Training and qualifications Your best parking life Is parking one of the job markets best-kept secrets? Sarah Juggins nds out what the BPA and others are doing to encourage people to join our growing sector, and how training is key I ts a view that might not get universal agreement, but the role of the civil enforcement ocer (CEO) is essential. No parking enforcement and there is chaos on the streets, as cars seeking a space drive around spewing out noxious pollutants, and disabled bays become fair game for anyone looking for a convenient spot to park. Of course, parking is not limited to civil enforcement. If you surveyed a room full of BPA members, youd hear from civil and structural engineers, business entrepreneurs, app developers, green technology specialists, marketing gurus, education practitioners, and more. The range of opportunities within parking is vast, and yet seems to be such a well-kept secret, which might explain why the sector struggles to recruit. Or, having recruited, loses people to other industries. In recognition of the perceived disparity between parking and other sectors such as medical or legal in terms of the levels of professionalism within it, the BPA has been furiously working with training providers on developing clear career progression pathways. The result is the BPAs Professional Development Framework. This is a matrix of qualications, knowledge and skills-based competencies that will help steer someone seeking to progress their career and nd the best possible route. The framework, to be launched this autumn, will have some supporting guidelines to help parking people navigate their way to a successful career as a parking professional. In essence, it is an at a glance guide, says Caron Fassetta, head of membership and information management at BPA. Someone can see where they are on the matrix and what skills, qualities and competencies they have. Then they can identify where their career can go next and how they get there. Good business sense One organisation at the heart of professional development is WAMITAB, an organisation that works with training providers across a range of industries to develop and certicate qualications. Chief executive Chris James says: Training is important because it develops people, but what is more important is the behaviour change that it inspires. The more people who undergo training and get qualications, the better the state of the industry. A qualication is important because it says the person holding the certicate has met the required standards. On the question of retention of good staff, James is clear: If you invest in people, it will increase their loyalty. There is evidence that they take fewer days off sick and they also become more ecient at what they do. It makes good business sense. Penny Winder has long been a strong and vociferous voice for raising standards in training within the sector. As director of Alpha Parking which provides City & Guilds parking qualications she has been at the forefront of training at all levels, but she recognises that a career in parking is a hard sell. There is a major shortage of appropriate skills within the parking industry, particularly at team leader level and above, she says. Added to that, parking has a bad image. And yet it is far more vital and involved than the majority of the population appreciates. Therefore, would it not be sensible to proactively send out that message and emphasise the role of skilled, committed staff at all levels in progressing the industry? Parking Associates director Kirsty Reeves agrees: We need to provide better information to explain the reasons for proper and effective kerbside management, as well as communicating the whole range of career opportunities in the industry. It is a career that covers a wide spectrum of skills and knowledge. Structured path The beginnings of a structured path based on the entry level qualications are there: Level 2 for enforcement ocers and Level 3 for notice processing, leading to the supervisor and team leader course with a range of workshops around those levels, explains Winder. But, she adds: We need to continue to build on this skeleton. One way that the skeleton is being beefed up is through add-on courses. 16 britishparking.co.uk PN Sep19 pp16-19 Lead Feature.indd 16 22/08/2019 11:48