Improving Officer Status

Securitas has long been a driving force in raising the standards and level of professionalism in the security industry, improving the status of the security officer profession.

In the security industry, there is a high employee turnover, approximately 50 percent in the USA and about 25 percent in Europe. This is because the security officer profession is traditionally a low-paying job, and is often viewed as an entry-level position to a professional career, not a long-term position.

Driving Force in Raising the Standards

To change this, Securitas has long been a driving force in raising the standards and level of professionalism in the security industry, improving the status of the security officer profession as well as wage levels. Improved status makes it easier to recruit and retain qualified employees with experience and knowledge. If successful, the cost of recruiting will decrease and margins will therefore improve.

Training an Important Tool

One important improvement tool is training, and Securitas has several training programs in place. There are three categories of training programs within Securitas: basic training of security officers, training to become a security expert and management training.

In many of the countries where Securitas conducts operations, mandatory training is required to become a security officer. These training programs are carried out by security companies themselves, and Securitas often goes above and beyond these training requirements.  In countries and areas where training is not mandatory, Securitas nevertheless provides training and even runs local training centers in such areas as India and Latin America.

In order to develop security experts, Securitas has launched specialized training programs in some areas of Europe and the USA geared towards particular customer segments and sectors, such as gated communities and the retail sector. Further security training efforts will be launched.

At the senior management level, Securitas has offered a one-year training program for many years, tailored to the exchange of knowledge regarding business best practice and the refinement of operations.

For successful and motivated employees, there are numerous opportunities for career advancement, either by specializing in a particular discipline at the local, regional or national level, or applying for an international scholarship.