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Set up security staff training

How to establish and manage ongoing training for private security employees. Covers initial SIA qualifications, mandatory refresher training, first aid maintenance, conflict management CPD, lone worker training, and record-keeping obligations.

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Training is at the centre of private security regulation. Every individual carrying out licensable activity must hold the correct SIA-endorsed qualification, and from 2025 onwards the SIA requires mandatory refresher training at each licence renewal. As an employer, you are responsible for ensuring your workforce is properly qualified, stays current, and receives additional training to manage the specific risks of their role.

This guide helps you build a training framework that covers all mandatory requirements and keeps your business compliant. It addresses not just what training is needed, but when to plan it, what alternatives exist when things change, and how to keep records that satisfy both the SIA and health and safety inspectors.

Initial SIA qualifications

Before an individual can apply for an SIA licence, they must complete a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification endorsed by the SIA for the relevant licence sector. The qualification must be awarded by an Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation and delivered by an SIA-approved training provider.

Different licence sectors have different qualification requirements. The three most common are door supervision, security guarding, and close protection. Each has a different guided learning hours (GLH) requirement and covers different competencies.

Choosing a training provider

Only use SIA-approved training providers listed on the SIA website. Check that the provider is delivering an Ofqual-regulated qualification, not just a certificate of attendance. If a provider's approval is withdrawn mid-course, the qualification may not be accepted by the SIA.

Consider whether classroom-based or blended learning suits your operational needs. Some qualifications allow a portion of learning online, but practical assessments (physical intervention for door supervision, close protection scenarios) must be delivered face-to-face.

Mandatory refresher training

The SIA introduced mandatory refresher training as a licence renewal requirement. This means your employees must complete a refresher course before their licence expires, or they will be unable to renew and must stop working in licensable roles. As an employer, you should track licence expiry dates and plan refresher training well in advance.

The refresher requirement applies on different timelines depending on the licence sector. Plan at least six months ahead, as popular training providers fill up quickly around common renewal dates.

What if an employee's licence expires before they complete a refresher?

You must remove them from licensable duties immediately. They cannot work in a licensable role while their licence is expired, even if they have booked a refresher course. Consider scheduling refreshers at least three months before the licence expiry date to allow a buffer for cancellations, illness, or provider availability.

What if an employee holds multiple licence sectors?

They need a refresher for each sector. Some providers offer combined refresher courses, but check that each sector's requirements are covered. Track each licence sector and expiry date separately in your records.

First aid qualifications

First aid is both an SIA prerequisite and an ongoing employer obligation under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. Your risk assessment determines the level of first aid provision needed at each site. Security staff are often the first on the scene at incidents, so maintaining current first aid qualifications is essential.

First aid certificates typically expire after three years. Build first aid renewal into your training calendar alongside SIA refresher dates. If a first aid certificate expires, the individual may still hold a valid SIA licence, but you may be failing your health and safety obligations by deploying them without current first aid competence.

Conflict management and lone working

Conflict management is included in the initial SIA qualification, but it needs ongoing reinforcement. The SIA recommends regular CPD in conflict management techniques, particularly for door supervisors and event security staff who face confrontational situations frequently.

Lone working is common in security guarding. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, you must carry out a risk assessment for lone workers and provide training on the specific risks they face. This includes communication procedures, welfare checks, and what to do in an emergency.

Consider annual refresher sessions on both topics, even where not legally mandated, as this demonstrates due diligence and can reduce insurance premiums.

Training records

Maintain a training record for each employee that includes:

  • SIA qualification certificates (copy) with date achieved and awarding body
  • SIA licence number, sector, and expiry date
  • Refresher training completion dates and provider details
  • First aid qualification and expiry date
  • Conflict management CPD sessions attended
  • Lone working induction and any subsequent refresher
  • Site-specific induction records

Keep records for at least the duration of employment plus six years (the limitation period for civil claims). If you hold Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) accreditation, the SIA will audit your training records as part of the assessment.

Official guidance