If someone told you that within a month you could change your financial situation from a minus to a five figure salary, how would that make you feel? Don’t stop reading because it’s true, and you are moments away from some excellent choices that will make that opening statement a reality. There are currently around 2.5 million people unemployed in the UK and with that amount of competition on the job market the benefits that SIA Licence training offer aren’t difficult to get to grips with.

Sorry, but we need to look at a few negatives here. It’s a proven fact that long term unemployment has far deeper affects than obvious financial implications. There are psychological influences that leave people feeling worthless, and sustained unemployment causes a serious dip in an individual’s self-esteem.

Phew! That’s the doom and gloom over with, now here’s the positive bit. Team work is one of the most valued elements of SIA Licence training which dramatically improves confidence and communication expertise, leaving trainees with key skills in their chosen career.

You’ll no doubt be aware of the up-and-coming London 2012 Olympics and Security will be one of the major considerations for the organisers. Imagine the confidence you’d gain from being part of one of the greatest sporting events of the decade; not to mention what value it would add to your CV. Industry approved Security Guard training or CCTV training will put your resume right to the top of the ‘must see’ pile.

The emergency services will be on ‘red alert’ with so many people visiting the capital, and it’s crucial that every single person feels totally safe during the event and on their way home too. In order to effectively manage the thousands of people travelling to and from the games, expert CCTV operators will be required round the clock to keep a vigilant eye on the crowds, the over-stretched transport systems, and the busy roads.

Although there are some sceptics who believe that CCTV is nothing more than an intrusion on their privacy without it, and the experts who operate it, our cities would grind to a halt. No doubt you’ve seen police dramas on TV when CCTV footage is used as evidence in criminal prosecutions, imagine the effect on the crime figures if it were to be removed from service. Let’s take a look at what’s required to become an expert CCTV operator.

CCTV training breaks down into seven major categories. The Operational Procedures concentrate on the value of the technology and demonstrate how its misuse can devalue the outcome. The first module links directly to Equipment Operation. Technology changes daily, so this part of the course will train you on the appropriate, professional use of the most up-to-date equipment available.

Control Room Communication concentrates on how to respond correctly to any incident or suspicious behaviour particularly identifying inappropriate activities and reporting them immediately to other members of the security team. The next module concerns Legislation. This teaches operatives to be aware of the legal implications of any activity they have recorded and the authorised ‘best practice’ use of the equipment.

Legislation brings us neatly to the next two parts of your training; Dealing with Incidents and Surveillance Techniques, we’ll use a bit of visualisation here.  Place yourself in the control hub where you record someone running menacingly towards a member of the public and physically pulling them aside. Naturally you alert your team of security guards to the incident, hopefully to prevent the confrontation escalating to a violent attack. Correct so far, so you decide to pause the surveillance cameras at the very moment the incident happens.  Damning evidence indeed, but what you’ve failed to record is the pile of bricks falling on the pedestrian who our runner is about to save from serious injury and, had anyone been injured, concrete evidence for what might well have been a massive compensation claim.

The scenario above is an extreme case, but it’s easy to see from this episode how Dealing with Incidents and expert Surveillance Techniques can impact the recorded evidence. Proof that inaccurate CCTV footage cannot be acceptable as the sole evidence of an incident. No surprise then how much emphasis is placed on this part of effective CCTV Training.

Compulsory modules of CCTV Training, in fact all security training, are Fire and Emergency Procedures. You’ll learn industry standard measures that will prepare you for work in most organisations to deal with emergencies and how to implement their respective regulations effectively.

Expert CCTV training doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be chained to a screen for the rest of your career. With enough on-site experience there are managerial roles in the business too, all it takes is the right start.