From 1 April, the Passport route to ACS registration will be open to NSI Guarding Gold-approved companies providing client services covering security guarding, CCTV, door supervision and key holding.
The Passport route offers an NSI Guarding Gold-approved company an additional option for access to the ACS. NSI-approved contractors choosing this route must meet a new NSI-devised Passport specification, but will NOT be required to pass through separate ACS assessment (thus benefiting from potential cost savings).
Andrew White, the NSI’s chief executive, spoke to SMT just prior to Christmas about the possibility of a Passport route (‘In defence of standards’, SMT, November 2007, pp24-27). Commenting on the news, he told info4security: “The NIS is very proud to be the first assessing body to offer a Passport route for those companies already achieving high standards through the NSI Guarding Gold scheme. By combining NSI Guarding Gold and the SIA’s Approved Contractor status, a company demonstrates that it’s working to the highest possible standards. For the NSI, this includes all relevant British Standards and, for the ACS, additional measures like Corporate Social Responsibility.”
SIA chief executive Michael Wilson added: “The SIA is delighted to welcome the NSI as the first assessing body permitted to offer the Passport route to ACS. The SIA is determined to see the ACS as the ‘approval of choice’ for security contracts across Government, local Government and industry. We want the ACS to provide a real business advantage to security companies. The Passport route offers a further option for suppliers to realise that advantage.”
At present, there are 440 SIA Approved Contractors.
For further information visit www.nsi.org.uk or www.the-sia.org.uk
