SIA Security Guard + First Aid East London

SIA Security Guard + First Aid East London

The SIA Security Guard + First Aid East London course is a 4-day Level 2 programme that takes you from no experience to ready to apply for your SIA Security Guard licence. Emergency First Aid at Work is taught inside the same four days, so you leave with both certificates and nothing left to arrange separately. Training runs at our E7 9HZ centre, a short walk from Forest Gate station on the Elizabeth line.

Why East London is a Strong Place to Qualify

East London has one of the highest concentrations of Security Guard work in the capital, and most of it is exactly what this licence covers rather than door supervision.

Westfield Stratford is one of the largest shopping centres in Europe and a major retail security employer. The Olympic Park and the venues around it run year-round security operations. The logistics and distribution corridor stretching out through Barking and Dagenham employs officers on warehouse and site security. Newham is one of the most heavily developed boroughs in London, so construction site security is consistently in demand, and hospitals, schools and public buildings across the borough all staff security officers.

Qualifying here puts you within a short journey of a large number of the employers you will be applying to. The venue is easy to reach from Stratford, Manor Park, Upton Park, Plaistow, East Ham, Leyton, Leytonstone, Ilford and across Newham, with Woodgrange Park and Wanstead Park stations also nearby.

What a Security Guard Licence Lets You Do

Once you hold the badge you can work in:

• Retail stores, supermarkets and shopping centres
• Corporate reception and building security
• Construction sites, warehouses and distribution centres
• Hospitals, schools, universities and public buildings
• Static guarding, mobile patrol and alarm response

The licence is recognised across the UK, not just London, and it is the standard entry point into the industry.

Thinking about pubs, bars or clubs? Those are licensed premises and need a Door Supervisor badge instead. Our SIA Door Supervisor Course + First Aid East London runs at the same venue over 6 days and covers everything the Security Guard licence covers plus physical intervention. If your target work is retail, corporate, construction or site security, the Security Guard route is faster and cheaper, and this is the right course.

Course Overview

• Duration: 4 days, minimum 44 hours as required by the SIA
• Cost: £300 total, including all training and assessments
• Deposit: £70 online, £230 paid at the centre
• Includes: Emergency First Aid at Work
• Frequency: courses run weekly
• Venue: Forest Gate, E7 9HZ

Course Content

Unit 1: Principles of Working in the Private Security Industry Your legal responsibilities as a security operative, health and safety duties, fire safety and evacuation procedures, emergency procedures, and the communication and customer care skills the job runs on.

Unit 2: Principles of Working as a Security Officer The day-to-day work, patrolling and access control, assignment instructions, searching people and property lawfully, electronic and physical protection systems, reporting, record-keeping and preserving evidence, plus terror threat awareness and how to respond during an incident.

Unit 3: Application of Conflict Management Recognising and reducing risk before a situation escalates, de-escalating using voice and positioning, managing your own personal safety, and post-incident reporting and reflection.

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) is delivered inside the four days. Following the October 2024 update, EFAW now covers control of life-threatening bleeding and airway management in line with HSE standards.

Assessment

You are assessed by written examination on the knowledge units and by practical assessment on conflict management. Mock papers run throughout the four days, so nothing on assessment day is unfamiliar. Results are typically issued within 14 to 15 working days by email or SMS, and your completion is submitted automatically so you can begin your licence application straight away.

What to Bring

• Proof of identification: passport or driving licence
• Two proofs of address: HMRC letter, council tax bill, utility bill or bank statement, issued within the last three months
• Two passport-size photographs

You must be at least 18 years old and hold the right to work in the UK. You do not need a First Aid certificate beforehand, it is taught as part of this course. No previous security experience is required either.

How to Book Your SIA Security Guard + First Aid East London Course

1. Choose your dates from the dropdown above
2. Pay the £70 deposit to secure your place
3. Receive joining instructions by email straight away
4. Attend all 4 days and settle the £230 balance at the centre

Attendance for the full duration is required for your certificate to be valid. Call 020 8050 4108 if you need a date that fits around shift work, or check our FAQs.

Before You Apply for Your Licence

Complete the two free ACT counter-terrorism e-learning modules, our ACT Training guide explains how, and it takes under an hour. You can then apply through the SIA licence application service.

Already licensed and renewing instead? You need the Security Guard Refresher Training, which is 1 day rather than 4.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does the SIA Security Guard + First Aid East London course cost?
£300 in total, including Emergency First Aid at Work. You pay £70 online to reserve your place and £230 at the centre on your first day.

2. Do I need a First Aid certificate before I book?
No. Emergency First Aid at Work is taught as part of the four days, so you complete both qualifications in one booking.

3. How long is the course and how often does it run?
Four days, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, meeting the SIA’s minimum 44 hours. Courses start weekly.

4. Can I work in pubs and clubs with this licence?
No. licensed premises require a Door Supervisor badge. For retail, corporate, construction and site security, the Security Guard licence covers you.

The SIA Security Guard + First Aid East London course runs weekly at our E7 9HZ centre near Forest Gate. Call 020 8050 4108 to check the next available dates.