NOVEMBER | OPINION
conditions and the growing security
concerns nationally has driven business to
enhance there security requirements.
How do we ensure we have enough
resource to satisfy demand?
New initiatives have been developed
to introduce people to the security
industry, including schemes to support the
financing of individual SIA licenses and
the introduction of additional free in house
training courses.
Is this the answer? We need to act now?
Feeling secure
Michael Kill, chief executive officer, NTIA talks event security and SIA
W
ith the number of licensed
security staff falling throughout
the UK and the The requirement
for SIA Security staff needed by licensed
premises and event organisers increasing,
security companies need to work harder to
recruit.
The Licensed Door Supervisor industry
has grown over the past few years, with
demand growing faster than ever before to
supply SIA licensed staff.
In September 2018 there were a total of
231,530 door supervisor licenses granted
by the SIA. That sounds a lot, but when you
consider the number of licensed premises
in the UK and the changes made to license
conditions where SIA security requirements
are enhanced, we are pushing the
boundaries of the national resource.
A report released August last year,
supported by FSOA (The Football Safety
Officers Association) and the UKCMA
32
(United Kingdom Crowd Management
Association) showed that since 2013 there
has been a 40% drop in SIA licenses being
renewed.
The six key reasons cited for the difficulty
in retaining security workers were poor
rates of pay; irregular work patterns; the
casual nature of the workforce; competition;
the cost of qualifications; and the availability
of qualified staff.
The report also suggested the event
security sector “seems to be struggling with
financial viability, which is impacting on pay
and training budgets.”
The Night Time & Events Sector as
a whole, through changes in licensed
In other NTIA news...
We are celebrating another enormous step
forward for our members and industry. In
fact, it is a huge step forward for the entire
country.
Around 18 months ago when Andy
Burnham became the Mayor of Manchester
we spent considerable time behind talking
with him and his team with regard to the
future of the region and how the
Night Time Economy is so crucial to it all.
Last year, we had a tremendously
poignant moment where it was arranged
with Mayor Burnham, Sacha Lord and
the 1975 band to have a minute’s applause
on stage at Parklife Festival with all the
first responders in front of the audience of
100,000 to commemorate those tragically
lost in the terror attacks. Nothing could
demonstrate further our collective Solidarity
and how we all have common interests
in standing tougher – and that Nightlife
goes to the hear of our cities, streets and
communities.
“The event security sector seems to be
struggling with financial viability