co19

Greymans run an SIA/Edexcel and Bucks Uni accreddited CP course. Aswell as an operational company and approved manpower provider for a major risk management company
Inkerman is the operational arm of Task now but they pay poor wages.
Amicus Mentor is AGMs mainly
Aegis is largely Iraq
CRG all over the place, Middle East and Africa, with bits in the UK
Quest, No idea

If I was going hostile i would go Ronin SA otherwise if its just UK my choice is Greymans

vangarian

I did TAsk In 2002/2003. I have no experience of other courses, so would nt like to offer advice on others. However i have been in work since, although none of it was through any direct TASK Links or job advice. Operational experience since shows some of the sylabus was slightly outdated. Only thing I can offer is to stay away from courses using the dark suit and sunglasses imagery and be prepared to invest more money than budget options..

protectivesecurity

LOl, did not realise you were on a retainer from Greymans and find it amusing that when someone asks for advice it is given, it has to include Greymans in the answer.
I will fill in the blanks you missed pertaining to 'Quest'. Like Inkermans and Greymans, Quest is an international Risk management company, with clients worldwide. The chairman is Lord John Stevens, the ex Metropolitan Police Commissioner who CO19 is probably aware of and knows his reputation. The Managing Director, not ex Paras but a 14 int Brigadier, responsible for some of the best Intelligence work this past 50 years.
Many of the UK clients being top FTSE chairmans and CEO, will not name drop but I Can assure you they are the top ones.

Wanted to give newbies an opportunity to contact certain companies with a view to seeking employment, I do not give biased opinion as I find it counter productive and if i was so bold, I would be plugging my own. I wanted to give a few names of companies that offer different types of work and would see someone being employed throughout the year and not just seasonal.Having worked for both Quest and Greymans, and meeting on several occasions the top men in both, would apply to both. I have to admit that having visited Merlin House in Theale, found it pleasantly small.

I think it would benefit the site is CO19 was to write the step-by-step guide that is being asked of...he clearly knows his stuff and would be an invaluable tool for newcomers. There are many disappointing companies in the market and in hindsight, I wish I had had he benefit of this forum when I started out looking for work.
I am more than happy to give my opinion to anyone wishing to message me and will give you the straight answer.

This is a difficult market to get into, and particularly hard to sty afloat in......PERSEVERANCE AND NETWORKING!!....network,network,network

co19

No problems, not on a retainer from Greymans, they are just the best company I have worked for in the commercial sector and more importantly they pay well and well within time. I did write the course though and have 2 ex Special Branch now SO1 CPO instructors (also ex SO19) to teach the course as well as others. Unfortunately I will not be working for them in the future as I have been given a senior management position for a Major Risk Management Company. And my present role is for someone else which i will be sorry to leave. I admit I am biased for Greymans as they impressed me.

Wasn't the biggest fan of John Stevens as most serving/ex officers will tell you. But at least he was better than Condon.

protectivesecurity

We are both in agreement with the Condon statement, even as a ex military man with a few very good police friends, I have raised an eyebrow recently.
Greymans are a very good bunch and superb at paying at times, my comment is more out of a fact they are a little too exclusive for people new into the industry. It is one thing to be trained and subsequently be employed by Mike and the lads but I would tend to give someone the opportunity to cut their teeth before applying.

1) FiRstly I would get a good forum to find out the costing and best course providers (well they will have if they are reading this)
2) Apply themselves into networking before and during their course to find where to apply for positions.
3) RST is often neglected but essential for getting yourself into the market as you make more contacts and gain experience.
4) Do the odd event or function through contacts you have made.
5) 'WHEN' their CV has a few jobs on it and shows experience then possibly go for the ones we have all been talking about and decide if they want to get sand in their pants or stay on tarmac and soil.

I am serious about us both doing this guide but I am always reluctant to rubbish companies and recommend others, you never what position you may find yourself in the future!!

Please feel free to PM me and I will be only too glad to point folks where and how, just nothing public where I could be held for my opinion and security knowledge.

** HOWEVER...stay well clear of a RST company called 'CANONS'...bad bad idea.

look quest up at Quest Corporate Intelligence & Risk Mitigation

co19

Yes, if anyone wants to pm me for company advice feel free, i think that is the best way to do it rather than open forum, and I promise from now on not to be bias for Greymans as everyone knows where i stand on that. I'm going to have to get impartial anyway.

zatoichi

I completed a Task Special Security course some years ago, got the impression that it was all about taking money off the military resettlement. I would not advise anyone to do a course with them as the current reviews are worst than when i did the course. There are better trainers some overseas with limited firearms training that i wished i had done instead. Only my view though!

DanD

I agree with Ben regarding Task. They did have a good reputation but feel that they have prob lost a lot of good instructors etc. However i would say that they are on the ball with regards to getting the licence (3 day refresher) no problems there. Hunt around. Kongmoor is a good one so i have heard and if its run by 2 ex Rmp must be good. (loyalty i suppose)

co19

Task International are taking 4 weeks on average to get results back from exams, any company you do the exam with should get these results back to you within 7-10 days at most. Time is money! Before doing you course ask about this and be aware of waffle. Some companies do it via computer so you know on the day.

DanD

I don't disagree with co19, but task didn't take 4 weeks for me.......was less than 2 weeks but that was over a year ago, like he said some can give you an answer in a very short time.