In order to encourage and provide opportunities for women starting careers in security, U.K.-based security specialist GMS Group has partnered with education and employment organizations to tackle an industry-wide shortage of trained female staff.

GMS has begun working with Sandwell College and other key partners to engage with wider audiences over Women In Security, an awareness drive about the opportunities for female staff to follow careers in security gatehouse roles, public facing events and technology-based duties including CCTV monitoring as well as the scope for management development.

GMS has promoted the campaign to local colleges, universities, local authorities, student unions and employment agencies to display the opportunities available for female colleagues in security.

According to statistics from the Security Industry Authority (SIA), the government body which regulates the security sector in England, in October just 10% of the 390,000 registered SIA license holders were female.

To address the imbalance, Sandwell College and GMS offers training to women looking to secure their license. GMS are looking to engage with women whose work in other sectors was hit by COVID-19, such as hospitality and travel, and who will bring transferable skills.

For more information about the program, click here.