Linx International Group’s recent acquisition of a majority shareholding in UK based Tavcom, the world’s leading provider of accredited security systems training, has further bolstered the Group’s profile as a global training brand.
In this interview, David Gill, a Chartered Security Professional and CEO of Linx International Group which includes renowned security management training providers, ARC Training International and Perpetuity Training, as well as Linx Consulting, explains the thinking behind the investment in Tavcom.
Q: David, with two highly successful training companies already under the umbrella of the Linx International Group, why have you felt a need to acquire Tavcom?
A: Anyone who works within the electronic security industry will be aware of the outstanding reputation that Tavcom has built over the last 21 years for developing and delivering world class security systems training. It is an area of security which neither ARC Training International nor Perpetuity Training has previously addressed. Tavcom is therefore a very welcome addition to our Group. We can now truly claim to offer anyone who wishes to develop a career within the security sector, the widest possible choice of specialist security systems and security management training programmes.
Q: Will the Tavcom name disappear?
A: Absolutely not. Tavcom will continue to operate under its existing brand within the Group and clients can be assured that they will continue to receive the very highest levels of service that they have come to expect from Tavcom. Mike Tennent, who founded Tavcom, has been appointed the company’s non-executive Chairman, whilst Paul Tennent, previously Sales Director for Tavcom, has been appointed Group Sales Director for Linx International.
Q: Why was it necessary for you to acquire your shareholding in Tavcom? With your extensive experience of operating training organisations, could you not have simply added security systems training courses to what ARC Training International and Perpetuity Training already offers?
A: When you invest in a company such as Tavcom, you not only acquire a superb portfolio of tried and tested accredited training courses, as well as a very large database of satisfied clients, you also gain access to its people. With Tavcom, this is particularly significant because of the quality of its tutors who have all been handpicked for their technical knowledge as well as their teaching skills. I am delighted to have the opportunity to be working with these highly competent professionals who share a passion with myself and colleagues at ARC Training International and Perpetuity Training for helping security professionals add to their skill sets.
Our investment by way of acquiring the major shareholding in Tavcom is just the beginning of what I am sure will be a very exciting journey for the team and our clients.
We will, for example, continue to develop Tavcom’s superb classroom and workshop facilities in Bishops Waltham, Hampshire. Under the leadership of our Group Training Director, Ken Livingstone, we can also expect to see further development of Tavcom’s accredited online ‘e-learning’ courses which offer a practical alternative to traditional classroom style courses, allowing students to learn in their own time without having to come ‘off the road’.
In addition, we will continue to support initiatives such as the Tavcom Military Resettlement division which focuses on facilitating the transition of ex-forces personnel into the security sector.
Q: What does the future hold for Linx International Group?
A: One thing we can be certain of is constant change, whether that be in the form of advances in technology or the increasingly sophisticated activities of criminals and terrorists. I am in no doubt that to be effective and successful within the security sector during the 21st Century, it is essential for security professionals to underpin their knowledge and expertise acquired at the coal face, with business acumen and career enhancing academic qualifications.
I am therefore determined that all three training organisations within the Group continue to develop and deliver progressive training programmes that are topical and relevant to the challenges facing all who enjoy working within the security industry.
UK based Tavcom is the world’s leading provider of accredited security systems training for installers, operators, managers and designers of CCTV, Network IP, access control, intruder and fire alarms.
Part of the Linx International Group, Tavcom offers courses to meet the training requirements of security personnel at all levels, from Foundation courses for those with little or no previous experience, to highly advanced programmes for control room supervisors, security managers and company executives. In total, Tavcom currently offer over 70 regularly scheduled training courses, ranging from one day seminars, to five day fully residential programmes.
The technical and non-technical courses cover a wide range of security systems topics, including System Planning, Project Management, Structured Cabling, PAT Testing, Control Room Operations, Disaster Recovery, Counter Eavesdropping and Security Management.
Tavcom’s workshops provide unrivalled ‘hands-on’ facilities which offer immediate opportunities to put theory into practice – a Tavcom tradition of blended learning that has refined the knowledge and skills of thousands of delegates for over 20 years.
The Tavcom Academy specialises in the development, promotion and provision of accredited online ‘e-learning’ courses to students from around the globe. A subscription-based arm of the Academy offers online education, technical tips, industry news and generous discounts on Tavcom products and services to its members.
The Tavcom online e-learning courses are intended to offer a practical alternative to traditional classroom style courses, allowing students to acquire new skill sets without having to come ‘off the road’.
The Tavcom Military Resettlement division is focussed on facilitating the transition of ex-forces personnel into the security sector. Many of those leaving the forces have the core transferrable skills and attributes necessary for a post military career within the security sector. Acknowledging that those leaving the forces already have access to resettlement support, the Tavcom Resettlement package builds on what is already available, by tailoring and directing it to the security arena. The core of the package is the provision of Tavcom BTEC accredited training, career progression advice and the direction of applicants to sources of industry information.
Tavcom’s Technical Services division offers a wide diversity of expertise, including product and system testing, security audits, risk assessment and training needs analysis. We have assembled ‘under one roof’ a highly qualified team of experts who can collectively provide professional advice on all aspects of electronic security. All members of this hand-picked team are recognised as leading authorities in their respective fields, with unrivalled technical knowledge underpinned by a thorough understanding of ‘real world’ security issues.
For almost 30 years Linx has been providing high level security and risk management consulting to a hugely diverse range of clients across many different business sectors. Linx’s recent acquisitions of Tavcom, Perpetuity Training (May 2012) and ARC Training International (August 2013) means that the Linx Group of companies is now able to offer unrivalled specialist security systems and security management training programmes to its rapidly expanding international client base.
For more information on Tavcom's range of services, visit www.tavcom.com
