Showsec Academy launch    (Industry)  

Back L to R - Paul Rees, Emmalene Charlton, Yerodin Stewart, Simon Gun, Rachel Evans, Robert Preston. Front L to R – Simon Battersby, Keith Hackett, Debbie Atherton.

Leading event security and crowd management company, Showsec, has officially launched its managerial Academy with the aim of defining a progressive industry career path. (Mar 26 '08)

The Showsec Academy formalises training and provides a unique accredited qualification for staff at managerial level. The novel year-long programme offers staff the chance to develop the knowledge, skills and experience required to become an effective operational manager within the crowd management industry.

Showsec's significant investment complements its existing roster of successful training and development courses. The programme is divided into three key elements: operational management, leadership, and administration and support services.  It includes vocational and industry qualifications, operational experience, as well as mentoring and self development elements. The vocational aspect will ensure associates encounter every type of crowd management situation, whilst instructive knowledge will consist of modules that are accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management, NCFE, BIIAB and IOSH.
 
Mark Harding, MD of Showsec, commented: “We are really excited about the Showsec Academy. We pride ourselves in offering a high level of training and development for our staff, and by offering this type of qualification internally we are able to transfer knowledge and experience specifically tailored to our industry. By channelling this expertise through the Showsec Academy we are effectively producing the next generation of management.”

Keith Hackett, project manager for the Showsec Academy said of the first intake of six associates: “They all found the selection process far more challenging than they were expecting, but enjoyed the experience."

Hackett is responsible for compiling the management programme and the specifically tailored modules meet the needs of the company while developing employees’ skills and professionalism, ultimately assuring clients that Showsec is continually improving standards and producing a more efficient level of service.

 
“Showsec knew they needed a new and external professional dimension to manage this project and I feel very fortunate to have had the necessary experience to fill this position," explained Hackett. "I have realised one essential ingredient is critical to the success of such an initiative – management commitment.  Not just the MD or CEO signing off the project, but then together with the senior management team ‘walking the talk’, contributing their time, practical experience and knowledge to the content, delivery and evaluation of the programme.
 
“That commitment here at Showsec has been total, and enables us to move on confidently to the next phase, which will involve working with The Security Company in Holland to create an International Academy – a very exciting prospect for crowd management across Europe, with Showsec at the forefront.”

RK   ___________________________________