SIA publishes business approval scheme findings

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has published the findings from its public consultation on the future of its business approval scheme.

The consultation ran from 22 February to 8 April 2024. 

The consultation sought views on the principles that the SIA proposes should underpin its business approval scheme in future.

It suggested that principles such as the case for change in principle, the the SIA’s emerging thinking on changes it proposes to develop further, and whether there are other changes it should consider as it develops the scheme should be central to the business approval scheme.

The SIA received over 400 responses to the consultation from across the UK. Respondents were mainly from the private security industry.

The majority were ACS approved contractors, with the next largest number being non-ACS private security businesses followed by individual licence holders.

Overall, respondents broadly supported the proposed approach. The themes emerging from the consultation included the importance of skills, professional development, training and industry experience.

Jane Debois, head of business standards at SIA said: "The growing recognition of the critical role private security plays in public safety means there is a clear need for a new scheme which is grounded in public protection."

Currently the business approvals scheme is the main way the SIA can influence improvements to business standards. It is a voluntary, quality-based scheme through which it promotes good practice and improvements in industry standards.

The changes under consideration will signal a significant shift in the way the SIA approves businesses under this scheme. It will also change how standards are defined for security businesses, ensuring public protection is at the heart of the new scheme.

The SIA will hold another public consultation on the final proposed design of the new scheme. It intends to launch the new scheme during the business year 2026 to 2027.