Highfield - Experts & Thought Leaders

Highfield Qualifications has been approved to deliver end-point assessment (EPA) for the Security First Line Manager apprenticeship standard. It brings the total number of standards the organisation is approved to deliver EPA for to 34, with 3 standards in the Protective Services suite. Delivering apprenticeship assessments under its Highfield Assessment brand, the organisation is promising employers a full range of assessment services, support and advice to help them make the most of their apprenticeship levy contributions or funding, while supporting their apprentices to achieve their goals. Careers in security management The Security First Line Manager apprenticeship standard provides apprentices with the skills and knowledge to manage people working specifically in security environments such as the private security industry, MOD, event security, in-house security and transport and border security. It also offers a vocational route into careers in security management (excluding close protection). Most employers are now aware of the opportunities available through the changes to apprenticeships" Jason Sprenger, Highfield Chief Executive, said, “Most employers are now aware of the opportunities available through the changes to apprenticeships. However, while the security sector is one of the biggest adopters of vocational qualifications, especially where they are licence-linked, it has sometimes been difficult in the past to apply the traditional approach to apprenticeships.” Full range of consultancy He added, “We’d urge the security sector not to miss out. Highfield’s approach has been to do the hard work, so employers don’t have to.” “As the leading awarding organisation in the security sector and one of the most experienced end-point assessment organisations, we are well placed to offer a full range of consultancy and advice to organisations making sense of the changes, whether that is to take on take on apprentices for the first time, have their existing in-house training recognised, or to find services to ensure they claim their full share of funding entitlement.”

The new qualification will provide employers with the well-trained event stewarding staff they require A new qualification has been launched that will help learners take their first steps in event security and provide employers with the well-trained event stewarding staff they require. The HABC Level 2 Certificate in Event Security Operations (QCF) will give learners an understanding of what employers need them to know in order to do the job effectively and safely, combined with knowledge of health and safety and customer service. Knowledge-based qualification Developed by Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (HABC) with input from the UK Crowd Management Association (UKCMA) and the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA), the Level 2 Certificate is a knowledge-based qualification supported by elements of practical demonstration of performance. The qualification will allow employees to work at events including festivals and shows, and is supported by the SGSA, meaning it also satisfies the minimum level of training required for stewards to work independently within a sports ground environment. Help learners to build portfolio Chris Sprenger, HABC Managing Director, said, ‘The HABC Level 2 Certificate in Event Security Operations (QCF) covers all the areas that employers have told us they require staff to know such as crowd management, health and safety and customer service, along with optional but vital subjects like how to use radios properly and safeguarding children and young people. It can also be used to go on and achieve other relevant qualifications in the sector such as the HABC Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Spectator Safety (QCF), helping learners to build their portfolio of transferrable skills so that they can contribute even more to their organisations’.

These training programmes are revised to meet the new learning outcomes and assessment criteria A new suite of security qualifications specific to Scotland has been launched by Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance ("HABC") for learners hoping to become licensed security operatives. The introduction of the new qualifications comes after one of the largest ever reviews into learning in the sector by the Security Industry Authority (SIA), followed by the introduction of similarly updated qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales in January 2015. The review affected security licence-linked units, meaning that qualifications containing these have now been withdrawn and replaced. The new qualifications are: HABC Award for Working as a CCTV Operator (Public Space Surveillance) within the Private Security Industry (Public Space Surveillance) (Scotland) at SCQF Level 6; HABC Award for Working as a Door Supervisor within the Private Security Industry (Scotland) at SCQF Level 6; HABC Award for Working as a Security Officer within the Private Security Industry (Scotland) at SCQF Level 6; and HABC Award for Upskilling a Door Supervisor within the Private Security Industry (Scotland) at SCQF Level 6. As the new qualifications contain updated content, deliverers of them must ensure their training programmes are revised to meet the new learning outcomes and assessment criteria. Schemes of work and lesson plans must also be updated to reflect the changes. Jason Sprenger, HABC Chief Executive, said, ‘As a result of the SIA review, we have introduced a completely new suite of qualifications that will continue to provide employers with the skilled staff they require. HABC was actively involved in the development work alongside other SIA-approved Awarding Organisations, helping to create the new units that make up the qualifications and working with our Centres to ensure their views were reflected throughout’. A number of new learning materials have also been launched to support the qualifications, including the Working as a Door Supervisor, Working as a Security Officer and Working as a CCTV Operator books and training presentations, written by security experts Andy Walker and Gordon Tyerman.