FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
Mitie Security has become the first security provider to develop a formal Store Detective qualification.
Independently regulated and Ofqual approved, the Level 3 certification is equivalent to an A Level and has been developed to provide long term careers and development opportunities in the security sector.
Having identified that there was no formal qualification available to retail Store Detectives, Mitie says it took the opportunity to invest in creating the training, which is the first of its kind. The qualification has been designed using the knowledge of Mitie’s retail security experts, alongside the National Open College Network (NOCN), a leading regulated awarding organisation.
The course content has been designed to give Store Detectives the skills they need to perform their role and covers five mandatory units, including ‘Understanding dealing with offenders and evidence’, ‘Understanding the legal aspects of a retail Store Detective’s role’ and ‘Understanding the use of self-scan shopping systems in a retail environment’. Each unit is then reviewed and discussed in weekly face-to-face coaching and development sessions. To achieve the qualification, each colleague must successfully complete all five units which include practical assessments, such as role play scenarios, as well as passing a closed book invigilated exam.
With around 250 Store Detectives in the business, Mitie will put at least 50 colleagues per year through the new training, as well as supporting Security Officers who want to take the next step in their career. Colleagues who complete the course then have the opportunity to progress onto a further qualification, such as the Level 3 Security First Line Manager Apprenticeship.
Jason Towse, Managing Director, Business Services, Mitie, said: “We’re proud to be leading our industry with the development of the UK’s first Store Detective qualification. We’re committed to offering not just a job, but a long-term career full of development opportunities for our people. The demand for security personnel throughout the pandemic has been unprecedented, particularly in the retail sector. Through initiatives such as this, we can attract the very best talent to our sector.”
The first cohort of 10 colleagues started their course in the beginning of September and are expected to achieve their qualifications by late October.
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