Plumber/pipefitter

The National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.80 per hour as of 1 April 2026 according to the Department for Business and Trade. Security guards must receive this rate for all hours worked including overtime at 1.5 times the hourly rate after 40 hours per week. Employers must also provide itemised payslips showing exact hours and deductions.

Yes, a valid SIA licence is mandatory for all security guard roles under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The licence costs £190 for a three-year front-line licence and requires a Level 2 Award in Door Supervision or Security Guarding plus an identity check and criminal record disclosure. Applications are processed only through the official SIA portal.

Security guards are limited to an average of 48 hours per week over a 17-week reference period under the Working Time Regulations 1998. They are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid annual leave including bank holidays, equating to 28 days for a five-day week. Night shift workers receive an additional health assessment every two years.

A security guard earning £25,000 pays £1,486 in income tax and £1,456 in Class 1 National Insurance contributions for the 2026/27 tax year. The personal allowance is £12,570 with a basic rate of 20% on income above that threshold up to £50,270. Employers deduct these automatically through PAYE and report via Real Time Information.