/ Guarding Gold and Silver – How to Apply

You will find the information on this page that is required to submit your Guarding application to NSI. Please submit your Application Form and additional documentation by e-mail to: applications@nsi.org.uk.

Our Applications Team is here to help you and if you have any queries or would like a quotation, please e-mail or call them on T: 01628 764838.

1. Helpful Documentation

We recommend you read the following documents before completing your application.

2. Application Documentation

2.1 Please complete and submit the Application Form, Annex and Personal Data Form(s).

Note: Personal Data Forms must be supplied for Directors, partners, and shareholders (with 10% or more of the shares).

2.2 Financial Information

For start-up companies:
A two year projected business plan is required to include a Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet. To help you, click here for a model Projected Business Plan and Notes.

Companies trading between one and two years:
Please provide one year’s statutory accounts and one year’s projected business plan to include Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet. To help you, click here for a model Projected Business Plan and Notes.

Companies trading for two years or more:
Sole traders and partnerships should send two years’ statutory accounts to include Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet. Limited companies trading for two years or more may be required to provide additional information.

2.3 Security Screening

Evidence of security screening is required for all staff and sub-contractors working in Guarding Services to BS 7858.

All NSI schemes incorporate approval to BS 7858 “Security Screening of Individuals Employed in a Security Environment” as a mandatory requirement, and we will require confirmation that this has been carried out for all relevant individuals (including administration employees). BS 7858 applies equally to all relevant employees, including full-time, part-time, sole traders, partnerships, temporary or permanent employees, including management i.e Directors.

Please note, security screening should be completed by the time of your audit. We recommend you start this as soon as possible to avoid delays at a later stage.

Please note: if you are unable to carry out security screening in-house, NSI approves security screening companies who will be able to provide this service for you. Please search here.

3. Application Process

NSI Application Process Silver / Gold

3.1 Administration

Our Applications Team will conduct an initial review of the submitted application documentation and advise you if any additional information is required. At this point you will be sent an invoice.

Once all completed application documents have been received and checked you will be assigned a designated Operations Co-ordinator who will liaise with you and the NSI auditor to arrange your initial audit. Your auditor will send you a visit plan in advance of the audit detailing the areas to be included in the initial audit.

3.2 Auditing Process

During the audit you will be advised if there are any non-compliances identified and at the closing meeting you will be presented with our findings and a detailed report will follow. If any improvement needs are raised we will require corrective action submissions from you to indicate how you intend to address the issues together with timeframes.

There are two levels of Improvements: Improvement Needs: These can only be closed by a revisit or by the submission of appropriate documentation. Improvement Observations: These can be reviewed at the next visit providing corrective actions have been accepted by the auditor. Once any Improvement Needs are closed, your auditor can recommend your approval be granted and you will receive a Welcome Pack which will include your Certificate of Approval.