The SIA Business Approval Scheme: what's replacing the ACS

For two decades, the mark of a credible security supplier in the UK has been SIA Approved Contractor status. That is set to change. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is developing a new Business Approval Scheme (BAS) that will, in time, replace the long-standing Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS). For anyone who buys security, it is worth understanding where this is heading.

Why the ACS is being replaced

The ACS has served the industry well, but the SIA has signalled that it wants a more robust, capability-driven approval model, one that puts greater weight on public protection and gives buyers better information when choosing a supplier. The move forms part of the regulator's wider 2026 to 2029 strategy, which places quality of service, company integrity and public safety at its centre.

In short, the bar is being raised. Rather than a scheme a business can treat as a badge to display, the BAS is intended to scrutinise the things that actually matter: integrity, financial probity, competence and the quality of service delivered on the ground.

The direction is clear: approval should mean more, not less. That is good news for buyers who take supplier quality seriously.

What we know so far

The SIA has run a consultation on the scheme and published its findings. Its Business Plan for 2026 to 2027 sets out its intention to develop the BAS during that business year, with a digital application service planned for pilots in spring 2027. The SIA has said the ACS will eventually close and approved businesses will transition to the new scheme, but no closure date for the ACS has yet been set.

Importantly, none of this happens overnight. Until the transition formally takes place, the existing ACS framework remains in force, and approved contractors should continue to operate under it.

What it means for buyers of security

If you procure security services, the shift towards the BAS reinforces something we have always believed: approval and standards are there to protect you, the buyer. A tougher, more transparent scheme makes it harder for weak operators to hide behind a logo, and easier for you to identify genuinely capable providers.

It also sits alongside the other changes reshaping the industry, from the new Fair Work Agency consolidating employment-rights enforcement, to standards such as BS 10119 governing the labour supply chain. The common thread is a sector being asked to demonstrate quality and integrity, not just claim it.

How Go Security is positioned

We welcome a higher bar, because we already operate to it. Our officers are SIA-licensed and screened to BS 7858, our workforce of around 300 monthly is 100% PAYE, and our pay, hours and vetting records are transparent and auditable. A scheme that rewards integrity, competence and financial probity is a scheme built for providers like us, and for the clients who choose us.

Sources include SIA and GOV.UK publications on the Business Approval Scheme consultation and the SIA business plan and strategy for 2026 onwards. Scheme details and timelines are subject to change as the SIA finalises its plans; this article is general information, not regulatory advice.