About the apprenticeship
The government-funded level 2 professional security operative apprenticeship was announced by the Private Security Industry Trailblazer Group in August last year.
The apprenticeship has been approved by government as a route for those wanting to join the private security industry, and for those already in employment who wish to progress.
This achievement represents three years of hard work by employers and stakeholders across industry, supported by us. The apprenticeship will provide funded opportunities for professional training in core security skills, and allow employees to choose a specialism:
- Operational Security Operative
- Cash and Valuables in Transit
- Mobile Security Patrol
- Security Control Room Operative
Mark Williams, Security Operations Manager, Parliamentary Security Department, and Chair of the Trailblazer Group responsible for developing the apprenticeship, said:
“I am really pleased that the hard work of employers and others has paid off. This is a major step forward for the industry. This apprenticeship will address some of the workforce issues that we have, by helping to attract new talent to the industry, as well as retaining and developing existing staff. I am extremely proud of the hard work, tenacity and collaboration shown by the group to achieve this step forward to help professionalise the industry.”
Our Chair Heather Baily QPM, commented:
“We are really pleased to have supported the group to achieve this outcome. It is another great example of the progress that can be made when industry collaborates on skills issues with our support and hopefully a further step along the way of making the private security industry a career of choice.”
Please make note of the following:
- The new professional security operative apprenticeship can be found here: Institute of Apprenticeships & Technical Education.
- The professional security operative apprenticeship is available in the United Kingdom:
- In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland employers seeking to access apprenticeship funding should approach their local apprenticeship funding body.
- Apprenticeship levy payers in England – employers in the private or public sector with an annual wage bill of more than £3 million – will for the first time, be able to use their levy to pay for high-quality training for their private security operatives.
How to hire an apprentice
Employing an apprentice is easier than you think and there’s financial support and help available from the government.
To find more about offering apprenticeships click on the button below to visit government’s website.
Our latest webinar – February 2024
In February we hosted our second webinar to share more details about the apprenticeship from an employer’s perspective.
The webinar featured a panel of guest speakers including:
Pauline Gunn, Head of Learning & Development, Securitas and
new Chair of the Trailblazer group
Annette Hall, Director, Grey Seal Academy
Dolapo Ogundimu, Learning & Development Business Partner, Mitie
James Rockley, Business Development, Highfield Assessment
The webinar covers the following areas:
- Benefits to employer’s – making use of the apprenticeship levy, increased knowledge and expertise of staff and retention of staff.
- Accessing training and support – programme content and delivery and how apprentices are assessed.
- How employer’s support their apprentices – using the apprenticeship levy, learning hours and development of skills in the programme.
- A case study from an employer on how they use the apprenticeship and the shared experience from one of their apprentices.
- How the apprenticeship is assessed – the assessment journey.
- Myth busting – costs, wages and how to recruit.
Our first webinar – 16 November 2023
Our first webinar to share more details about the apprenticeship.
The webinar featured a panel of guest speakers including:
Mark Williams, Security Operations Manager, Parliamentary Security Department
Anthony Woolcott, Director of Avantguard Security Ltd
Kathryn Roberts, Office Manager, Avantguard Security Ltd
Paul Lawton-Jones, Managing Director, Mercury Training
James Rockley, Business Development Manager, Highfield Assessment
Daniel Green, Senior Product Manager, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
Upcoming events
Our next webinar will be announced in due course via our newsletters and social media channels.
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Contact us
If you have any questions please email us at: skills@sia.gov.uk
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Check out the @SIAuk webpage about Professional Security Operative Apprenticeships!
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