A career in Private Security Industry offers many options. From the most popular, Door Supervisor role and Security Guarding, to more specific options like CCTV-public space surveillance and Close Protection Course, more commonly known as bodyguarding, many will be surprised to learn of the subjects covered in order for one to obtain a license to work in the Private Security Industry.
With courses widely available throughout the UK, Get Licensed’s Door Supervisor course is by far the most popular, running regularly in more than 32 cities in the UK. Covering subjects like Standards of Behaviour, Civil and Criminal Law, Searching, Drugs Awareness, Recording Incidents and Crime Scene Preservation, Licensing Law and Emergency Procedures in Unit 1, followed by Conflict Management: introducing delegates to communication skills for conflict management, and application of communication skills in Unit 2. “The role of a door supervisor is one that is vital to any club. Alcohol induced customers can quite easily cause a problem over the smallest disagreements and for a Door Supervisor to step in and defuse the problem before it escalates into a major incident, it is vital that he is trained in conflict management,” said Shahzad Ali. “Another problem in clubs can be drugs. This course will teach delegates how to recognise the signs of drugs being used, and what course of action they should embark on.” Continued Shahzad Ali, MD of Get Licensed.
“A Door Supervisor has to be alert at all times, looking out for signs of potential problems, and reading customers like a book. Someone with years of experience working on the doors will know the signs when disagreements may blow-up, or erratic behaviour indicating drugs perhaps. A good door supervisor makes sure there are no unpleasant incidents that could be of potential danger to other customers,” said Ramy Agoncillo, a trainer with Get Licensed with more than 10 years of experience working as a door supervisor in many of London’s Clubs.”
The popularity of the Door Supervisor Course can to some extent be attributed to its hours making it ideal as a second job.
A more specialised role in Private Security guarding is Close Protection Course or Body Guarding. Its more demanding role means that the course is conducted over 14 days with syllabus that covers five units: Skills and Teamwork in Close Protection, Legislation, Communication and Conflict management Skills in Close Protection, Risk assessment, Operational Planning and Safe Route Selection, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Incidents and Dilemmas, Techniques for Close Protection Operative. Candidates are however required to hold an approved HSE First Aid at Work certificate prior to taking on the Close Protection Course. Get Licensed offer this pre-requisite to the course in a 17-day course as an option. The course fees are £1,500 including 4* accommodation, or £1700 which also includes the First Aid Course prior to the commencement of the Close Protection Course.
“Some see it as an exciting career particularly if they land a job with a private security firm in a war zone for example, which while lucrative is of course not without danger or risk. Others maybe have a view of a role much like Kevin Costner in Bodyguard. Whatever the view is, the job of a Bodyguard required a level headed, professional individual. Once qualified, a licensed holder can earn between £20-£40 and hour, or in war zones, up to £500 a day,” said Shahzad Ali. “This is probably the most exciting but only a few select candidates take it on. We usually have about 80 course delegates in a year.”
A quote from a bodyguard or bodyguard turn trainer perhaps?
Turning Trainer
For those who are born to teach and after a stint in any of the private security roles, the City and Guilds 1886, Delivering Conflict Management or the City and Guilds 7303 Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector are two courses to consider. The latter is an introduction to those wishing to pursue a career in training, facilitating or teaching to support learners. With syllabus that covers Introduction to Adult learning, Lesson Planning, Delivering a Lesson, Teaching Adults, Practical Teaching sessions, Teaching Techniques, Recognising and Dealing with Potential Problems, Assessing how Students Learn and Teaching Aides, this course will equip those who have the experience and knowledge in their subject matter, with the necessary teaching or training skills. The Course Delivering Conflict Management requires candidates to be holders of the City and Guilds Level 3 qualifications. The course over three days covers 2 units: Understanding the Principles of Conflict Management and Designing and Delivering Conflict Management. As the Door Supervisor course is one of the most popular courses, training to deliver Conflict management, one of the modules of the Door Supervisor Course, will certainly be a useful qualification under the belt for a trainer.
Get Licensed runs a series of open days, workshops that give potential delegates and idea of what they can expect from the various courses. These can be found on their website at http://www.get-licensed.co.uk/step-1/. A list of courses, venues and dates from get Licensed, can be found on www.get-licensed.co.uk/courses.
