social media to detect that the security industry is changing, by virtue of the evolving risk environment we are now operating in.

As the industry changes, it stands to reason that we need to adapt our approach and none more so than when it comes to learning and the development of the workforce.

The media with which we learn and access information have also changed, dictating a shift in the way in which training interventions are designed and implemented – so how might we bring an updated approach to training, into a continually evolving and operationally driven industry?

The key is through engagement, at every level of the business.

Learning and development approach

Demonstrating understanding of the business and the climate in which training needs to be facilitated is crucial to the credibility of the learning and development approach. This requires real clarity of expectation from the business as to what is expected from any one individual and paints a picture of what success looks like.

My introduction of a competency-based approach has helped to clearly articulate what success looks like for all employees in our business. This has fed through to an emphasis on performance development rather than performance management, enabling the workforce to regularly review and understand their contribution. Crucially, this means talking about careers, not just jobs, for our people.

Making training’s impact commercial and viable for all employees, but in particular the developers of people in your business, ensures the buy-in of all key stakeholders and ensures the relevance of the approach, content and implementation method. By emphasising ‘hard skills’ and their direct correlation to business success, managers can effectively set the tone for adoption of new skills and commitment to personal development.

There are practical considerations also. For highly operational, often remote working employees, any learning and development initiatives need to be built around a flexible, little and often approach, with a focus on the embedding and transition of skills from the classroom (be it literal or virtual) to the workplace. Consideration should then be given to how this can be measured, again encouraging a blended approach to this assessment.

Using blended learning solutions or approaches that revolve around the role an individual does and include facilitator-led content where it’s most valuable, works well, especially when complemented by online learning modules that enable the development of a remote and 24/7 workforce.

Rewards and recognition

Reward and fulfilment are an important part of the chemistry for successful development programmes also; incentives can be very effective but need to be authentic, supportive and realistic, ensuring the focus remains on achievement rather than encouragement to adopt new skills.

Recognition through industry relevant and objective qualifications, such as Securitas’ City & Guilds Accredited Training Academy, provides this level of engagement and motivation, ensuring that a development focussed approach is apparent throughout all levels of the business. What more compelling learning outcome could a business need?

Emily O’Mahony

Head of Learning and Development

Securitas UK

www.securitas.uk.com

The post Businesses need a learning and development culture appeared first on City Security Magazine.