Jason Sprenger

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 organization 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 organization 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 license-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 organization in the security sector and one of the most experienced end-point assessment organizations, we are well placed to offer a full range of consultancy and advice to organizations making sense of the changes, whether that is to take on take on apprentices for the first time, have their existing in-house training recognized, or to find services to ensure they claim their full share of funding entitlement.”

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 license-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 Organizations, helping to create the new units that make up the qualifications and working with our Centers 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.