Who is Guarding Your Business? The Importance of Background Checks

Key Takeaways: Why Background Checks Matter in Security

• Why are background checks essential for security firms? They are the foundation of public safety, ensuring that individuals in positions of authority have no dangerous history and are “fit and proper” for the role.
• What is the gold standard for security vetting in the UK? BS7858 is the industry-standard screening process, involving comprehensive checks on employment history, credit, and criminal records.
• How do background checks protect business assets? They mitigate the “insider threat” by preventing individuals with a history of theft or fraud from accessing master keys, alarm codes, and sensitive client data.
• What are the consequences of non-compliance? Failure to meet SIA licensing requirements or vetting standards can lead to legal penalties, loss of contracts, and irreparable reputational damage.

How can firms speed up the vetting process? Using integrated applicant tracking systems (like Hire by WorkWave with Deploi) allows for AI-driven automation, reducing vetting times from weeks to days.

In the physical security industry, trust is your most valuable currency. Your clients trust you to protect their people, property and sensitive data. But that trust relies entirely on the individuals wearing your uniform. If you cannot vouch for the guard on the gate or the officer patrolling the warehouse, the entire security system fails.

For security companies in the UK, background checks are the foundation of a safe, compliant and reputable operation. Here is why vetting is critical and how you can manage it efficiently.

Ensuring public safety and security

Security personnel often work in high-risk environments or with vulnerable people. Placing an individual with a dangerous history in a position of authority can have catastrophic consequences. Thorough background checks are the first line of defence, filtering out unsuitable candidates before they ever step foot on a client’s site.

Staying compliant with UK regulations

The regulatory landscape in the UK is strict, and for good reason. Non-compliance isn’t just risky; it is illegal.

• SIA licensing: The Security Industry Authority (SIA) mandates that guards hold a valid licence. This process includes identity and criminal record checks to ensure the individual is “fit and proper” to work in the industry.
• BS7858 vetting: This is the industry gold standard for screening security personnel. It involves a comprehensive check of employment history, creditworthiness and criminal records. Adhering to BS7858 proves you take risk management seriously.

Protecting your reputation and assets

Your guards often hold the keys to the kingdom — quite literally. They have access to alarm codes, master keys and high-value assets. Without proper screening, you open your business (and your clients’ businesses) to the “insider threat” of theft or fraud.

Beyond the financial risk, there is the reputational damage. It only takes one incident involving an unscreened or poorly vetted employee to destroy a reputation you spent years building. Clients want to know that the people you send to their sites are reliable, honest and capable.

A safer workplace for everyone

Background checks do not just protect your clients; they protect your own team. Identifying potential behavioural risks, such as a history of violence or harassment, allows you to create a safer environment for your staff. A thoroughly vetted workforce is a cohesive, trusting workforce.

Partnering for smarter, faster vetting

We know that for many security businesses, the vetting process is a bottleneck. It can be slow, manual and disjointed, delaying your ability to get boots on the ground.

That is why TEAM Software by WorkWave is excited to announce our partnership with Deploi.

Deploi is now integrated directly into Hire by WorkWave, our applicant tracking system designed specifically for the cleaning and security industries. This partnership allows you to handle background checks accurately and efficiently without leaving your hiring platform.

By combining the power of Hire by WorkWave with Deploi’s AI-driven vetting expertise, you can:

• Automate compliance checks to meet BS7858 standards
• Speed up time-to-hire by removing manual administration — what used to take weeks will now take days
• Gain total visibility over the vetting status of every candidate

Don’t leave your reputation to chance. Ensure the people guarding your business are the right people for the job.