"Sitting at my desk all those years ago there were a number of major issues confronting SITO," says Clarke. "How could we improve the quality and raise the level of training in the industry? How would we work with the Security Industry Lead Body in devising occupational standards? And what was the best way of gaining trust among the industry's established trade and professional bodies?" Clearly, Clarke was a man with a lot on his plate.
Ten years on, the industry can be justifiably proud of what he and his (currently) 36-strong team has achieved. One of only 11 NTO's graded by the Department for Education and Employment as fully meeting the Government's stringent standards, SITO – officially titled the National Training Organisation for the Secure Environment – has been highly successful in attracting public funding to feed its ambitions.
"Right from the outset we chose to be a not-for-profit, commercially-based NTO," affirms Ray Clarke. A stance that's been derided in some quarters, but there were sound reasons behind the decision. "We've managed to avoid the inadequacies of membership funding and, to a large extent, the vagaries of public funding," stresses Clarke. "It's an approach that's ensured 93% of the security industry knows who we are, compared with about 30% across all other NTO's. That can't be bad." Clarke is bullish about the fact that all funds generated by SITO's training products and services are reinvested to provide even better products for the end user. Indeed, more than £3.6 million has been diverted into product development since the organisation was formed. The fact that training materials have been taken overseas – to Asia, Africa, central Europe and, latterly, South America – is a positive development in Clarke's eyes.
"Countries in these regions can boast security personnel who are trained to UK standards," he adds. "This opens up new possibilities for employee mobility, on top of enhanced career prospects." With over 170,000 qualifications awarded in the last decade, where to now for Clarke's high-profile outfit? It's clear that multimedia technology is playing a big part in SITO's future. Last year, the Barbourne Road-based outfit announced the biggest-ever bid win of European funding – a staggering £1.3 million – to develop this side of the business. No less than six multimedia programmers were recruited, the fruits of their labour already beginning to shine through with last month's launch of the 'Secure Environment Series' ('News' SMT, March 2001, p10).
"We also recognise the increasing demand for online learning from a large part of our client base," states Clarke. "That's why we're putting a good deal of effort into creating a suitable system structure and formulating appropriate learning packages for on-site security officers".
Clarke is adamant that employee assessment will also become commonplace over the Net and, as such, SITO is already planning for this. "Our service could include an accessible, secure database of qualifications awarded, industry statistics and information," he suggests. "Test papers and direct online assessment will follow on from that."
Focusing on security management
A major criticism of SITO throughout its relatively short existence has been a perceived failure to address the very special training needs of security managers and supervisors.
Back in the mid-1990's, of course, SITO was still a small organisation and, asserts Ray Clarke, was one that "had to make sure security officers were well catered for. We tried to set up supervisory courses for managers, but they were cancelled because of lack of interest." Apparently, management training is now very much on an upward development curve. Level 3 standards for supervisors have been given the green light by UK regulating bodies, while the new breed of S/NVQs will be ready next month.
"At the moment we're also working on a graduateship programme that should be up-and-running by late September," adds Clarke. "The idea is to get away from the 'Old School' philosophy of always relying on individuals who are ex-forces or police to manage sites. Our vision is that basic management or business studies degrees could be taken, and a security management element run alongside".
This time around the industry must match SITO’s commitment to successful, well-structured and relevant management training programmes. I’m not just talking about regional take-up here. It has to be a nationwide commitment
Although very obviously focused on new graduates, Clarke is sure the effects will imbue a trickle-down for supervisory and managerial roles within the industry at large.
Laying the foundations
SITO is also developing a foundation degree in tandem with the University of Leicester's renowned Scarman Centre. First announced last December, the two-year 'short degree' programme is below the award of Bachelor of Arts but, when they've completed the initial course, candidates can then go on to finish the last year of a BA programme.
Again, SITO is providing multimedia technologies to enable distance learning.
"We're also talking to some of the major contract guarding concerns, including Securicor and Group 4 Falck," adds Ray Clarke. "An all-new supervisory programme is being piloted and, if it 'makes the grade', we'll develop it as an instructor's package for use by in-house managers. That should help us move away from the industry's management teams being built upon a framework of guards who have merely 'switched over' to management. What we need is supervisors, not a batch of 'super guards'." Roll-out for the new programme is slated for some time in 2002.
At this juncture Ray Clarke is very much on the offensive. "This time around the industry must match our commitment to successful management training programmes. And I'm not just talking about regional take-up here.
It has to be a nationwide commitment." That said, the regional equation is obviously an important one in Clarke's eyes, as he seeks to develop new ties with SMEs by taking SITO 'out on the road' for a series of carefully-crafted 'getting-to-know-you' meetings. "The Government is devolving influence to the regions via the Regional Development Agencies," he opines. "No less than 50 new learning and skills courses across a range of industries were launched only last month. In light of this, we must ensure that SITO and the security industry is properly represented in educational and local Government establishments alike."
Security futures
Ray Clarke is nothing if not a strong, forthright character, and, as such, SMT felt certain that he would hold concrete views on the future for various elements of the security industry.
What about the Private Security Industry Bill, for example? "The devil with that is in the detail," suggests Clarke. "Everyone's in agreement that the industry needs tighter control, but the Bill doesn't place nearly enough emphasis on training and ongoing education. Once the Security Industry Authority is established, we'll do everything we can to forge close ties with its leaders. Training must be one of the focal points for the Authority." In terms of the manned guarding sector, Ray Clarke is by no means alone in his belief that the main issue here is all about recruitment. "The industry is nowhere near offering a structured career path for security officers," urged Clarke. "We need to be a bit more imaginative. Perhaps work with schools, and actively persuade school leavers that the security industry is a worthwhile career. But we can't do that until defined career paths are the norm rather than the exception." Clarke holds a firm belief that skills levels must be raised, and soon. He adds that the current scenario is not conducive to this, with lowest price winning the day when it comes to tendering, and guards continually suffering from the spectre of poor wages.
Source
SMT
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