Monthly Archives: May 2015

New qualification to help learners meet event security requirements

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A new qualification has been launched that will help learners take their first steps in event security and provide employers with the well-trained event stewarding staff they require.

The HABC Level 2 Certificate in Event Security Operations (QCF) will give learners an understanding of what employers need them to know in order to do the job effectively and safely, combined with knowledge of health and safety and customer service.

AUSSE photo2 (resized) Developed by Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (HABC) with input from the UK Crowd Management Association (UKCMA) and the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) , the Level 2 Certificate is a knowledge-based qualification supported by elements of practical demonstration of performance. The qualification will allow employees to work at events including festivals and shows, and is supported by the SGSA, meaning it also satisfies the minimum level of training required for stewards to work independently within a sports ground environment.

AUSSE photo3 (resized) Chris Sprenger, HABC Managing Director, said, ‘The HABC Level 2 Certificate in Event Security Operations (QCF) covers all the areas that employers have told us they require staff to know such as crowd management, health and safety and customer service, along with optional but vital subjects like how to use radios properly and safeguarding children and young people. It can also be used to go on and achieve other relevant qualifications in the sector such as the HABC Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Spectator Safety (QCF), helping learners to build their portfolio of transferrable skills so that they can contribute even more to their organisations’.

For more information on the qualification, click here .

For regular updates, go to https://twitter.com/HighfieldABC and https://www.facebook.com/HighfieldABC
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (‘HABC’) is one of the UK’s leading Awarding Organisations, offering over 200 qualifications covering a wide variety of industries including customer service, health and safety, licensing, security, stewarding, retail, logistics, catering and hospitality.
2. The UKCMA represent the interests of key commercial organisations whose primary business is providing crowd management and event security services, with a particular focus on promoting the use of competent, professional and safe crowd management suppliers at events requiring crowd management skills.
3. The SGSA is a government body that took over the responsibilities of the Football Licensing Authority and the critical role it played in transforming spectator safety at football grounds in the UK. The SGSA carries out a range of statutory functions in relation to football in England and Wales, and advisory functions in relation to other sports within the UK and internationally.
4. The minimum level of training required for stewards to work independently within a sports ground environment is recommend by the SGSA’s Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (Green Guide).
Media Contact: Mark Phillips, Communications Manager
Tel: 0845 2260350 ~ Email: mphillips@highfieldabc.net

Highfield’s marathon challenge for VICTA

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Three of Highfield’s staff put on their running shoes and took on one of the world’s toughest challenges for charity this spring – the Virgin Money London Marathon .

Chris Sprenger, Managing Director, Ben Cressey, Director of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeships, and Dominic Binks, Director of Business Development completed the gruelling 26 miles and 385 yards to raise money for Highfield’s chosen charity – Visually Impaired Children Taking Action (VICTA) .

Marathon Runners

Chris (left), and Dominic (right).

Held on 26 April 2015, the Virgin Money London Marathon is one of the biggest mass participation sports events in the world. And for Chris and Ben, it was the second time they had completed the marathon for VICTA, having taken part in 2014.

Reform Club

After the marathon – Dominic (left), Chris (centre) and Ben (right).

As well as raising thousands over £3000 for the charity – which works to provide equipment, services and events that help blind and visually impaired children and young people develop socially, emotionally and educationally, as well as offering their parents a vital network of support and information – there were personal bests for the runners.

Chris completed the course in just three hours 29 minutes, with Dominic and Ben coming in at four hours and six minutes and four hours and 28 minutes respectively.

Medal

Chris’s Virgin Money London Marathon Medal

To date, Highfield has raised over £13,000 for VICTA. However, the team is not resting on its laurels, and has already signed up for next year’s marathon on 25 April 2016.

Highfield will be holding a number of events through 2015 and 2016 to raise money for VICTA, including a skydive. If you would like to contribute, please click Virgin Money Giving

North East learners celebrate with TEN

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Group 2 Learners at a North East training provider got the chance to have their success recognised earlier this Spring at a prestigious ceremony attended by local civic dignitaries.

60 learners from South Tyneside TEN , which is a HABC Approved Centre, were congratulated on achieving their qualifications across a range of subjects including retail, hospitality and employability by Mayor Councillor Fay Cunningham and Mayoress and Stella Matthewson at event that took place at TEN’s Market Dock office in South Shields on 30 March 2015.

TEN is a registered charity and have been delivering services for unemployed people in the region for over 20 years. In 2014, the Training Division was established and successfully became a HABC Approved Centre. With funding awarded by South Tyneside Council and a grant from Community Foundation Vital Signs, TEN has delivered the programme of vocational training for residents of South Tyneside.

Group 3 The Mayor, Cllr Fay Cunningham, said, ‘This is an excellent achievement on the part of the learners and the qualifications have already helped 12 of the learners to find work. This emphasises how beneficial training can be to those people who are seeking employment and is an accolade to the tutors who delivered the courses’.

Retail Knowledge course tutor, Nicola Robinson, said, ‘I am so proud of the learners and it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to watch them grow during the courses. I wish each and every one of them the best of luck for the future. The Employability (Hospitality Sector) course tutor, Helen Lockhart, said: ”It has been wonderful to have such dedicated learners on the courses. I wish all of them the success they deserve for the future’.

After the award ceremony learners met with the Mayor and Mayoress and spoke about their participation in the courses and their aspirations for the future.

Leslie McIntyre, aged 60, from South Shields, said, ‘The courses were very enjoyable and beneficial. Our tutor, Nicola, was great and the group all got along really well. I have used what I learned on the course in my role as a volunteer at the Redesign for You shop, which is based in Fowler Street South Shields.’

Sandbell Velasquez, aged 36, from South Shields, said, ‘The courses have been fantastic as has our tutor, Helen. In my home country of Peru, I worked in the hospitality sector but have not been able to find employment since moving to the UK five years ago. The courses have really helped to update and refresh my skills and knowledge. The qualifications included the Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering and Level 2 Health and Safety in the Workplace’.

TEN provides a range of services to assist clients to gain employment and have recently achieved ISO9001 and ISO27001 quality standards.

For more information, go to http://southtynesideten.com