What SIA Security Guarding Course does

Specialized Training is a Scotland-based vocational training provider founded in 2012 and registered as a Scottish company (No. SC357455), with its registered office in Edinburgh and a primary training centre in Livingston. The company delivers Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence-linked qualifications covering door supervisors, CCTV operators, and security officers, alongside Scottish Personal Licence Holder training for the hospitality sector, Emergency First Aid at Work certification, and a growing portfolio of workplace compliance micro-learning courses covering sexual harassment awareness, GDPR, mental health, manual handling, and customer service. Training is delivered through a hybrid model combining online self-study modules with face-to-face classroom sessions and practical assessments at the Livingston centre and remote venues such as Aliwal Barracks in Tidworth.

The underlying technology stack is a conventional WordPress-based e-commerce website (specializedtraining.org.uk) supporting course browsing, real-time availability, online booking, and payment processing, supplemented by email and phone-based enquiry handling. There is no proprietary platform technology; the company's defensible asset is its SIA-approved awarding centre status and the practitioner experience of its instructors in private security, events, and hostile environments.

The business model is direct-to-consumer: one-time course fees paid in advance at booking, with prices ranging from £9.50 (GDPR micro-course) to £300 (Door Supervisors and CCTV Operators). Customer segments span individual private security professionals seeking SIA licensing, event and venue stewards, hospitality staff requiring Scottish Personal Licences, and corporate buyers needing workplace compliance training. Distribution is principally via the company website with group and bespoke bookings handled by email or phone.

Name

SIA Security Guarding Course

Legal name

Specialized Training

Website

https://specializedtraining.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Specialized Training is a Scotland-based vocational training provider founded in 2012 delivering SIA licence-linked qualifications (door supervisors, CCTV operators, security officers), first aid, Scottish Personal Licence, and workplace compliance courses to individual learners and corporate clients via online and classroom formats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Security Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Security, Guarding & Patrol Training (EDAOAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Security Officer (Unarmed) Training & Certification (BPAKAOAA), Security Supervisor/Management & Operations Training (BPAKAOAG)

Keywords

• Security industry training
• SIA licence courses
• Door supervisor training
• First aid certification
• Compliance training

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Training Course Fees: One-time fees charged for attendance at training courses including SIA licence-linked qualifications, first aid certifications, and compliance training. Payment is required in full at time of booking.
2. Refresher Training: Shorter refresher courses for professionals holding existing SIA licences who need to update qualifications to retain their licence status.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Specialized Training is a Scotland-based training provider delivering SIA (Security Industry Authority) licence-linked qualification courses for door supervisors, CCTV operators, and security officers. The company also offers supporting qualifications including Emergency First Aid at Work, Scottish Personal Licence Holders, and a range of workplace compliance micro-learning courses, delivered via blended online and face-to-face classroom instruction at training centres in Livingston and Tidworth.

Product overview

Specialized Training is a Scotland-based training provider offering a portfolio of licence-linked qualifications and professional development courses primarily for the private security, stewarding, hospitality, and events industries. The core product portfolio centres on SIA (Security Industry Authority) licence-linked qualifications including Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry, CCTV Operators in Public Space Surveillance, and Security Officers qualifications, all designed to enable learners to obtain or renew their SIA licences. Supporting courses include Emergency First Aid at Work and Scottish Personal Licence Holders. The company also provides a range of supplementary micro-learning courses including Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE), Sexual Harassment awareness (for employees and managers), GDPR compliance, Mental Health awareness, Manual Handling, and WorldHost Customer Service training. Courses are delivered through a combination of online self-study, classroom-based learning, and blended formats, with venues in Livingston and locations throughout the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CCTV Operators (Public Space Surveillance) in the Private Security Industry SIA licence-linked qualification for learners wanting to work as CCTV operators in public space surveillance. Course is based on SIA specifications with 22 contact hours over 3 days and is priced at £300.00 inc VAT.
• Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry Comprehensive SIA licence-linked qualification for door supervisors priced at £300.00 inc VAT. Includes Emergency First Aid at Work and covers ACT Awareness, licensing law, conflict management, and physical interventions, delivered via 3 days online plus 3 days face-to-face.
• Emergency First Aid at Work First aid qualification priced at £85.00 inc VAT designed for individuals seeking to become Emergency First Aiders in the workplace, meeting SIA standards for door supervisors and security guarding.
• Scottish Personal Licence Holders Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders course priced at £125.00 inc VAT ensuring compliance with alcohol legislation in Scotland, including optional units on Action Counter Terrorism and Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement.
• Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry Refresher Two-day refresher course priced at £180.00 inc VAT for existing SIA-licensed door supervisors to meet new licence-linked qualification requirements, covering emergency first aid, terror threat awareness, search procedures, and vulnerable person safety.
• Security Officers in the Private Security Industry Refresher Full day refresher course priced at £140.00 inc VAT for existing SIA-licensed security officers to meet new licence-linked qualification requirements.
• Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) Online training course priced at £20.00 inc VAT equipping customer-facing individuals with awareness of vulnerability and responsibilities towards customers, covering WAVE programme components and Ask for Angela campaign.
• Awareness of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace for Employees Micro-learning course priced at £12.50 inc VAT empowering employees with knowledge and tools to recognise, prevent, and respond to sexual harassment in the workplace.
• Awareness of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace for Managers Interactive micro-course for managers enabling them to understand legal responsibilities and practical steps to foster a respectful workplace culture and respond appropriately to harassment incidents.
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Online course priced at £9.50 inc VAT providing understanding of GDPR requirements for responsible data handling and compliance, covering personal data concepts, consent, data processing principles, and breach implications.
• Awareness of Mental Health and Wellbeing Introductory course on mental health priced at £25.00 inc VAT designed to reduce stigma and promote supportive environments, covering mental health awareness, risk factors, recovery, and self-care strategies.
• WorldHost Principles of Customer Service Online Online customer service training workshop priced at £155.00 inc VAT for front-line staff covering real-world situations, accessible as four 90-minute webinars.
• Manual Handling Online manual handling course teaching safe lifting techniques, risk assessment, and workplace injury prevention.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BlueRock Training: Scotland- and UK-wide SIA-approved training provider delivering Door Supervisor, Security Officer and CCTV courses plus first aid and compliance training. Closely comparable in course mix, SIA licence-linked focus and Scottish footprint.
• NTS (Network Training Solutions): UK-wide SIA training provider running licence-linked Door Supervisor, Security Officer and CCTV courses plus first aid and refresher programmes. Direct substitute for Specialized Training's core catalogue.
• Central Training Services: UK SIA-approved training centre offering licence-linked security, door supervision and CCTV courses as well as first aid and conflict management. Comparable offering for the same regulatory-driven buyer.
• FSL Training: UK-based SIA-approved training centre covering door supervision, security guarding, CCTV and first aid, with classroom venues across multiple regions. Overlapping product set and learner audience.
• Skills for Security: UK security industry training body delivering SIA licence-linked qualifications, apprenticeships and CPD courses to individuals and employers. Highly comparable SIA-aligned curriculum and target learner profile.
• Get Licensed: One of the largest UK SIA-approved training providers, offering Door Supervisor, Security Officer and CCTV licence-linked qualifications through blended online and classroom delivery across multiple UK venues. Directly competes with Specialized Training for the same individual learner base at similar £250–£350 price points.
• Dynamic Training Solutions: UK-based SIA training provider offering licence-linked Door Supervisor and Security Officer courses, first aid and conflict management training with blended delivery. Competes head-to-head for SIA-qualifying learners.
• MBL Training: UK-wide training provider offering SIA Door Supervisor, Security Guarding and CCTV courses plus first aid and personal licence training, with classroom and online delivery. Comparable product portfolio and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• St John Ambulance: UK's largest first aid training provider, directly overlapping with Specialized Training's Emergency First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work courses. A much larger, brand-dominant incumbent in the first aid compliance segment.
• Highfield Qualifications: Major UK awarding organisation and approved SIA qualification provider that underpins many training centres (including ones competing with Specialized Training). Adjacent incumbent whose qualifications define the regulatory framework Specialized Training teaches to.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sia-security-guarding-course

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SIA Security Guarding Course