Changes to the SIA Approved Contractor Scheme 7 April 2026

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is redesigning the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) to create a more robust, capability‑driven and public‑safety‑focused approval model. This reflects the evolving threat landscape, the introduction of Martyn’s Law, and the need for stronger assurance around organisational competence.

The new scheme will place greater emphasis on:

• Public protection
• Operational delivery
• Leadership and governance
• Workforce competence
• Real‑world implementation of policies

A public consultation will take place before the scheme is finalised.

Key areas of change

1.

Approved businesses will be expected to demonstrate capability in supporting clients with:

• Venue‑specific risk assessments
• Protective security planning
• Documentation and preparedness
• Counter‑terrorism awareness and response

This aligns ACS approval with the expectations of Martyn’s Law and wider public‑safety duties.

2.

The redesigned scheme will introduce higher benchmarks for:

• Leadership and governance
• Training and supervision
• Incident management
• Quality assurance
• Organisational resilience

This shifts ACS from a documentation‑based model to one that tests real organisational capability.

3.

The scheme will reflect the upgraded licence‑linked qualifications, including:

• Mandatory refresher training
• Enhanced physical intervention standards
• Counter‑terrorism content
• Improved digital and technical skills

This ensures frontline competence remains current and aligned with modern risks.

4.

The SIA intends to improve its ability to detect non‑compliance through:

• Intelligence‑led inspections
• Evidence‑based assessment
• Greater scrutiny of operational delivery

This will increase the reliability and credibility of ACS approval.

What to expect

• A wider performance gap between high‑performing providers and those meeting only minimum standards.
• A requirement for contractors to demonstrate how policies translate into practice, not simply present documentation.
• More structured approaches to threat awareness, emergency planning, incident response and operational resilience.
• Significantly higher barriers to approval for businesses without established governance and assurance frameworks.

What this means

The redesigned scheme is intended to provide greater assurance, greater transparency and greater protection for organisations that rely on private security services.

Clients can expect:

• More confidence in the competence and maturity of approved providers
• Stronger alignment between contracted services and public‑safety expectations
• Better support in meeting legal duties under Martyn’s Law
• A clearer distinction between high‑quality providers and basic compliance operators

ESG Security

ESG Security welcomes the direction the SIA is taking and is proactively aligning with the emerging requirements.

We will continue to:

• Strengthen our leadership, governance and quality assurance frameworks
• Enhance our counter‑terrorism and emergency preparedness capabilities
• Invest in staff competence and refresher training
• Demonstrate real‑world delivery through evidence‑based assurance

Disclaimer:
The information provided is based on publicly available SIA commentary, industry engagement and preparatory work relating to Martyn’s Law. Final details of any new approval scheme have not been announced. A formal consultation will take place before any changes are confirmed. We do not claim to know the final compliance requirements of Martyn’s Law.