Akona, based in Runcom, UK, specializes in the security and events industries to provide a wide range of vocational and professional courses to suit clients at all levels.

 

“All of our courses are delivered using a blended learning approach,” explains Steve Ashley, Akona Director of Operations, “requiring the learners to attend classroom-based lessons and distance learning to gain the qualifications. Teaching is a combination of group work and individual tuition, and the approach requires a mixture of knowledge and practical assessment, with scenario-based training and live assessment at high profile venues.”

 

Akona delivers training courses for a number of major venues in the UK and has been responsible for successfully qualifying thousands of stewards and security operatives over the past few years. Ashley adds, “We are working closely within the Consortium for the Centre of Excellence for Stewarding and Events in London. The Consortium was granted Centre of Excellence status through the National Skills Academy under the Sector Skills Council Skillactive. This includes such world-renowned venues as Wembley Stadium and RFU Twickenham, with training being delivered by Akona, Integer and in-house.

 

Most recently, Akona has worked with premiership football club Chelsea FC, to successfully train more than 250 stewards in nationally-recognized stewarding and spectator safety qualifications.” The courses have been developed in partnership with The Football Association (The FA), The Football League, The FA Premier League, The Football Safety Officers Association, and in consultation with the Football Licensing Authority.

 

Ashley adds, “We’ve worked with Chelsea Football Club for three seasons to deliver the Level 2 Certificate in Event and Match day Stewarding and more recently, the Level 2 Award in Understanding Stewarding and Spectator Event qualifications.” “Feedback from the course attendees has been very high with particular reference to the calibre of our trainers, who each have extensive practical knowledge of the industry.” “Additionally, at Wembley Stadium, we have been working with them to deliver a wide range of courses including security, hospitality and customer service programmes.”