Security staff face many risks and challenges in their job, from dealing with pandemic situations to crowd control and acts of terrorism. They are often the first on the scene when incidents occur and nowhere was this more evident than in the tragic bombing of Manchester Arena in 2017.
In recognition of the new risks and challenges of modern security guard jobs, the SIA (Security Industry Authority) introduced top-up training in 2021 to provide a more robust skill set for those entering the profession. These changes are aimed at keeping professionals working in the private security industry safer as well as the general public.
When introducing the new requirements, Michelle Russell, Acting Chief Executive of the SIA, said:
These changes reflect the extensive feedback and input over the last three years from those on the ground involved in working to keep the communities they serve as safe as possible. Critical to this is the requirement that all operatives have the knowledge and skills to deal with common risks, especially in safety critical areas.
The security industry plays a vital role in public protection and the new qualifications will help ensure that this industry is recognised as a profession that is delivering on this. We will continue to work in partnership with the industry to deliver the best security standards possible.
What are the new upskilling requirements for Security Staff?
From October last year (2021), anyone renewing their SIA licence has to complete the upskilling requirements, which include:
Principles of Terror Threat Awareness in the Private Security Industry
(referred to as ACT – Action counters terrorism course)
Principles of Minimising Personal Risk for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry
This covers:
- Health and Safety procedures
- Communication skills
- Incident management
- Citizens’ arrest
- Protecting vulnerable people
- Emergency procedures
- Record keeping
- COVID-19
In addition, they must have undertaken
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) training
This enables them to respond quickly and effectively at the scene of a first aid emergency such as:
- Trips, slips & falls
- Breathing difficulties
- Heart Attacks
- Injuries sustained from a fight
- Overdose from drugs or alcohol
- Burns & scalds
How Goldcrest supports the upskilling of their staff
Because it is an individual accreditation, security guards must personally renew their SIA licence every three years at their own cost and time. All our staff that have had to renew their licence since the new requirements came into force, have been fully supported by us to undertake the additional training.
We host the upskills training in-house, having procured the best possible price for our staff. They are unlikely to find a cheaper price from a legitimate training provider. Because we have a such a good working relationship with our training providers, they agreed to conduct the training at office, which is central to all our staff. Not only do we take away the hassle and stress of organising their own training, we monitor progress of our staffs’ training and provide assistance throughout the process, all of which has been welcomed by our staff.
We pride ourselves on the calibre of our security team and it’s vital that we support them in their upskilling requirements to ensure they offer the highest standards of service to our clients.
If you are looking for fully trained, high calibre security staff, please get in touch with us.
