Do you need experience?
No. Employers need staff who hold the right SIA licence. Most people start with no security background, often from hospitality, retail, warehousing or the armed forces.
The route
- Choose the licence for the work you want: which licence do I need?
- Complete first aid if your route requires it.
- Book and pass the licence-linked course with a named provider.
- Apply to the SIA and pay the £204 fee.
- Apply for shifts while the licence is processed, ready to start once it arrives.
Entry-level work
- Event and festival security: seasonal, high-volume hiring
- Retail and shopping-centre security
- Static guarding on construction and logistics sites
- Door supervision at pubs and bars, often part time
- Agency and relief shifts that build references fast
What employers look for instead of experience
- Calm, clear communication under pressure
- Conflict management and de-escalation
- Awareness of vulnerability, spiking and terror threats
- Reliability and punctuality: shifts start when the venue opens
- Physical intervention used lawfully and as a last resort
How to find your first shifts
- Register with security agencies and event companies in your city
- Ask venues directly: many hire door staff through their existing team
- Take short-notice and event shifts to build references quickly
- Keep your licence, first aid and contact details ready to show
