Licensing and service delivery are related, but different, questions. The SIA provides information about licensable activity and a register for checking individual licences. A procurement review should also examine the actual duties, site briefing and service-management arrangements.
Start with the activity
A role title alone may not describe every duty. Guarding, door supervision and CCTV activity can have different licensing requirements. Review the intended work against current SIA guidance.
Check the individual and the role
Ask how the correct licence is checked and how expiry or changes are managed. The official register is a useful verification route. A company membership badge does not replace an individual licence check.
Ask about the site briefing
An individual can hold the relevant licence and still need instruction on your premises. Access permissions, emergency contacts, patrol duties and reporting need a site-specific briefing.
Review supervision and continuity
Understand who manages the assignment, how a concern reaches them and how changes to officers or duties are communicated. Ask what information is retained between shifts.
Use the proposal to remove uncertainty
The proposal should identify hours, duties, service responsibilities and the review route. Include any sector-specific competence or procurement requirements before agreeing the service.
Your planning checklist.
- Duties and licensable activities
- Correct individual licence checks
- Site induction and briefing
- Supervisory contact
- Continuity and handover arrangements
- Client reporting and review
