UK’s First Store Detective Qualification Launches

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• UK’s First Store Detective Qualification Launches

04 October 2021

Mitie has launched the UK’s first specialist store detective qualification, equivalent to an A-Level.

The five mandatory modules include gathering evidence and legal requirements.

Mitie plans to put at least 50 colleagues through the training a year, starting with existing store detectives before expanding to its security officers.

The FM services provider is the first security provider to develop a formal qualification of this type.

Jason Towse, Managing Director, Business Services, Mitie, said: The demand for security personnel throughout the pandemic has been unprecedented, particularly in the retail sector. Through initiatives such as this, we can attract the very best talent to our sector.”

Long Term Development Opportunities for Security Sector

Identifying that there was no formal qualification available to retail store detectives, Mitie designed the qualification alongside the National Open College Network (NOCN), a leading regulated awarding organisation.

The course content has been designed to give store detectives the skills they need to perform their role and covers five mandatory units, including “Understanding dealing with offenders and evidence”, “Understanding the legal aspects of a retail Store Detective’s role” and “Understanding the use of self-scan shopping systems in a retail environment”.

Each unit is then reviewed and discussed in weekly face-to-face coaching and development sessions. To achieve the qualification, each colleague must successfully complete all five units which include practical assessments, such as role-play scenarios, as well as passing a closed book invigilated exam.

The first cohort of ten Mitie store detectives started their course at the beginning of September and are expected to achieve their qualifications by late October.

Picture: a photograph of a busy shopping centre

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 04 October 2021

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