The SIA licence
Most frontline security work in the UK requires a Security Industry Authority licence. You obtain it by taking a short approved training course and passing a criminal record check, and it is the licence rather than prior experience that opens the field.
Different licences cover different work. A door supervisor licence covers licensed premises such as pubs, clubs and events; a security guard licence covers static guarding of premises. Employers state which they require on the vacancy.
Live Security vacancies
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Security Guard
DYNAMIC SECURITY SOLUTIONS LTD - Glannau Dyfrdwy, UK, UK - Take Home Salary Breakdown* -
Door Supervisor london
METROGUARD OXFORD LIMITED - London, UK, UK - £14.24 per hour -
Security Services Officer 75831172
COMPASS GROUP, UK AND IRELAND LIMITED - Dartford, UK, UK - Take Home Salary Breakdown* -
Security Officer 75831173
COMPASS GROUP, UK AND IRELAND LIMITED - Barnet, UK, UK - Take Home Salary Breakdown* -
Security Officer - Relief 75831165
COMPASS GROUP, UK AND IRELAND LIMITED - Livingston, UK, UK - Take Home Salary Breakdown* -
Security Team Member
University of Oxford - Oxford, England, United Kingdom - £27,534 - £28,437 -
Security Officer 75830089
COMPASS GROUP, UK AND IRELAND LIMITED - Enfield, UK, UK - Take Home Salary Breakdown* -
Security & Information Officer 75829855
COMPASS GROUP, UK AND IRELAND LIMITED - Birmingham, UK, UK -
Security Officer 75830091
COMPASS GROUP, UK AND IRELAND LIMITED - Edinburgh, UK, UK - Take Home Salary Breakdown* -
Security Officer 75830088
COMPASS GROUP, UK AND IRELAND LIMITED - Swindon, UK, UK - Take Home Salary Breakdown* -
Security Officer 75830559
COMPASS GROUP, UK AND IRELAND LIMITED - Hereford, UK, UK - Take Home Salary Breakdown* -
Security Officer - Relief 75830551
COMPASS GROUP, UK AND IRELAND LIMITED - Livingston, UK, UK - Take Home Salary Breakdown* -
Security Officer 75830563
COMPASS GROUP, UK AND IRELAND LIMITED - Derby, UK, UK - Take Home Salary Breakdown* -
Security Officer
KINGFISHER SEC - Bromley, UK, UK - GBP 13.5 - 15.0 -
Security Patrol Driver
1st Class Protection - Barnet, UK, UK - Take Home Salary Breakdown* -
Security Team Leader in School
1st Class Protection - Ilford, UK, UK - Take Home Salary Breakdown* -
Security Officer
IMPACT SERVICES LIMITED - Sunderland, UK, UK - £12.71 48 hours per week, 12-hour shifts, 0800 - 2000 and 2000 - 0800 Benefits - -
SIA Door Supervisors - York
Showsec - York, UK, UK - GBP 15.8 - 18.44 -
SIA Door Supervisors - Bournemouth
Showsec - Bournemouth, UK, UK - GBP 15.8 - 18.44 -
SIA Door Supervisors - Edinburgh
Showsec - Edinburgh, UK, UK - GBP 15.8 - 18.44 -
SIA Door Supervisors - Liverpool
Showsec - Liverpool, UK, UK - GBP 15.8 - 18.44 -
SIA Door Supervisors - Oxford
Showsec - Oxford, UK, UK - GBP 15.8 - 18.44 -
Security Guard Vacancy – Student Accommodation
Accolade Security UK - London, UK, UK -
Security Controller nights
Lingwood Security Management - Morecambe, UK, UK - £12.71 per hour -
Door Supervisor - Lakeside - Friday + Saturday Nights
SAFESEC GROUP LTD - Grays, UK, UK - £14p/h
Showing 25 of 102. Search more security jobs.
What the work involves
Roles split into static guarding at a fixed site, door supervision at licensed venues, event and stewarding work, and retail loss prevention. Shift patterns are often nights and weekends, and event work in particular is scheduled around a venue's calendar rather than a fixed rota.
Some employers advertise unlicensed roles such as stewarding or control room work, and some will fund the licence for the right candidate. Where a vacancy says this, it is stated in the advert.
How to apply
Each vacancy links to the original advertiser, which is usually the security contractor rather than the venue. They run their own application and vetting process.
Common questions
Do you need an SIA licence to apply for security jobs?
For most frontline roles, yes. The licence comes from a short approved course plus a criminal record check rather than from experience. Some stewarding, control room and in-house roles do not require one, and a few employers will fund the licence.
What is the difference between a security guard and a door supervisor?
They are separate SIA licences. A security guard licence covers static guarding of premises and property. A door supervisor licence covers licensed premises such as pubs, clubs and events, where alcohol is served, and it is the broader of the two.
Is security work full time?
Both exist. Static guarding contracts are frequently full time on rotating shifts, while event and stewarding work is scheduled around a venue's calendar and is often casual or part time. The individual vacancy states the pattern.