The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has announced what it terms a major strategic review of the qualifications and linked training required to apply for an SIA licence.
The aim; to look at the content of qualifications someone has to pass to apply for an SIA badge to work in private security, in the main as a contract security guard or a door supervisor. At the most recent, November 2025 monthly count released by the SIA, a record 458,700 are SIA-badged. On the table are:
- what new core content is required?
- what changes are required to safety-critical skills such as physical intervention and searching?
- updates to counter-terror content?
- how to meet emerging issues, such as the bugbear of handling ‘social media auditors’; and using new technologies and equipment?
- how to make sure content stays relevant, especially on spiking of drinks, and specialist searching techniques such as searching wheelchairs, when the protective security work may have to change?
- does the close protection qualification have the right amount of content?
- how are English language skills to be tested and demonstrated by trainees?
- how do trainees show their first aid skills?
As for the training delivery side, the SIA is asking about how to use tech to better make sure exams are less vulnerable to those who might want to cheat; new quality requirements of training providers; and is proposing a review of the occupational expertise and qualifications of trainers required to deliver licence-linked qualifications.
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Michelle Russell, SIA Chief Executive, said: “Every five years we conduct a back-to-basics review of the content of the licence qualifications, how they are assessed and carried out. These reviews primarily focus on identifying what new content is required. However, this time we are doing it differently.
“As well as reviewing content, I have asked for a fundamental look at how the rules around the assessment and invigilation of examinations and requirements can be tightened. This also includes the delivery of the training courses supporting the qualifications, to ensure public confidence in them.
“It is essential that the public, security, employers and the SIA have trust and confidence that those with an SIA licence have been properly tested on the basic skills and knowledge they need to do the job. As the demands on private security operatives keep changing, their skills and knowledge need to keep pace too. This review represents a strategic reset and comes at an important time for the security industry. All ideas are on the table. The outcome of this review must ensure the new content and standards set are fit-for-purpose, and the assessment arrangements are strengthened to reduce the risk of training malpractice and ensure public confidence in the investment in the skills and competency of those awarded qualifications.”
The SIA stresses engagement with the security industry it regulates; front line officers, supervisors, leaders and employers, besides those providing the training. Specialist expert working groups with security and skills professionals will review each course, feed back, and make proposals, the regulator adds.
Tim Archer, SIA Director of Licensing and Standards, whose team is leading the review said: “At the heart of this review is ensuring the security operatives, who have a difficult and important job, are supported by the safety-critical skills and knowledge they learn when undertaking the licence-linked qualification. “We want this to be a review informed by extensive engagement and feedback from security professionals, employers, qualification awarding bodies and the many good trainers who deliver courses. We are putting the expertise of those specialists and security professionals at the heart of developing the new standards and requirements. These are the people who know and understand daily challenges of the job and what skills and knowledge are needed to do the job effectively and safely.
“To ensure the broadest possible involvement and feedback into the new requirements we will be carrying out early engagement before the proposed changes are scoped out for a formal public consultation.”
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The SIA estimates it will take 18 months end-to-end to carry out and put into practice the findings of this review. This includes time to conduct informal engagement and formal public consultations and allow time for the private sector qualifications and training bodies to make the changes. A timetable is suggested by the SIA:
- November 2025 to January 2026: meetings and consultation exercises including surveys and online webinars to seek views on qualifications content, methods of assessment training needs and industry requirements;
- Early spring 2026: public consultation on draft qualification specifications and other proposed changes;
- Summer 2026: publication of final qualification specifications;
- Autumn 2026 to spring 2027: training and security sectors design the training courses and prepare for the changes; and
- Spring 2027: the new qualifications and assessment arrangements go live and become mandatory
Industry and other stakeholders wishing to learn more about the review and engage can take part in a series of webinars:
- Friday 21 November 2025, noon and Monday 24 November 2025, 3:30pm (aimed at the security industry and those taking qualifications); and
- Friday 28 November, noon (aimed at training providers, trainers and others involved in the delivery of vocational education and training).
Sign up to a webinar or contact the SIA at [email protected].
Photo by Mark Rowe: SIA-badged officer on the door of a pub, London St Pancras.
