Hiring a UK security company is a big decision. Guards protect people, property, and reputation. Yet many buyers trust a logo or a sales pitch and skip the checks. As a result, they sometimes find the gaps only after something goes wrong. The good news is that the checks take only a few minutes. Two separate questions matter. First, does the UK security company hold SIA approval? Second, do its guards hold valid SIA licences? Many buyers mix these up, so clear answers help a lot. Both checks use free public registers. Therefore, a buyer can verify a supplier before signing anything. Besides, the same checks protect clients from unlicensed staff, weak systems and legal problems.
What Does SIA Approved Mean?
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) regulates the private security industry in the UK. It does two different jobs. First, it licenses individual security staff. Second, it runs a scheme that approves security companies. So “SIA approved” usually means a company holds approval under the Approved Contractor Scheme, or ACS. Independent assessors check each approved company against set standards. For example, they look at staff training, management systems and health and safety. However, many people use the phrase loosely. A company may say it is “SIA licensed” when it only means its guards hold licences. That is not the same thing. Therefore, buyers should always ask which one the company means.
SIA Licence vs ACS Approval
The difference is simple, but it matters a lot.
- SIA licence: this belongs to an individual, such as a guard or door supervisor. It shows that the person has completed the right training and has passed the SIA’s checks.
- ACS approval: this belongs to a company. It shows that an assessor has checked the business against set standards.
ACS is voluntary. A UK security company can offer services without it, as long as its staff hold the right licences. Even so, many buyers prefer approved contractors, because approval gives extra proof of quality. In short, licences cover people, and ACS covers the business. A strong supplier has both.
How to Check a UK Security Company Is ACS Approved
The SIA publishes a public Register of Approved Contractors. It lists the organisations that have met the ACS requirements. Anyone can search it for free.
Follow these four steps:
- Get the full company name. First, ask for the legal name and any trading names. Companies often trade under a different brand.
- Open the register. Next, go to the SIA Register of Approved Contractors. Always use the official SIA website, not a link from the company’s own website.
- Search by name. Then type the company name into the search box. Also try the trading name if the first search shows nothing.
- Read the result. Finally, check that the name, the status, and the approved services match what the company offers.
A logo on a website does not prove approval. So the register is the most reliable check. Approval also needs regular upkeep. Typically, approved contractors face assessment every year and renew their approval every three years. Therefore, a current entry on the register matters more than an old certificate.
How to Check a Security Guard’s SIA Licence
Company approval is only half the picture. Each guard on site also needs the right licence. In fact, the law requires employers to check that someone holds the correct security licence before hiring them for private security work. Anyone who pays an unlicensed person for this work can face a fine. Licences cover several roles. They include security guards, door supervisors, close protection operatives, CCTV operators, key holders and guards who move cash and valuables.
Check the Sectors a Company Is Approved For?
ACS approval can work by sector. A company may hold approval for one type of security service and not another. For example, a company may have approval for guarding but not for door supervision. Therefore, a quick look at the register entry matters. The sectors on the register should match the service the buyer wants. If the register does not show the service, ask the company how it controls quality for that work. A good company answers clearly and shows evidence. This check takes under a minute. Yet it prevents a common mix-up: a company may win work in one area and then offer a service that its approval does not cover.
Other Checks Before Hiring a UK Security Company
SIA checks are a strong start. However, they do not cover everything. So good buyers add a few more checks.
- Staff vetting: ask how the company screens staff. A reliable firm follows BS 7858 and keeps a full file for each person.
- Insurance: ask for proof of cover, such as public liability, and check that it fits the work. The same check applies to any subcontractor.
- Company details: search the company on Companies House. Check who runs it and how long it has traded.
- References: call two or three current clients. Ask about reliability and how the company responds when problems appear.
- Contract and instructions: ask for a written contract, a site risk assessment and clear assignment instructions.
- Other certificates: look for ISO 9001 or other independent approvals that back up the company’s claims.
Each check takes little time. Together, they build a clear picture of the supplier.
Subcontracting and Approved Contractors
Many security companies use subcontractors, especially in busy periods. So buyers should know who actually does the work. SIA rules say approved contractors may only subcontract to other approved contractors. The SIA can give special permission in exceptional cases, and the customer must agree. As a result, an approved contractor should explain any subcontract arrangement clearly.
So ask three simple questions:
- Will the company use subcontractors on this contract?
- Are those subcontractors approved too?
- Do all subcontracted guards hold valid SIA licences?
Clear answers show a company with good control of its supply chain. In contrast, vague answers suggest a weak link.
UK Security Company Checklist
Use this checklist before signing. Answer yes or no to each point.
- Does the company appear on the SIA Register of Approved Contractors?
- Do the sectors on the register match the service?
- Has the company given the licence number of every guard?
- Does the SIA register confirm each licence?
- Does the licence role match the work?
- Does the company follow BS 7858 for vetting?
- Does it hold the insurance the job needs?
- Is the company active on Companies House?
- Are subcontractors named and approved?
- Does a written contract cover everything?
Mostly yes answers show a safe supplier. In contrast, several no answers mean more questions. First, fix the licence and register gaps, because they carry the most risk. Then check the rest.
How a UK Security Company Gets SIA Approved
Many security company owners read this topic from the other side. They want their own company on the register. The process follows clear steps.
- Self-assess. First, the company compares its systems with the ACS standard and finds gaps.
- Build the evidence. Next, policies, vetting files, training records, and audits must match the standard.
- Book an assessment. Then an independent certification body assesses the company and writes a report.
- Wait for the SIA decision. After that, the SIA reviews the report and decides on approval.
- Register. Finally, the company appears on the public register.
Approval is not a one-off event. Companies face assessment every year and renew approval every three years. Therefore, strong records matter all year, not only before an audit.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a UK Security Company
Buyers and companies often repeat the same errors:
- Treating “SIA licensed” and “SIA approved” as the same thing
- Trusting a logo instead of the register
- Checking the company but not the guards
- Checking guards once and never again
- Ignoring the sectors on the register
- Skipping questions about subcontractors
- Forgetting to keep a record of each check
Most of these mistakes come from rushing. Therefore, a short routine fixes almost all of them. Besides, an outside expert can spot gaps that internal teams no longer see.
Expert Support for UK Security Companies
BizGrow Holdings is a UK compliance consultancy with 13+ years of certification experience. The team helps security companies reach SIA approval and prepare for audits.
Services include:
- SIA ACS support
- BS 7858 vetting support
- BS 10119 and COP 119 support
- BS 7499 and BS 10800 preparation
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001
- Internal audits and training
First, the team finds the gaps against the ACS standard. Then it builds the documents and supports the company through the assessment. Also, every business is different, so the team explains the cost on a free call.
FAQs
Is an SIA licence card enough proof?
A card alone is not enough. The public SIA register is the safer check. So always match the card to the register entry.
What if a security company is not on the register?
Several reasons can explain it. The company may trade under another name, or it may not hold approval. Ask the company directly, and treat a missing entry as a warning.
Does SIA approval cover a company’s finances?
Partly. The ACS assessment covers many business areas, including financial management. However, it is not a full credit check. Buyers can still ask for references or accounts.