Changes Are Coming — Act Now

On April 1st, new changes will come into effect regarding the SIA licence. It means that everyone that takes the new SIA course will now also complete new components to their licence. 

Why are the changes happening, and what are they? 

The changes provide a more robust skill set for those entering the profession. The elements included are:

• Health and Safety procedures
• Communication skills
• Incident management 
• Citizens’ arrest 
• Protecting vulnerable people
• Emergency procedures
• Record keeping
• COVID-19

These changes are aimed at keeping professionals working in the private security industry safer. As well as the general public. 

You can book top-up training from April 1st to make sure you have the same level of qualification as those entering the profession. 

I already have an SIA licence. Do I need to update it? 

The answer to this is yes and no. If you already have your licence, it is still entirely legal for you to work without the new top-up and first aid element. So, no, you don’t need to act straight away. 

However, it is beneficial as the top-up training will boost your confidence and ability to manage situations.

Don’t get overlooked by employers

However, you don’t want that experience to be overlooked. Companies wishing to be compliant may begin to favour newbies with the new licence over you and your experience.   

Pubs and clubs that might have their fair share of alcohol-related incidents may seek door personnel with the new licence. This is especially true since casual staff, such as bar people, don’t usually have first aid training.  

Large stores employing private security people typically have plenty of first aid qualified staff indoors. But, there are still incidents that happen in car parks where door personnel will be quicker to the scene. Plenty of trips, slips, falls, fingers trapped in car doors, and general emergencies happen in car parks. So, even these employers will be looking for security professionals with the new top-up elements, including COVID training. 

Emergency First Aid At Work

The new Emergency First Aid At Work (EFAW) element to the SIA exam is easy to learn. The course will be covered in one day, but it is a huge life skill. After which you will be able 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

Why else should I take the EFAW course? 

You never know when you might be at the scene of a first aid emergency. Household injuries are common, including burns and falls. Choking is a common first aid emergency. And first aid crises such as a heart attack or stroke are also common among older people. 

The more people that know first aid in our communities, the better. While no one wants to witness a first aid emergency, if it’s a loved one and you can save the day — then you’ll be so glad you learned first aid while taking your SIA exam. 

What to do next

To update your SIA licence with the EFAW course, simply click the link below. We will send the details of the one-day course you can take nearest to you. Why not make a head start and watch the free video below, which covers the first aid course basics? You can then book your EFAW course for just £99.

Looking for jobs? 

To find the latest security jobs, check out our Jobs Board, which has 1,000+ jobs from the UK’s best security companies. 

If you’re on the hunt for a security job on the go, download the GuardPass app for all the latest jobs and more. The GuardPass App is available for download on the Apple App Store or on the Google Play Store.