Overview

Many people protect themselves, their families, their businesses and their property by employing security companies to safeguard them against criminal and terrorist threats. Security is currently high on the UK agenda. As a result, the market is strong and expanding, and offers a host of roles - as outlined in this feature - to those looking to work in this diverse sector.

THE SECTOR AT A GLANCE

4.25 million - estimated number of CCTV cameras in the UK

500,000+ - people employed in the UK's private security industry

£6 billion - amount contributed to the UK economy by the security industry

485,554 - security qualifications held

288,208 - valid licences held

(Source: BSIA, SIA)

The Security Industry Authority

The Private Security Industry Act 2001 established the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to:

• reduce criminality within the private security industry
• raise quality standards within the private security industry
• continually improve and develop the organisation and its performance
• meet financial targets and demonstrate value for money to the Home Office and fee-paying customers
• build on its credibility with stakeholders
• review the application of the Act.

The following sectors or activities must be covered by a licence (cost £245, valid for three years); failure to comply with this renders the individual liable to a maximum of a £5,000 fine and/or six months in prison, and the supplier liable to a maximum of an unlimited fine and/or five years' imprisonment:

• manned guarding, which includes

- cash and valuables in transit

- close protection

- door supervision

- public space surveillance (CCTV)

- security guarding

• immobilisation, restriction and removal of vehicles
• keyholding.

The SIA is currently developing its approach to the licensing of private investigation activities - operating as a private investigator, as a security consultant or as a precognition agent will be licensed but no date has yet been set for its implementation.

To gain an SIA licence, applicants must attend an approved training course, attain a nationally recognised qualification, and undergo identity and criminal records checks. Everyone working under contract in licensable sectors will need to be licensed. This includes employees, managers, supervisors and directors of security companies. Licensing does not extend to those who are employed in-house.

The British Security Industry Association

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is the largest trade association for companies operating in this sector. Its 570-plus members are responsible for more than 70% by turnover of all the security business conducted in the UK. The industry sectors covered by BSIA members are:

• access control
• associate (suppliers of products or services)
• cash and property marking
• cash and valuables in transit
• closed-circuit TV (CCTV)
• civil aviation security
• close protection
• crowd management
• export council
• information destruction
• leisure industry security
• physical security equipment
• police and public services
• security consultancy
• security equipment distributors
• security equipment manufacturers
• security guarding
• security systems.

Skills for Security

Working alongside the BSIA is Skills for Security, the Sector Skills Council for the security industry. It is the skills and standards-setting body for the sector, responsible for working with employers and other stakeholders to deliver a range of educational and related services to improve skills, raise professionalism and improve business performance.

TRANSLATE YOUR SKILLS

The personal qualities for which people are selected, and which are then developed during training, are highly relevant. Those wishing to work in this industry should be:

• physically fit, and
• able to patrol an area, take note of what they see and write a report.

The following skills are also vital:

• the ability to work as part of a team
• common sense
• integrity
• courage
• ability to react to the unexpected
• self-reliant, and
• self-confident.

Employment in the security industry

Most security is carried out by static guards who patrol premises, and use CCTV and surveillance equipment. They will probably have radios, and may combine security with gate control and reception duties. Some will use dogs. Mobile guards use vans to patrol a number of establishments, while cash-in-transit guards protect money and other valuables.

Store security officers usually work over 40 hours a week, Monday to Saturday, sometimes operating in plain clothes as store detectives. They check for shoplifting, that delivery contents are correct, and deal with general emergencies such as sick customers and lost children. They need good interpersonal skills and the ability to produce written reports and give evidence in any case of theft where they have made a citizen's arrest.

KEY ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS FOR A SECURITY OFFICER:

• Honesty
• Communication skills
• Ability to deal with people
• Supervisory management
• Reception duties
• Looking after visitors
• Driving
• First aid
• Mail handling
• Fire duties

Security alarm fitters install and maintain systems that should have been planned by a trained surveyor. They have to make good any damage, and could be working anywhere from a small private house to a modern office block. They work normal weekday hours with some requirement for overtime, jobs at weekends and response to emergency call-outs. Much of their work involves cramped conditions and working at heights.

Locksmiths install and maintain security devices, including locks and safes, in commercial and private premises. They cut keys and can often work closely with security alarm specialists. They often provide a 24-hour call-out service.

Qualifications and training

Skills for Security is developing standards and training. The following national occupational standards have been approved to date:

• cash processing operations
• CCTV
• common core national occupational standards
• community warden occupations
• electronic security systems
• human identity and biometrics
• information destruction operations
• investigations
• keyholding and response occupations
• port security operations
• precognition operatives
• providing cash and valuables in transit services
• providing close protection
• security and loss prevention
• security consultancy
• security co-ordinators
• security dog handling
• security management
• security risk advisers.

As well as vocational qualifications, Skills for Security has developed industry-led apprenticeship and advanced apprenticeship programmes with regional UK cooperatives designed to carry out this training. It also accredits and certifies courses and runs training for trainers.

Graduates

Security managers need to have organisational and management skills, a knowledge of law and criminology, an acquaintance with risk theory and the ability to conduct a risk analysis. They should also know the principles of physical security and information security; they need to be familiar with computer security and contingency planning, and they must be able to communicate their ideas professionally.

Many employers now look for a postgraduate qualification. Security industry-specific qualifications, up to master's level, demonstrate knowledge of the relevant aspects of security and management, and give the individual personal and professional confidence.

The Security Institute

Security practitioners in management positions need their abilities to be understood clearly by employers, and there have been a huge variety of associations, guilds and institutes designed for this purpose. There has been an increase in the range and nature of academic and vocational security-related qualifications. Inevitably the mix of qualifications, experience and professional affiliations has confused employers. It is difficult to compare an ex-senior police officer who has no commercial experience, an ex-Army Warrant Officer with ten years as an in-house security manager and a graduate with 20 years' experience as a regional security manager.

The Security Institute (SyI) has developed a programme to assess security management experience, academic qualifications, vocational qualifications and contributions to the security profession through an independent professional validation board, which can award three grades of membership:

1. Associate
2. Member
3. Fellow.

The following criteria are considered:

• work experience, including roles and areas of responsibility
• qualifications, including academic security-related and non security-related
• training, including non-examination vocational and non-vocational courses
• other contributions, such as publications written, and participation in projects and work outside direct employment.

Rates of pay

Because of the wide range of job opportunities available in this industry it is difficult to offer specific information about rates of pay, although larger organisations tend to offer broader benefits but with lower basic remuneration, while smaller firms compete by offering higher pay but fewer benefits. This means that there is a wide choice of employer and benefits packages for those seeking work in this sector. Starting salaries may be comparatively low, but increase with training and experience, and there are opportunities to earn considerably more for operating advanced equipment and working in high-risk situations. In terms of management roles, with a career structure that is fairly broad and still being established, supervisors may earn upwards of £18,000, ranging all the way up to corporate heads at £125,000. Overtime is likely to increase the overall worth of any package.

KEY CONTACTS

Security Industry Authority, PO Box 1293, Liverpool L69 1AX Tel: 0844 892 1025 Website: www.the-sia.org.uk

British Security Industry Association, Kirkham House, John Comyn Drive, Worcester WR3 7NS Tel: 0845 389 3889 Website: www.bsia.co.uk

Skills for Security, Security House, Barbourne Road, Worcester WR1 1RS Tel: 0845 0750 111 Website: www.skillsforsecurity.org.uk

Security Institute, 1 The Courtyard, Caldecote, Warwickshire CV10 0AS Tel: 0845 370 7717 Website: www.security-institute.org

Master Locksmiths Association, 5d Great Central Way, Woodford Halse, Daventry, Northants NN11 3PZ Tel: 01327 262 255 Website: www.locksmiths.co.uk