The Security Industry Authority licences front-line private security in England, Scotland and Wales. As of September 2026 there were more than 447,500 licence holders. That number does not mean every contractor sends you a fit person. You must check the licence type against the role.

Licence types that actually appear on UK sites

Security officer (manned guarding) is not the same as door supervisor. Close protection is not keyholding. CCTV public-space monitoring has its own badge. If a door supervisor licence is used on a construction gate in Leeds, or a guarding licence is used on a nightclub door in Newcastle, you have a compliance problem.

What to demand in a tender

Ask for the SIA number on every profile, right-to-work evidence, and a named primary site. Reliance Security stores SIA numbers on guard profiles and assigns officers to sites in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast and Hull before the rota is published. Changing sites later syncs future slots — it does not rewrite last week.

The SIA’s 2026–29 plan also pushes refresher training and higher service quality. Mandatory refreshers on renewal are already part of the landscape. Ask when each officer last renewed.

Northern Ireland and UK-wide cover

Licensing rules differ in Northern Ireland. If you need Belfast cover, say so in the brief. For Great Britain, one SIA front-line licence can travel with the officer between Birmingham, Edinburgh and Southampton as long as the activity matches the badge.

Frequently asked questions

Can I check a licence myself?

Yes, on the SIA licence-holders register. We still put the number on the portal so you are not hunting PDFs.

Do office receptionists need an SIA licence?

If they perform licensable manned-guarding activity, yes. Pure concierge greeting may not. We licence the role, not the job title.

What if a licence expires mid-contract?

That officer comes off the rota. We do not leave an unlicensed person on a gate.

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