Task International Limited

Nomad

I have to agree with you that training companies do have a duty to vet the people applying for a course for their suitability as well as checking references of that person. It is irresponsible to take money from someone that really does not have the common sense and attitude to be of any use. Background alone though is no indicator of that persons ability. I have seen ex mil guys failing on basic drills and civvy guys mastering them with ease. Certainly I have heard of TL's being hopeless despite coming from a military background where people from a corporate background would have performed better in that role.

One thing that training companies should do is at the end of a course give a realistic assessment of the skills that person has and direct them accordingly. Ultimately though it is the prospective employer who needs to adequately vet all applicants just as it is in any other business sector. If you hire someone that is found to be incapable of the job, the employer has to bare some responsibility due to their recruiting methods.

Certainly I understand the need to find experienced staff but there will come a point when the experienced ones either quit the industry or retire and then how do you fill the void if no one is willing to take on inexperienced people? There was a point in time where you were starting out and needed experience to become what you are now. If no one gave you that chance then you would not be in the position you are now, with experience and skills which are now respected.

I think it can be safely said that most training courses really only cover the basics and everyone has learnt on the job as even with 4 weeks that really does not cover the variety of situations that you may come across. The sia badge has become a corrupt standard, with some small disreputable companies passing anyone or even in some cases accepting money and passing them on their behalf. The other alternative is a closed shop to ex mil only. If that happens then all the people that you have worked with and respected that are not ex mil would not be in existence and that would be a loss to the industry.

What a course can't teach you is awareness, common sense and work ethics, they are personal attributes and not common to any specific sector. My experience comes from not only being a student on a course but also helping run a training company as well as many years as a manager in the corporate sector responsible for recruiting people and training. I recognise that some people are not suited to a role and it would be irresponsible for me to employ them and waste both their time and mine training an unsuitable candidate. I also recognise that a person with that potential will need training and most of that comes from actually doing a job over a longer period of time to become effective. It is important to recognise that it is an investment as in time that person will become an asset of the type that you say is short in supply.

It is all to easy to become negative and not help the situation rather than see what can be done to improve the situation directly. If I find a person lacking in some skills as an employer it is my duty to try at lest to assist that person to become all that they can be. After all your employees are your assets and without them you have no viable company. I also recognise that a person that proves to be incompetent would have to be dismissed but that is more an indication of a failure in the recruitment, not always solely the individual. A closed shop will not help as I am sure you know that incompetent operatives are not exclusively from the civvy arena but can also be found in the ex military. I am sure many out there will bare testament to that.

I certainly respect your views though and have heard of you and know you are well respected within the industry and would welcome further discussion with you on this topic. It was in no way directed at you personally but a general observation as to the situation in the security industry as a whole.

Regards

Nomad (currently living overseas )

sunshine

Well JJ,
It is good to see that you back to your self again as I was beginning to think that you were going soft. The hammer is out in front again.
As you have stated Task back in the Mid 90's was one of the best courses going, 4 weeks compared to the other courses around. I did my first course with Excel and the instruction was good as were the instructors.
It gave me a foot up onto the ladder but i had to wait for over 18 months before I got onto my first CP task. I was broken in doing Vip functions in the big hotels in London for a good security company, and networking with the guys who were on the circuit,
I was given my first CP task by a female TL from Hereford and will be forever thankful to her.
But as to what is being put out now that is a different kettle of fish, as i found out last year.
He had been told by someone that the Arabs come over to London in the thousand and that they all need CP so he was expecting to be working flat out. They had told him to do a firearms course as it would look good on his CV as they liked that sort of thing.
I hope he found his gun loving Arabs in the thousands because i only found a few who were glad i was armed with a mobile phone to call and make reservations in restaurants and tell the driver where they were after a long day's shopping.
Anyway back to you and keep your coffee away from the computer whilst you are having a good old rant.

jcd

OK j j Enoughs enough before you start slaggin coys off and giving it large about who you would and wouldnt work with ,would suggest you get your own house in order eh > CP licence etc

covert munkey

Evening gentlemen, this thread is now closed.

CM