Wilson James Security Academy Students Gain Industry Insight
Protected Services students at Derby College’s Broomfield Hall campus recently visited the UK’s leading security exhibition at London’s Olympia as part of their enrichment programme with Wilson James - a national leader in security solutions.
The students are members of Wilson James Security Academy and are benefiting from work experience and workplace visits to gain a greater understanding about the career opportunities available in the security industry.
They met with Wilson James staff at the Security & Counter Terror Expo and spent the day learning more about the capabilities, strategies and intelligence to keep nations, infrastructure, business and people safe.
Derby College Lecturer Edwin Watkins said: “This was an incredible opportunity for the students to see a wide range of security-related businesses and organisations in action to put the work we do in College into better context.
“It is part of a diverse programme of visits and work experience that they are joining as part of the Wilson James Security Academy partnership and it was a fascinating insight into this broad industry.”
Towards the end of the Academy members’ study programme, they will receive on-the-job training with a view to being offered part full-time roles and the start of a fulfilling career in airport security.
Dee Thomas, Wilson James Director Aviation, explained: “This is the first partnership programme that we have undertaken in the UK and I am delighted that we will be working so closely with Derby College over the coming year.
“Our aim is to broaden the students’ horizons and show them the wide range of transferable skills that we require as an employer to help them shape their future career choices.
“Wilson James is a company that believes in the development of its people and we pride ourselves on giving people opportunities to develop their careers.
“Working with Derby College, we therefore have the opportunity to give students the work experience to get the first step on the career ladder and show them at an early stage in their working lives the broader picture of where they can go on to develop their skills.”
The Wilson James Security Academy is the latest stage of Derby College’s Employer Academy programme – designed to bridge the gap between education and the workplace – which has received national recognition.
Derby College Deputy Principal April Hayhurst concluded: “The security industry – particularly working aviation – is a growing area and one which our Protected Services may not have originally considered when choosing their study programme here at Derby College.
“The Wilson James Security Academy is therefore a unique opportunity for them to gain a greater insight into the skills and attitudes that employers such as Wilson James are looking for and the diverse career opportunities available to them in the short, medium and longer terms.