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Colleges are training stewards for London 2012 in a link-up with the security industry
If you're planning to fetch up at any of the Olympic or Paralympic venues next summer, it's likely that sporting prowess rather than security concerns will be at the forefront of your mind.
But ensuring that London 2012 events are safe for spectators and competitors will require about 10,000 security personnel, which poses something of a challenge for organisers – where are all these qualified stewards going to come from?
Further education colleges are providing the answer.
Uzi Khan, 18, is studying for a level 3 BTec in health and social care at North Hertfordshire College. He has also got a weekend job that he loves, as a bouncer – or door supervisor, to give it its more formal title – at a local pub.
Khan is one of 85,000 college students and unemployed people who have undertaken accredited security industry training over the last two years in an initiative spearheaded by North Hertfordshire College. Known as Bridging the Gap, the scheme is a partnership between the Games organisers, UK security industry representative bodies and North Hertfordshire College to bring thousands of new recruits into the security industry in time for the Games next July.
Students who complete the basic course in understanding security at spectator events (USSE), usually offered alongside their core college curriculum, can then go on to gain the more rigorous door supervisor qualification.
"We start with 16-year-olds who do the USSE training while they're in full-time education," explains Michael Wright, executive director for education at Bridging the Gap. "Usually the course is offered to students studying on public services courses or those with a public service aspect." It is a qualification that makes them "instantly employable", he says.
Khan has passed both qualifications and says he'll definitely apply for a job at the Games – security is one of the few paid, rather than volunteer, short-term roles available.
"On the first course, the most interesting part was the real-life scenarios we studied and the roleplay," says Khan.
"We also looked at how things shouldn't be managed, like a football stadium when it collapsed and door supervisors when they cause conflict and end up in court."
In addition to his weekend job, Khan recently volunteered as a steward at a conference that explored the role of further and higher education providers in London 2012. The work experience he has gained has developed his confidence, interpersonal skills and initiative, he says – all qualities that should make him attractive to any employer, and not just those in the security sector.
"It's such a great job, security," enthuses fellow student Josh Rothon, 17, who is studying for a BTec in public services at East Norfolk College. He hopes to work either in the security industry or to join the army. Having completed both qualifications, he's now just waiting for his door supervisor's badge to come through.
"The courses were brilliant. We did a lot about teamwork, and it built your confidence up, which is what you need in security," he says.
"The most interesting part was when we went to the Norfolk Show as stewards to get practical experience. Dealing with the public meant we met lots of colourful characters. We did the Great British Cycle Race too, which involved basic stewarding duties, handling the car park and entrances, and giving directions."
Much of the training, Rothon explains, "is to help you avoid getting on people's nerves, and learn to be calm in how you talk to people". He has also learned how to evaluate body language to predict how a crowd might react.
The opportunity to enhance students' future employability is what most interested Fintan Donohue, principal of North Hertfordshire College, when he was first approached with the idea of colleges providing training in the security skills required for London 2012.
"I had no idea of how transformational it could be for FE students," he explains. "But the Olympics contractor, G4S, is the second largest private employer in the world – and at that point we had no relationship with them. Now, some 8,000 college students will be employed by them."
But the "real legacy story", he says, is that the initiative is connecting young people to part-time employment and training in tough economic times.
The wages for part-time work aren't at all bad for a student trying to augment their income, says Khan – between £8 and £15 an hour depending on the role.
And although the image of security may need a bit of burnishing (Khan acknowledges that doormen, for instance, often have a poor reputation), there is no doubt that the sector offers fascinating career options. G4S protects rock stars and sport stars, secures iconic buildings, ensures safety at ports and airports, and manages the security at major entertainment, political and business events worldwide.
With opportunities for international travel, excitement, variety and responsibility, it is hardly surprising that Khan has been keen to gain further qualifications in first aid, drugs awareness, child protection, safeguarding and behavioural management to boost his CV.
But how are qualified students going to get jobs at the Games? Part of the deal with colleges is that any FE student who has completed the USSE qualification and wants to apply for a security job at London 2012 is guaranteed an interview. Those who are selected will participate in some of the 40 live test events that will take place before the Games kick off.
Kim Barry, 19, who is currently studying uniformed public services at Fareham College, is hoping that she'll get the chance to try out for an Olympics role.
She did her USSE work experience at a football match. "It was overwhelming! I won't lie, we were all nervous beforehand and really on our toes. But the atmosphere, the crowd, you just go away buzzing."
There's likely to be a similar buzz, she says, when she volunteers as a steward later this month at the royal wedding. Barry, Khan and Rothon are all clearly grasping the opportunity they have been given with both hands, but, says Donohue, there's a long-term vision for this model of training FE students in industry-accredited qualifications that goes beyond the security sector – in events, catering and technology.
"If we get this right we believe that industry employers will come to colleges over the next decade, as a single point where they can recruit," he says. "It has the potential to create a prototype and to transform the relationship between industries and colleges."
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