The people behind Sapphire Shield

I have worked in the public sector for 20 years, ranging from retail,care work and a teaching assistant in a SEND provision. I have gained quite the experience and background when it comes to my work life but one thing I've learnt is i love working within the public sector.

I am a proud mum of 3 beautiful girls, as well as a cheeky cocker spaniel called frank.

In the summer of '23' as my friends and i call it, we dipped our toe in to the nightlife scene and some days fully submerged in it.

I found that my observing skills came into use and quite often both myself and my friend Renie, ended up deescalating certain scenarios with great success i might add.

This ended up being a moment in my life where i thought, "i could be good at this".

It was also the time i met the most incredible people that i am extremely proud to call my friends that had a massive impact on me pursuing my career in security.

Which is when i found Mike Keenan, who at the time ran the door supervisor training for Mimus, well them 6 days were the best training days I've ever had. which ended up being a bittersweet moment really, as much as i was glad i had passed the course, i was sad that it ended.

Since gaining my door supervisor qualification, i have had the privilege to work on doors of bars and clubs, work at festivals and football games as well as a wedding.

I have worked with some incredible doorman/doorwomen from being part of a huge team to working by myself.

But everywhere I've worked there has been a lack of females, so that's why i created Sapphire Shield.

To promote and encourage and thrive in a traditionally male-dominate sector, opening doors to meaningful and rewarding roles.

Mike Keenan

With nearly 20 years’ experience in the private security industry, I began my career working in nightclubs, licensed venues and major events across the UK. After gaining my SIA licence in 2007, I developed a strong foundation in frontline operations and management, building a reputation for professionalism, safety, and excellent customer service.

In 2017/18, I chose to pass on my industry knowledge by completing the Award in Education and Training, alongside achieving Level 3 qualifications in Conflict Management and Physical Intervention. This marked my transition into training, where I have since delivered SIA-approved courses across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and nationwide, supporting hundreds of learners as they start and progress in their security careers.

Before founding MJK Training, I served as Training Centre Manager for MIMAS Training, gaining extensive experience in quality assurance, compliance, and running an approved training centre to awarding-body standards.

Today, through MJK Training, I provide high-quality SIA and first-aid training that is professional, compliant, and grounded in real-world experience. Every course is designed to give learners not just a qualification, but the confidence, competence, and practical skills needed to succeed in a demanding and ever-evolving industry.