Qualify as a crime investigator

You may be thinking about your next career and you should begin by considering the skills, attributes and experience you already have. We know you possess the skills and experience that make a good investigator. For example, you will have a questioning mind, be competent at making difficult decisions and you will be a strong team player.

You should think about becoming a qualified crime investigator to enhance your professional standing. Our level 5 and level 6 BTEC courses in Investigative Practice lead to a nationally recognised qualification that will allow you to get ahead of the game. Once qualified you will be attractive to many potential employers and could work towards employment as a:

police officer
industry regulator
enforcement officer
civilian investigator
statement taker
call handler
legal assistant.

By becoming qualified in Investigative Practice at level 5 or 6, you are demonstrating that you are qualified to a high standard, ready and able to do the job.

Skills 2 Share courses are interactive, dynamic and based on performing an actual investigation. There are no exams to worry about and assessment is through interesting investigative assignments that are relevant to your new career.

You will be given access to tutors who are themselves experienced investigators and qualified law trainers. They have the knowledge and experience to guide you through your studies and advise you on employment opportunities.

Want to know more? Call 0333 123 2502 or visit www.skills2share.co.uk.

See the advertisement on page 59.

High-value defence skills to benefit industry

According to a report published at www.hrmagazine.co.uk, a new industry-led group has been created to ensure that high-value skills in the defence sector can be effectively redeployed where there are industrial changes as a result of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), which sets out how national security will be delivered, both effectively and efficiently, in a tough economic climate.

Business Secretary Vince Cable announced that the Skills and Jobs Retention Group will be chaired by Allan Cook, current chairman of Semta (the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies) and former CEO of defence system company Cobham. The Group’s remit will be to explore how skilled workers can be retained in the advanced manufacturing sector, by working with industry to redeploy affected employees to other sectors such as civil aerospace, automotive, energy and marine. Said Cable: ‘The government recognises the important contribution the defence sector makes to the wider economy through high-value jobs, intellectual property rights, export revenues, and as a key sponsor of apprenticeships and training. I want to ensure that, wherever possible, we retain the talented individuals leaving the defence industry within the UK’s advanced manufacturing sector.’

Launch of new qualifications that recognise your experience in HR or learning and development

cHRysos HR Solutions Ltd, which has supported a number of Armed Forces personnel in achieving qualifications in HR, has launched new qualifications, accredited by the CIPD, in Human Resources and Learning and Development.

The new qualifications are available at three levels (level 3 – Foundation; level 5 – Intermediate; and level 7 – Postgraduate), providing development opportunities for personnel working at all levels in the HR or learning and development professions.

The level 3 Certificate/Diploma in Human Resource Practice, or Learning and Development Practice is suitable for those working in an HR support or administrative role, or as a trainer or instructor. The level 5 Certificate/Diploma in Human Resource Management or Human Resource Development would also suit those in a HR support or training role, as well as HR managers or L&D managers, wishing to extend their skills and knowledge. For those in a senior HR or L&D role, there is the level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management or Human Resource Development.

All the qualifications allow individuals to gain recognition for their experience, by providing work-based evidence and participating in a professional discussion, to support assignments. Each learner is assigned a personal adviser to work with them one to one, with face-to-face or ‘virtual’ meetings. Your chosen programme would be designed to meet your needs, with flexible delivery arrangements and a choice of optional modules.

Where appropriate, we will also support you in being assessed for professional membership of the CIPD at Associate, Chartered Member or Chartered Fellow level.
For further information, please contact Julie Gordon, email Julie@chrysos.org.uk or call 07939 518451.

See the advertisement on page 21.

Published Januaryt 2011

New app offers job search in the palm of your hand

A new app available from providers such as Jobcentre Plus and Jobsite.co.uk allows iPhone-owning job seekers to browse vacancies on their handsets while on the move.

The Jobsite app lets users search its jobs database by position, location or salary. The app brings up full job details on the iPhone and users can even apply for positions directly from the palm of their hand if their CVs are already uploaded to the website. Says Keith Potts, CEO of Jobsite.co.uk, ‘Traditionally, going online was restricted to a computer but with the development of new technologies there is a quickly developing preference among some audience segments to search the web via mobile.’ Jobsite hopes the app will tap into the rocketing smartphone market.

Jobcentre Plus has a similar project in the pipeline. Jim Knight, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare, announced its launch at the National Digital Inclusion conference in March, saying that the recession has brought ‘a bigger range’ of people into Jobcentres, including those who are familiar with smartphone and PC technology: ‘Last month we had over 60,000 visits to the [Jobcentre Plus] job search site by people using the browser on the iPhone alone. Those people will now be able to download the app and have access to our vacancies – and that’s just the start as we develop the app so it will automatically push out notifications to people of new vacancies in their area, and work to make the application available on all mobile platforms.’ He added that the government is keen to open up the Jobcentre database to third-party developers to encourage the creation of new job search tools and ‘ever more engaging ways for our customers to interact with our services’.

Published April 2010

Recruitment resurgence

A report on the Recruiter website (www.recruiter.co.uk) claims that almost half of UK chief executives (42%) are hoping to recruit additional staff this year, according to research from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

The research, based on interviews with around 70 chief executives of UK firms, shows that 62% had reduced headcount over the last year and 85% predict they will overhaul the way their organisations manage people through change.

Michael Rendell, partner and leader, HR services at PwC, says: ‘Preparing for the upturn is a clear platform of opportunity for HR and, in the near future, this will mean refocusing on managing through change and engagement programmes as talent gaps need to be closed and roles redefined.’