The skills gap is becoming a critical, strategy issue for the industry, David Scott, Managing Director of Skills for Security, the UK’s leading Fire and Security training provider, writes in reaction to the asmag “Manpower Survey,” but points out that early investment in skills can help organizations thrive.
The skills gap in the security sector is affecting companies in all geographies, of all sized and in every segment of the industry. In reaction to the asmag “Manpower Survey,” David Scott, Managing Director of Skills for Security, the UK’s leading Fire and Security training provider, writes that the skills gap is becoming a critical, strategy issue for the industry, but points out that early investment in skills can help organizations thrive.
Having reviewed the survey results, my view is they confirm a challenge the fire and security sector has been facing for some time, but which is now becoming more critical: the skills shortage is no longer just a hiring issue, it is a strategic one for the industry.
What comes through clearly is the problem is not simply a shortage of people. It is a shortage of the right skills, the right technical capability and, in many cases, the right long-term talent pipeline. This has major implications for the sector because it affects recruitment alongside installation capacity, service quality, project delivery, innovation and growth.
David Scott, Managing Director, Skills for Security
The survey also highlights this issue is being felt across the wider supply chain. When businesses are delayed because their partners, suppliers or subcontractors are also struggling to recruit and retain skilled people, the challenge becomes systemic. That is when a skills shortage stops being an operational inconvenience and starts becoming a real constraint on sector performance.
In my view, this will shape the future of the sector in three key ways.
Firstly, employers will need to place much greater emphasis on developing talent rather than simply buying it in. The market for experienced technical people is too limited, too competitive and too expensive for that to be the sole answer.
Secondly, the industry will need to do more to improve its visibility and attractiveness as a career destination. Fire and security is a highly skilled, increasingly technology-led sector, but that is not always reflected in how it is perceived externally. If we want to solve the talent challenge, we must improve the way we engage schools, colleges, parents, career changers and future entrants.
Thirdly, training and workforce development will need to become more continuous. As the sector becomes more digital, more connected and more compliance-driven, employers will need both strong entry routes and strong progression routes. Initial training alone will not be enough; ongoing upskilling will become increasingly important.
At Skills for Security, we believe this is where we can make a meaningful difference. We can help the sector attract more people into the industry through sponsorship and employer engagement, support businesses in recruiting apprentices through our talent acquisition service and develop both new entrants and existing staff through apprenticeships, technical training and Skills On-Demand.
This is particularly important as the industry increasingly moves towards integrated solutions and requires more multi-skilled engineers who can operate across fire, security, technology and compliance. We can help employers move away from short-term hiring pressures and towards more sustainable, long-term workforce strategies.
Looking ahead, I believe the businesses which will thrive are those that invest in skills early, create structured development routes and take a long-term view of talent. Those that continue to rely on the existing labour market alone are likely to find growth increasingly difficult.
Overall, I think the survey is a timely reminder the sector’s future growth will depend not just on demand for systems and services, but on whether we have the skilled people needed to design, install, maintain and support them. That is the challenge in front of us, but it is also the opportunity.