EMPLOYEES at a Bradford security firm are celebrating a year of personal achievement.

More than 60 members of staff at Kings Security have gained qualifications while working for the company over the last 12 months and many have been singled out in national awards.

During 2016, more than 150 people passed through Kings Training Academy. They trained in seven different modules, including health and safety, customer service, fire awareness, first aid, and manual handling.

Numerous qualifications, including NVQs and CSMP were also completed with approximately 60 staff achieving NVQ level two in electronic security and emergency systems, and 20 graduating at level three. Several also achieved NVQ level three in management.

Jacob Telemacque, fleet manager, benefited significantly from Kings’ commitment to training and improvement. Last month he was highly commended in the Most Improved Commercial Fleet of the Year at the Fleet Awards in London.

Mr Telemacque, who grew up in Bradford, joined Kings Security as an apprentice in November 2012, aged 18, after leaving school with no qualifications aged 15.

His first role – apprentice fleet assistant – involved dealing with fines and penalty charge notices, speed alerts and general administration. After 18 months as an apprentice, Mr Telemacque had completed his NVQ level two in business administration.

He said: “Working at Kings has had such a positive impact on me. With continued support and the ability to take additional qualifications I have been able to make career choices I never thought I would.

“I take great pride in my role and aspire to have my own team to manage.”

Now aged 21, Mr Telemacque manages a fleet of more than 330 vehicles and has taken on his own apprentice, as well as finding the time to re-write the Kings Fleet Handbook.

Kings CEO Anthony King said: “Kings takes its commitment to its staff seriously. This year, all staff have been able to develop their skills, which in turn has improved their contribution to the business. It’s important that we encourage employees to aim high and even more important that we retain these productive and ambitious people as they develop.”