Course – SIA Security Officer TOP UP

Since 1st October 2021, candidates renewing their SIA license have been required to undertake Top-Up training to align their current qualifications and skills with the April 2021 changes that came in to effect.

Hawkhill Training Services are now providing the Top-Up training for Security Officers using Highfield as the awarding body. Information on the qualification delivery are below: 

Highfield Award for Security Officer in the Private Security Industry (Top Up) – Introduction

The Highfield Award for Security Officer in the Private Security Industry (Top Up) is awarded by Highfield Qualifications and sits on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). The SCQF is a Qualification Framework regulated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Accreditation.
This qualification is supported by the Security Industry Authority (SIA), who regulate the private security industry.

The objective of this qualification is to support a role in the workplace. It is designed for learners who currently hold a licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to work as a door supervisor and need to be brought up to date with the new licence-linked qualifications requirements.

Entry requirements / Prerequisites

To register for this qualification, learners must be aged 18 and over.
Learners will need to show that they hold a current and valid First Aid or Emergency First Aid certificate* that meets the requirements of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. It is an SIA requirement that training centres must confirm that each learner is sufficiently qualified in First Aid or Emergency First Aid.

Identification

In line with the Security Industry Authority’s documentation requirements, approved Highfield centres may accept the following forms of identification:

one identity document from the Group A list and two documents from the Group B list.

  • At least one document must show the learner’s current address.
  • At least one document must show their date of Birth.

Learners looking to complete the SIA Security Guarding Top Up should contact us to enrol, where they will be provided materials and instructions to complete self-study.

Once the required self-study is completed, learners will be booked in for assessment, to undertake the required MCQ Examinations at our Assessment Centre.

Our next Assessment Date is:   28/03/2024
EFAW Training Date: 18/03/2024

Group A Documents 

  • a passport that is signed, current, and valid
  • a driving licence photocard issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in the UK
  • a driving licence photocard and its paper counterpart issued by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (OVA) in Northern Ireland
  • a UK original birth certificate issued within 12 months of birth
  • a UK biometric residence permit card

Group B Documents 

Documents that confirm your identity and your address unless stated otherwise, 2 forms of the same type of document will not be accepted. For example, we will not accept 2 council tax statements. We will only accept 1 council tax statement and 1 document of a different type.

  • a bank or building society statement from the last 3 months (we will accept 2 statements, but only if they are from different banks or building societies)
  • a utility bill (for example: gas, electric, telephone, water, satellite TV or cable1V) from the last 3 months
  • a credit card statement from the last 3 months (we will accept 2 statements, but only if they are from different credit-card providers)
  • a council tax statement from the last 12 months a mortgage statement from the last 12 months
  • a letter from the last 3 months from any of the following:
  • HM Revenue and Customs
  • the Department of Work and Pensions
  • a Jobcentre Plus – or any other employment service a local authority
  • a P45 or P60 tax statement from the last 12 months
  • a paper version of a current UK driving licence
  • (not the paper counterpart to a photocard)
  • a driving licence photocard issued by the OVA in Northern Ireland (not the paper counterpart)
  • a pension, endowment or ISA statement from the last 12 months a valid UK firearms licence with photo

English Functionality

All Learners wishing to undertake a S.I.A License linked qualification should, as a minimum, have language skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening equivalent to the following:

  • A B2 Level qualification on the Home Office’s list of recognised English tests and qualifications.
  • A B2 Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
  • An ESOL qualification at (Level 1) on the Ofqual register taken in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
  • An ESOL qualification at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Level 5 awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Accreditation and taken in Scotland.
  • Functional Skills Level 1 in English.
  • SQA Core Skills in Communication at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Level 5.

This will be requested on booking, if you do not already hold one of the above or equivalent you will be required to obtain this prior to booking. 

First Aid 

All learners wishing to attend must hold a valid First Aid certificate which has a minimum of 12 months before expiry left, qualifications that are accepted are

  • Emergency First Aid 
  • First Aid at Work 
  • First Person on Scene (FPOS)

Please be advised that e-Learning qualifications will NOT be accepted, if you do not already hold First Aid certification we can arrange this for you prior to the Security course taking place. 

***Bookings for SIA courses will only take place once the pre-requisites have been met*** 

Training Time

Minimum Contact Time (MCT stipulated by the SIA)
All the required learning for The Highfield Award for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry (Top Up) (Scotland) training is self-study in the form of e-learning.

This self-study equates to total 4 hours. 

Learners who already hold a First Aid qualification will be required to attend a classroom for 50 minutes to undertake the invigilator led course exams.
Learners who require the Emergency First Aid at Work qualification would be required to attend a 6-hour EFAW Course prior to taking the examinations.

The award is made up of 2 units: 

Unit 1 Principles of Terror Threat Awareness in the Private Security Industry (e-learning)
Unit 2 Principles of Minimising Personal Risk for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry (e-learning) 

Assessment

Course Costs:

SIA Security Officers Top Up
£86.40
(£72 + VAT)

SIA Security Officers Top Up & Emergency First Aid at Work
£152.40
(£127 + VAT)

HOW TO REGISTER TO TAKE THIS COURSE?

Course availability can be viewed on our BOOK A COURSE page.

Alternatively:

  • Contact our office on 01382 322330
  • Contact the trainer by Mobile / WhatsApp on 07858415722.

Please let us know how your course is to be funded on your initial contact with us:

  • Self-Funded
  • Employer-Funded
  • or funded by Skills Development Scotland ITA (Individual Training Accounts can help with upto £200 funding towards your course cost depending on candidate eligibility).

Available courses through ITA Funding for Hawkhill Training can be found and applied for through Skills Development Scotland here.