If I gain the SIA qualification will i find work?

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nine.t

Full Registered User
Hi to all.

This is the first time that I write on this forum.I am italian and here in italy close protection is illegal.

I want to work around the world in close protection. I am a former italian army soldier with experience in ems.

For you I really need a SIA qualification?I have a small quantity of money for training and I am evaluating if SIA help me in find a work.

Thanks to all
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thank you krav!I will look better, but sometimes is not easy to decide where spend your money...I am evaluating to train me at control risks, but I need aproximately 4000 euros for all the train!=( They are a mountain of money!
but

Thanks again Krav :)
 
Nine

I am still looking to find a course for myself. As far as I have found out, a SIA licence is needed to be working as a CPO in Britain, but it is not a guarantee that you will be employed.

For example: A SIA licence has no value in Belgium. We use different standards in Belgium. So you need a licence approved by Belgium to be working in Belgium.

I suggest you do like me:

First find out for yourself what kind of work you want to do.
A. high risk
B. low risk

Then choose your training
C. cheap training
D. expensive training
E. 3 week or more course
F. shorter courses
G. look at the reputation of schools.

Before I put to waste all my words, have a look at this post. It will be difficult to find a better one:

http://www.closeprotectionworld.co....-guide-becoming-close-protection-officer.html
 
Thank you very much Krav!!!!And thank you for the link.
Another questions:I am interested in high risks (I have a good experience with tactical carbines and rural operations) Do you have some course to indicate to me?

I am interested in a training that help me to find work and after go to more expansive course.I think that a professional must train continuosly.After SIA qualification I want to achieve CPP of Asis International and Foundation degree in close protection of Buckinghamshire New University.
 
nine.t said:
Thank you very much Krav!!!!And thank you for the link.
Another questions:I am interested in high risks (I have a good experience with tactical carbines and rural operations) Do you have some course to indicate to me?

I am interested in a training that help me to find work and after go to more expansive course.I think that a professional must train continuosly.After SIA qualification I want to achieve CPP of Asis International and Foundation degree in close protection of Buckinghamshire New University.
Click to expand...

Nine, first off good luck.

You must have the SIA to work in Britain or Wales. It does not really help you anywhere else and the UK market is saturated with good CPO's that have "home town advantage".

The ASIS CPP, whilst not a government recognized qualification will hold you in better stead than the SIA. The SIA could be thought of as a driving license whilst the CPP as a private, but recognized driving course.

Research these forums, there is a wealth of information, but honestly, unless you live in the UK or have a position available dependant on SIA, the SIA is a "nice to have" but certainly not a "must have". There are excellent CP training schools around the world, US, Israel and UK and everywhere else. My advice is look for a company with a good reputation around the world. Leave the SIA for now. Do a course, and then do the CPP on your own steam, IOW, do a course, self study the CPP and take the exam. CPP on it's own won;t get you a job.

If you have a quality CP course under your belt, a medical course, driving course, CPP etc. and have time and money to spend, even then i would say be reluctent to take an SIA specific course as the odds of getting work in an area you need it are very slim.

Just to elaborate, if you do a quality CP course in the UK and get the SIA license as a value add, great, but don't let the SIA be the driving factor, rather a value add and also a measurement of validity (not quality) of the training provider in the UK.

There are some very reputable training centers in the UK that do good courses (by reputation, never done one) and at the end you get the SIA license if you pass the course and exam.

I'm waffling :)

M
 
Thank you MTS!Your opinion is very important. I am watching SIA from another point of view now.I need time to think.I will write soon.

Thank you to all!
 
MTS,

I think you gave nine.T very good advice. He seems to be a little hung up on doing an SIA course. From everything that I have been reading on CPW, the U.K. market really does appear to be over-saturated. There doesn't seem to be much reason to jump into those over-crowded waters for someone who isn't even living in the U.K. to start with.

Welcome nine.T to the forum. If I might be so bold as to suggest that you dig a little deeper into the rules/regulations of doing CP work in Italy. I am sure you know your country better than I, but I do know of a couple of Americans who have gone to Italy and conducted CP work there - with the blessing of the authorities, I might add.

One of them traveled with the (U.S.A.) Women's swim team a few years ago and claims to have been supplied with a personal weapon from the local Carabineri Commander who knew he was there as protection for the team. He claims they gave him wonderful assistance. The other guy is an Italian/American who worked closely with the Winter games officials in Torino. He traveled back and forth several times and I believe brought a few protective team members over there with him to work the games.

This makes me wonder if you were to find the right office/person in charge and show them official training certificates from a highly professional and recognized training school as MTS mentioned, would they be willing to certify you or grant you some kind of recognition that your national military service does not?

Worth looking into anyway, I'd say.

Good luck.
 
Thank you celticbodyguard.

It's not easy to explain the situation here in italy:

Law doesn't permit civil close protection, only protection of things but not of persons.

Only law enforcement are qualified to protect the italian people.

Yes, you could do this job in italy, but you must work in the dark (as a driver,security guard, secretary) but it is very difficult to obtain a weapon licence.
And if you obtain it, is a licence for security guard.Security guard are qualified only for protection of things!(and in theory they must wear a uniform)

There is a very big law hole here in italy!
I hope the european community solve this problem.

Another problem.

It is not easy to find work because there is not professionalism.
You must know the rights persons.

And is full of bigs persons without brain and preparation that do this job.

I'm not big, I have a brain and I think that in my "small world" I am a professional.

When I watch to anglosaxon world (UK an USA) I see a country with good laws and professional qualifications.

Another thing.

I don't want to work in Great Britain, I only want that SIA qualification helps me in find a work around the world, possibly with UK firms.

I am better qualified in high risks close protection, but I am not a former Navy Seals! :)
This is my bigger problem! ;)

Thank you to all!
I am very happy to speak with all you.
 
If the SIA license is valid and obligatory only for work in the UK, why all the companies asked to work in Iraq or Afghanistan?
 
Good question Ryan!
It is someone able to answer?

Another thing.

MTS I watch better on ASIS.They want 7 or more years of experience in security before you can be elegible for CPP! It's impossible, I have not so much experience.
 
Ryan1991 said:
If the SIA license is valid and obligatory only for work in the UK, why all the companies asked to work in Iraq or Afghanistan?
Click to expand...
Place yourself in the position of the end user in Iraq....
You need security.. How do you ensure they are of a standard needed?
You find a national standard enforced by law.
The UK has a good tradition and reputation for providing a high standard of education.
So, understandably the end user thinks demanding SIA licenced staff will ensure it receiving personel of a exceptable standard.
So when the end user says to the security provider "We want SIA registered staff" does the security provider say "Sorry, no. Its pointless out here." Course not.. The security provider says "Yes sir... Will Do!"
Unfortunatly the SIA does not live up to the high standards traditionally up held by UK licenicing bodies...
 
I think the same thing hippy.

So I need an help. Some one know a good and possibly cheap school in London where I can take SIA qualification with first aid at work?I have some friends in London that could help me with an economic place where sleep.
 
Well said Hippy.
It may also have something to do with Insurance. If you are a professional outfit, you'll have insurances in place, and I expect lots are underwritten by Lloyds, who will probably include a clause to the effect that any cock ups by untrained/unqualified operators and you're on your own.
If something went TU and the company could show that a UK awarding body and National licensing authority both say the members of the team were good to go...
 
hippy said:
Place yourself in the position of the end user in Iraq....
You need security.. How do you ensure they are of a standard needed?
You find a national standard enforced by law.
The UK has a good tradition and reputation for providing a high standard of education.
So, understandably the end user thinks demanding SIA licenced staff will ensure it receiving personel of a exceptable standard.
So when the end user says to the security provider "We want SIA registered staff" does the security provider say "Sorry, no. Its pointless out here." Course not.. The security provider says "Yes sir... Will Do!"
Unfortunatly the SIA does not live up to the high standards traditionally up held by UK licenicing bodies...
Click to expand...


Of course, this is by no means the main reason. Recruitment, as you know, involves a little due dilligence; the SIA license ensures that the individual is who he says he is and on top of that, the CRB check has been done!

Boom! Boom! All done and dusted - what a cost saving. The main companies, although were involved in the core competency framework for the CP licensing know all too well what a load of bollocks the end result is. Dross being spewed out into the industry. They don't care about that too much. The ticks in the boxes are done and their arse is covered as well as a major cost saving exercise.


Rich H
 
Hippy,

Incidentally, I refer you to your Avatar...

"Flashman was a coward, who would flee from danger if there was any way to do so, and on some occasions collapsed in funk. He had one great advantage in concealing this weakness: when he was frightened, his face turned red, rather than white, so that observers thought he was excited, enraged, or exuberant - as a hero ought to be."

I had a smile when I read that but the question is...is it true?!




Rich H
 
Some one know a good and possibly cheap school in London where I can take SIA qualification with first aid at work?I have some friends in London that could help me with an economic place where sleep.
 
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