Skills for Security are pleased to announce the approval by SQA, of the new Scottish apprenticeship framework. Skills for Security spent time liaising with Scottish employers operating in the alarms, CCTV and access control arenas, understanding their needs and what would be required from an apprentice, in order to develop a fit for purpose framework. Apprenticeships are a great way of gaining skills because they involve technical study and practical, on-the-job training in the workplace. This means that the apprentices benefit for learning the latest techniques from qualified instructors while also absorbing the experience, skills and knowledge of older generations of engineers.
This initiative will attract younger people into a section of the industry where there is a shortage of qualified staff and will help Scottish employers further by helping to build a workforce that is capable of meeting the technical challenges of the 21st Century. The approval of this new Scottish apprenticeship framework could not be more timely, as the Scottish Government has just announced that they will be funding an additional 7,800 apprenticeship places this year, bringing the total number of apprenticeships available in Scotland in 2009 to 18,500.
David Greer, Chief Executive of Skills for Security comments “We really appreciate all of the efforts of those that were involved with the development of this framework, without industry consultation we cannot provide the right products and services that the industry requires. The apprenticeship framework is a crucial area for the security sector in order to obtain a cost-effective method of training staff. It is pleasing to see that the Government are also recognising the benefit and supporting the programme with funding for employers.”