Security Industry Authority (SIA) — Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS)

What is the Security Industry Authority (SIA) Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS)?

The SIA ACS is a Customer service standard that is built on ISO 9001:2000 and industry codes of practice relevant to the Security Industry. It will for the first time, provide a universally recognised hallmark of quality for suppliers of private security industries.

Obtaining the ACS Mark, will distinguish your company and provide confidence that you will provide a service which has been independently assesses against industry accepted codes of practice and standards, and that the guards you provide are fit and are proper persons who have been adequately trained for the role they will perform.

Whilst the ACS scheme is an entirely voluntary scheme for certain industries, it is now becoming a commercial necessity to be SIA ACS approved regardless of your security sector.

What are the benefits of SIA ACS Approval?

Verification of SIA ACS by an approved certification body shows commitment to quality, customers, and a willingness to work towards improving efficiency. Demonstrates the existence of a quality management system. Shows the guards you provide are fit and adequately trained to do the role they will perform. Marketing opportunities—and an effective competitive edge over others. Gives your potential customer (s) confidence in the quality of service or role you will undertake for them. FREE entry to the SIA Register of Approved Contractors, a valuable reference for buyers of security services

What’s the process for seeking approval?

The first stage is to register with the SIA ACS and complete the online workbook; a document with over 80 questions that need to be fully answered, e.g., with relation to the approval of your staff and their training.

Once completed we need to ensure all these points stated in the online workbook have been implemented and records kept accordingly to indicate conformance. (ISO 9001 covers 75% of the SIA ACS requirements; thus it is probably worth and if not easier to achieve ISO 9001 and the relevant security codes of practice at the same time to help you with the SIA ACS approval, but that is a business decision that you will have to make)

Once everything is in place an assessment body approved by the SIA ACS must carry out a visit to your premises and will check your company against the SIA ACS requirements to ensure conformance.

During this visit, they will also want to talk to some of your staff, customers and consumers to ensure that you are a responsible company and they can validate this.

How can JR Consultants help you?

We can help you implement the processes and record the necessary steps to gain accreditation as detailed above.

We will arrange for the SIA ACS assessment to take place and will be on site during this time, guiding you through to a successful SIA ACS membership.

Once you have approval for the SIA ACS, we can also continually check the processes to ensure they are maintained, and that you keep your SIA ACS approval.