Ask anyone in the Fire & Security industry how they got into it, and you’ll likely hear the same story: “I fell into it.”
But the industry urgently needs new talent - and it’s time for a new story. One where people choose to enter our world on purpose.
That’s the conversation Sian and Jo had at The Security Event after Jo took ARC Monitoring’s “Could You Be an ARC Operator?” challenge... and scored an ‘E’. Unlike anything else in the Fire & Security space, the test felt like a game: split-second decision-making, pattern recognition, prioritising threats, staying calm under pressure.
“It reminded me of gaming,” Jo said.
“That’s because it basically is gaming,” Sian replied. “Except you get paid for it.”
The Real-Life Game
Remote monitoring is fast, visual and full of challenge - yet barely known to young people. The skills gamers develop nightly are exactly the ones Sian looks for: quick thinking, visual processing, adaptability.
Sian originally created the “Could You Be an ARC Operator?” test as a way to get people engaged on the Arc Monitoring stand at The Security Event. She wanted something that would be interactive, relatable and would demonstrate the skills needed for the role - especially to those with gaming experience. This is exactly how Jo came across it… and why it ended up sparking such a big conversation.
Sound like you? Here’s what it takes…
The Human Edge: What the Role Really Takes in the Age of AI
Beyond gaming instincts, you need to communicate clearly, challenge intruders when necessary, know when to call the Police… and care enough to treat every site like your own. Shift work builds camaraderie and trust.
Picture yourself here: monitoring live feeds, making split-second calls, protecting homes and businesses in real time. That’s the life of an ARC Operator.
And while AI is transforming many industries, this is a role it can’t fully replace. Human judgement, empathy and the ability to read complex, unpredictable situations in real time are skills that machines can’t yet replicate. That makes this job not just exciting, but future-proof.
A Launchpad Career
Sian started in 2010 as an ARC operator because she liked the four-on, four-off shift pattern. In 15 years, she worked her way to Managing Director. The role builds skills that lead to technical, operational, compliance, engineering and sales careers.
“The advert didn’t say ‘save lives and shout at burglars.’ It said something like ‘monitor screens’ - which made it sound a lot more chill than it actually was,” she laughs.
Now she recruits others, knowing it can lead to something big because she’s proof of that.
Jo’s Wake Up Call
Jo’s worked in Fire & Security for years, and whilst she’s never been a gamer, she’s no stranger to high-pressure challenges that demand fast thinking. She even met her first client in what felt like a real-life action sequence - rolling around on a karate mat. But the ARC Operator test changed her perspective.
“I didn’t really value or respect the skills that gamers actually have. But now I do. They think fast, process chaos and could thrive in this world.”
She also realised it’s not just about tech: it’s about judgement, nerves, care and confidence. The experience hit closer to home because Jo has young relatives who don’t yet know what they want to do when they grow up… but they are avid gamers. In that moment, she made the connection: this could be their career.
Time to Change the Story
Jo and Sian both want more young people to see Fire & Security as a career choice, not an accident. The ARC Operator role is one of the best-kept secrets in Fire & Security: a launchpad into technical, operational and leadership careers that shape the future of the industry.
So if you know someone hiding in their bedroom on a screen and wondering what to do with their future, point them towards the ARC Monitoring careers page.
We’ve all said we “fell into” security. But the next generation doesn’t have to. It’s time for them to stop falling into security - and start choosing it as a career with a purpose.