Course overview
Train locally. Build practical skills.
Work towards a Highfield Security Guard qualification at our Paisley centre. Arrange first aid with the same provider and get clear advice on the training you need.
Highfield qualification · Local training centre · First aid available
Reviews of Skills Training Group across all our courses.
Choose the training you need
Security Guard course
£234 including VAT (£195 excluding VAT)
Four days of Security Guard training. Choose this option if you already hold an accepted first-aid qualification.
Security Guard + first aid
£300 including VAT (£250 excluding VAT)
Add Emergency First Aid at Work for £66 including VAT. Call us to arrange both courses and confirm all attendance dates.
The SIA licence application currently costs an additional £204, paid separately to the SIA. Passing the course allows you to apply; the SIA makes the licensing decision. About the licence application.
Where could Security Guard training take you?
Work towards roles that protect premises, property and the people who use them. Security employers recruit for a range of settings and shift patterns.
Retail security
Support shop teams, help prevent theft and respond professionally to customers and incidents.
Offices and commercial buildings
Manage access, welcome visitors and help keep workplaces secure.
Construction and industrial sites
Patrol premises, check deliveries and protect equipment and property.
Gatehouse and reception roles
Combine access control and record keeping with clear communication and customer service.
What could you earn? Compare Security Guard salary estimates for Glasgow on Indeed and Glassdoor’s Glasgow Security Officer and Security Guard salary guide.
These are salary estimates, not guaranteed earnings. Pay varies by employer, experience, hours and shift pattern. Check each vacancy for its actual rate, duties and licence requirements.
Explore security jobs around Glasgow
Compare current vacancies, pay and shift patterns. Look for roles that accept a Security Guarding licence; some listings require a Door Supervisor or CCTV licence instead.
Indeed
Search Security Officer roles mentioning SIA in Glasgow and within 50 miles.
Google Jobs
Explore SIA Security Guard jobs around Glasgow, gathered from multiple websites.
Links open in a new tab so you can return to your booking. Check each employer’s licence and experience requirements. Training does not guarantee a job.
Your route from training to work
- Choose your dates. Check entry requirements, arrange first aid if needed and follow your course preparation instructions.
- Train and qualify. Attend the four-day course and pass the required knowledge and practical assessments.
- Apply for your licence. Apply separately to the SIA and pay its £204 application fee. The SIA checks your eligibility.
- Apply for suitable roles. Match vacancies to your licence, availability and interests. Employers set their own recruitment requirements.
What you will learn on the course
Classroom learning, practical exercises and realistic scenarios help you prepare for everyday security duties. The course covers three core areas.
Working in the private security industry
- The security industry, professional conduct and the role of the SIA.
- Legal responsibilities, equality and the limits of your powers.
- Health and safety, fire awareness and emergency procedures.
- Communication, customer care and working with colleagues.
- Accurate incident records and evidential statements.
- Recognising suspicious activity and responding to terror threats.
- Supporting vulnerable people and responding after an incident.
Working as a security officer
- The responsibilities of a security officer in different workplaces.
- Controlling entry and exit for people, vehicles and property.
- Security systems, alarms and responding to activations.
- Personal safety, lone working and assessing changing risks.
- Drugs awareness and recognising associated risks.
- Lawful searching, consent, safe procedures and recording findings.
- Patrols, radio communication, reporting incidents and preserving evidence.
Conflict management
- Recognising common causes of conflict and signs of escalation.
- Assessing risks to yourself, colleagues and the public.
- Using verbal and non-verbal communication to calm situations.
- Being assertive without becoming aggressive.
- Maintaining safe space and knowing when to seek support.
- Resolving problems and learning from difficult encounters.
- Practising communication in realistic security scenarios.
How you will be assessed
Assessment includes multiple-choice examinations and practical tasks. You must pass the required assessments to achieve your qualification.
Tell us before booking if you need learning support or adjustments. We can explain the assessment process, retake arrangements and any applicable charges.
Your qualification
Pass the required assessments to achieve your Highfield Security Guard qualification. Highfield is the awarding organisation for the qualification.
Your SIA licence
After qualifying, apply separately to the Security Industry Authority. The SIA checks your eligibility and decides your licence application. Its application fee is separate from your training price.
Highfield awards the qualification; the SIA is the licensing authority. How SIA licence-linked training works.
Your training venue in Paisley
Train at our Paisley academy, near Glasgow, with classroom space for your course, free on-site parking and two railway stations within walking distance.
Skills Training Group
Units 1–3, 5 Murray StreetPaisley, Renfrewshire
PA3 1QG
- Free on-site parking
- Approximately 9 minutes’ walk from Paisley Gilmour Street
- Direct trains from Glasgow Central
Use the map to explore the location, or open directions to plan your journey.
Driving & parking
Enter PA3 1QG in your sat nav and head to 5 Murray Street. Free on-site parking is available at the centre.
Plan your route before setting off and allow time for traffic and parking before your course starts.
Travelling by train
Paisley Gilmour Street is approximately a 9-minute walk away. Direct trains from Glasgow Central average 11 minutes.
Paisley St James is approximately a 10-minute walk from the centre.
Travelling by bus
Nearby stops include Fountain Gardens on Caledonia Street and stops on Greenock Road.
Enter PA3 1QG in McGill’s journey planner to find your route, nearest stop and current departures.
Walking and train times are approximate. Check services for your course dates. For help finding the centre or to discuss access requirements, call 0141 889 4516.
Choose the right SIA course for your plans
Want to work on licensed doors?
For door-supervision duties at licensed venues, choose our Door Supervisor course. A Door Supervisor licence also covers security guarding; a Security Guard licence does not cover those door-supervision duties.
Renewing an existing licence?
If you already hold a Security Guard licence, check the refresher route before booking the full course.
Renewing a Door Supervisor licence? See Door Supervisor refresher training.
Feedback on our SIA training
Selected Trustpilot excerpts from our wider SIA training. The reviewers do not specify which SIA course they attended.
5 out of 5
The training was well organised, and the tutors explained everything clearly, which made it easy for me to understand and learn.
5 out of 5
The SIA course was really good, Tom Power was very clear and easy to understand.
5 out of 5
Excellent training course and very supportive staff. Thoroughly enjoyed it all.
Your questions answered
Is this course suitable if I am new to security?
Yes. This is initial Security Guard training, including for people entering the industry. You must be 18 or over, have suitable spoken and written English for the training and assessments, and provide the required identity documents. Check your SIA licence eligibility before booking if you are unsure.
Should I choose Security Guard or Door Supervisor training?
Security Guard training suits work such as retail guarding, office security, patrols and access control. Door Supervisor training is the route for door-supervision duties at licensed premises, and that licence also covers security guarding. Compare our Door Supervisor course if you want that wider licence coverage.
Do I need first aid before booking?
You can book training without already holding a certificate—we can arrange Emergency First Aid at Work with your course. You must complete accepted first-aid training before Security Guard training starts. An existing certificate must have at least 12 months’ validity remaining at the start of your Security Guard course. Contact us to check yours.
What is included in the price?
The Security Guard course is £234 including VAT, or £300 including VAT with Emergency First Aid at Work. The SIA licence application is separate and currently costs £204. Call us to arrange the first-aid option and confirm all dates.
How long does the course take?
The Security Guard course runs over four days. Check the available course dates and follow your pre-course study instructions. Confirm daily start and finish times, preparation requirements and any separate first-aid attendance before arranging time off.
What documents should I bring?
You will need the accepted photo ID and proof-of-address documents listed in your joining instructions, plus evidence of your first-aid qualification if you already hold one. Contact us before the course if you are unsure whether your documents meet the requirements.
Are there exams, and what happens if I need a retake?
Yes. There are multiple-choice examinations and practical assessments. We offer unlimited exam retakes and support with your learning. Contact us before booking to confirm retake dates, arrangements and any charges; retakes do not guarantee a pass.
When can I apply for my licence and start work?
You can apply once you have achieved the qualification and it has been confirmed to the SIA. Ask us about current results and certificate timescales. You must obtain the appropriate licence before undertaking work that requires it. SIA processing and recruitment take additional time.
Can I get an SIA licence if I have a criminal record?
The SIA assesses your circumstances against its licensing criteria. Check the SIA application guidance before paying for training if you have concerns. Passing the course does not guarantee that your application will be approved.
Is the training in Glasgow or Paisley?
The course takes place at Skills Training Group, Units 1–3, 5 Murray Street, Paisley, PA3 1QG, near Glasgow. There is free on-site parking, and Paisley Gilmour Street and Paisley St James stations are within walking distance. Use the map and travel information above to plan your journey.
I already have an SIA licence. Do I need this full course?
You may need refresher training instead. See our Security Guard refresher course, or contact us with your licence type and expiry date so we can explain the appropriate route.
Take your next step into security
Choose your course date, or speak to our team if you need first aid or help choosing the right course.