Becoming a security officer will take both hard work and discipline. Only individuals with a certain set of skills should follow this career path as it involves protecting buildings, valuable items, and people’s lives. In this article, we will discuss the steps to becoming a security officer and the salary of a security officer working at a security company.

In order to become a security officer in the UK, the first step is to have completed a training course approved by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). According to Youth Employment UK, some courses approved by SIA include “ASET Level 2 certificate for security guards” and “NOCN Level 2 award in security guarding”. There are also approved qualifications available at degree level, and many courses can be completed at college or through online distance learning. Some topics that the training will cover include communication skills, procedures to follow, personal health and safety, dealing with conflict, patrolling and security responsibilities, and the laws that must be followed.

Once you have completed your training, the next step is to apply for a SIA license. To be eligible to apply you must be at least 18 years of age, be allowed to work in the UK, and have passed a criminal records and identity check. There are two types of SIA licensing available: the front-line security license, and the non-front line security license. To become a security officer, you should apply for the front-line security license. Applying for a SIA license will cost you £220. It will last you for three years, and any renewals after the first license will include a 50% discount. The average application takes around 25 working days to be processed. 

To work effectively as a security officer, you should have a variety of skills that will assist you in doing your job well. Being honest and trustworthy is vital as people will be trusting you to keep them or their property safe and secure. You must also be able to make quick decisions in order to identify any potential threats and put them to a halt. Having the ability to be authoritative would assist you in that people would listen to you carefully and follow your instructions. This can sometimes be life saving in an emergency situation. A final skill recommended to have is to be fit and healthy as there may be a time where you’ll need physical strength in order to protect yourself or other people. 

On average, the pay for a security officer in the UK is between £13,000 and £26,000 a year. Your pay can depend on what region you’re working in, which company or employer you’re working for, and how much level of experience you have. For example, security officer jobs in London offer higher-end salaries as there is more demand for these roles. In a smaller town the pay may be lower because there isn’t much of a need. A big national company may also pay you more when compared to a smaller local company as they have more clients and money to spend. Once you gain more skills and experience, your pay as a security officer should increase over time.