Staff agency or 3rd party service provider?

GuardFlex is the fantastic new flexible security staffing service from GuardPass. Drawing from a pool of over 4000 professional UK-based Security Officers, and with an industry-leading and totally transparent charging system, using us to get those awkward shifts covered would seem to be an obvious choice.

GuardFlex is the fantastic new flexible security staffing service from GuardPass. Drawing from a pool of over 4000 professional UK-based Security Officers, and with an industry-leading and totally transparent charging system, using us to get those awkward shifts covered would seem to be an obvious choice.

Frustratingly for all concerned, there exists a widely held misconception regarding a requirement for Security Industry Authority, ACS approval.

It is absolutely correct that no ACS approved company is able to subcontract security services to a non ACS approved company unless special permission is granted from the SIA.

Understanding SIA Regulations

Importantly however, the SIA clearly states that staff agencies, and companies that only provide Security Officers, are not deemed as providing any 3rd party security service, and therefore ACS approved companies are completely free to use their services, regardless of whether the labour provider is ACS approved or not, completely without restriction.

For absolute clarity, the Security industry Authority’s “Guidance for Approved Contractors 019” document, states:

“Note: The term ‘subcontractor’ in this guidance does not apply to staff obtained through an agency. Approved contractors can only subcontract provision of a security service (for which they are approved) to other approved contractors, unless an exemption from subcontracting requirements has been applied for an agreed by us. This does not apply in cases where a subcontractor solely supplies labour – ‘subcontracted labour’. Such organisations are not required to be approved and may in some cases not be eligible for ACS. This exception covers self-employed individuals and ‘agencies’ supplying temporary staff whose licensable activities are under the supervision, direction or control of the approved contractor. This may include another security provider, a labour provider, or employment business……..”

So there you have it.

For more information on this, and every aspect of SIA ACS company business operations please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sub-contracting-outside-of-the-acs

Now you know that you can safely benefit from the outstanding GuardFlex service without breaching any SIA guidelines, or jeopardising your ACS status, we look forward to helping to solve your shift fulfilment problems, whilst protecting your reputation for service excellence.

For more information about GuardFlex, and the other business services that GuardPass provides for security companies you can visit our website: https://www.guardpass.com/employers

Or drop us an email at: FlexibleStaffing@GuardPass.com