When Lara Johnson stepped into the world of security, she never imagined how profoundly it would shape her life, both professionally and personally. Since leaving formal education 30 years ago, returning to structured learning was daunting. But what began as a job quickly evolved into a passion. That passion has empowered her to become a confident leader, a respected colleague, and a proud role model.
From Redundancy to Reinvention
Lara began her journey into security after 24 years with the London Borough of Hillingdon, where she was involved in event work. Following redundancy just before the COVID-19 pandemic, she seized the opportunity to retrain, earning her SIA badge and Level 2 Spectator Safety qualification. This marked the start of a new chapter, allowing her to turn decades of unpaid event experience into a professional career.
Her resilience shone through during the pandemic, when she helped form a COVID hub supporting vulnerable residents. From there, she joined an agency that placed her with OCS, where her career began to flourish.
Apprentice to Leader
Lara embraced the OCS apprenticeship programme, completing her Level 3 qualification with distinction and earning the title of Apprentice of the Month twice. She’s now pursuing her Level 5, continuing to push boundaries and inspire others. Her journey is a testament to lifelong learning and the power of second chances.
“I finished school nearly 30 years ago. The thought of doing English and maths exams again was terrifying. But I persevered, passed, and got a distinction. That’s when I was nominated for Apprentice of the Month.”
