Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
24th April 2024 Issue no. 702

Your industry news - first

We strongly recommend viewing Locks and Security News full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.

Tradelocks courses gain MLA's CPD approval

Following the introduction of the MLA's Continuing Professional Development programme earlier this year, Tradelocks announces that two of their courses have now been awarded CPD status. This adds major credibility to the already popular courses, the company says.

According to the MLA, "Continuing Professional Development gives members of a professional association the opportunity to improve their skills and broaden their knowledge by keeping up to date and continuously seeking to improve. By having a well structured and professional CPD scheme, we can show the outside world that we take the work we do seriously and want to progress in both knowledge and skills."

Of course, locksmiths have taken advantage of the many training sessions offered in the past in order to enhance their professional development, but without any sort of recognition, this has led to a number of problems. Without an accredited CPD programme, professionals are faced with the obstacle of not knowing the true value of a training session. With so many courses out there, it is difficult to know which ones would be of real benefit until having already attended - the reason why many qualified locksmiths would argue that further training is a waste of time and money. The MLA's CPD scheme is therefore of great benefit to locksmiths as it gives the reassurance that a course has been assessed and awarded the credit it deserves, and by completing the training you will be personally credited accordingly. 

2010 saw the launch of Tradelocks' training courses held at UAP's Head Office in Walshaw, Bury. Run by reputable locksmith engineers Martin Pink and Richard Breslin, the practical training sessions got off to a great start and have gone from strength to strength with positive feedback from trainees. As well as walking away with the useful training materials, locksmiths will now gain 3 CPD points for attending the one day Genuine Lishi courses, and on completion of the Chris Belcher 2 day RPCP training course they will awarded 5 CPD points. 

The Board of the MLA have approved a 'Registered' status for every Full, Fellow or Master category personal member of the MLA and 'Certified' status for all approved companies. To maintain Registered/ Certified status with the MLA, members will need to keep a total of 18 points over a rolling 3 year period. Simply achieving 6 points a year will maintain the Registered status, so both the Lishi and Chris Belcher courses would ensure that you'd be well on your way with this. 

In the future, CPD status may help to achieve licensing for locksmiths, in which case the MLA say they would be mad not to make it compulsory.

Tradelocks adds: we are sure that the majority of professionals will agree that CPD will be beneficial for all involved as it is essential to demonstrate that you're keeping up with all the relevant legislation - one of the major driving forces in business now. It will also ensure that you're specifying and installing products that meet the latest standards which is crucial, as is understanding those standards and where they need to be applied. 

To book your place at a Tradelocks CPD rated training course or to find out more about the Lishi and Chris Belcher trainings, call Training Co-ordinator Andy Bolton on 0161 763 5290, email [email protected] or visit www.tradelocks.co.uk to check out the full range of courses.

8th December 2010