Richard, would you have any advice for a new-starter to Close Protection?

I often get asked about many aspects of the industry, many of which are how can they start off best. I've just replied to another such question but for all the newbies out there I thought it would be good to post the quick answer below.

First the bad news - as you may already be aware, the CP 'industry' is under trained and over manned. It is full of big egos and little brains. Competitive tac and one upmanship is rife. Companies play bluff games, smoke and mirrors and play with words to win contracts. They undercut and generally pay poor wages to maximise profit returns. For the individual worker, it is tough and when you throw financial commitments into the mix, to survive on any such wage and the continual job search hopping approach that is intrinsic to the industry becomes a wearing down and difficult situation.

The good solid permanent jobs out there and landing them is much down to luck but you have to create that luck if that makes sense. You have to invest in yourself. The SIA standards are low and if you do not improve on them then your CV will exactly mirror the 300 hundred other CV's you are competing with. The CV and cover letter that would impress me would be one that outlines the recognition that training within the industry, not just UK but also on the global stage, is unfit for purpose both in terms of content and duration. To that end, a CV that recognises that to the extent that the individual has gone away and in addition to the UK SIA 2 week course, has also completed an Israeli based course and a US based course to get that much needed training box ticked.

In addition to that you need to undertake a degree in security and risk management. This will benefit you hugely in being able to compete with those that are years ahead of you in terms of experienced years. if you tick these boxes then you will stand a good chance of landing that life long job. Don't believe anyone that says there is hardly any chance in getting them, they are in house etc etc. I have been head of sy for a private businessman for 19 years now and am responsible for all of his protection globally. There are jobs out there like this and they are diamond dust. Treat them like it and invest in yourself. If you scrape the pennies and do not then your chances are diminished.

Lastly, stay around good people and stay away from the dross of which they are many. Good luck.

Richard Aitch

With over 25 years continual operational experience in Close Protection throughout Foreign Commonwealth Office, (now FC&DO), Military and commercial operations and since the United Kingdom's regulator imposition of their CP training and licensing apparatus in 2006, Richard Aitch has been an untiring advocate of raising standards in Close Protection training, a government lobbyist, campaigner and the industry's most vocal critique and thought leader of private sector Close Protection. He continues to lobby and campaign for proper minimum CP training course content and duration to both the Home Office and the regulator.?

Author of the industry's international best seller; ‘Close Protection - A Closer Observation of the Protection Equation’ – ‘Protection Operations Tactical Doctrine for the Commercial Environment’, [2012], [ISBN 978-0-9572075-0-9]. A definitive critical account of the improper standards imposed by the Security Industry Authority and the standards that should have been delivered.