A BASINGSTOKE business owner is looking to give something back to the town he grew up in by helping two young people ‘get on the employment ladder’.

Andre Wilson, managing director of L&A Security Services, is offering to pay for two candidates to sit a door supervisor course.

Having himself struggled to find opportunities in his younger days, Andre hopes he will be able to help others who were once in a similar situation to him.

He said: “What we are looking to do is give back to the community, to the people who have tried hard to find employment.”

“I would rather help someone and employ someone in the area and help get them on the ladder.”

Andre is looking for a pair of locally based candidates between the ages of 18 and 23 and who are currently in either part-time education or unemployed. No academic qualifications or previous experience is necessary.

“I don’t care what their grades are,” he added, “it’s about how they present themselves.

“There’s no test involved until they get onto the course in September, but obviously we will support them with that as well.”

Andre’s company is a family run business, based in Basingstoke, but offering security services all across the country. He remembers getting into the business after a chance encounter in a London nightclub.

He said: “I went to a club one time in London. I got into an altercation and the club saw I could look after myself and gave me a job. That’s how I got started.”

But he says that there is much more to being a security guard than being able to “look after” yourself.

He added: “It’s not about how big you are.”

“Security’s about listening to people and understanding their needs and surroundings. So anyone can be a security guard.

“You don’t have to be a big, brawly guy who knows how to fight. I’m not a big person, I’m five foot six.”

“It’s about talking calmly and rationally and nine times out of ten they will listen to you.”

Andre also stresses that many of the skills learned can be applied to other careers, regardless of whether potential candidates were hoping to remain in the security business.

For more information and to get in touch with L&A security, go to landasecuritygroup.co.uk or call 01256 799997.