Who Needs BS 10119 Certification in the UK?

If your business supplies additional labour to organisations operating in the security or events sectors, you may have heard about BS 10119:2026. The standard has been developed to help businesses manage the supply of labour to the security and events sectors in a more professional, consistent and responsible way.

BS 10119:2026 focuses on how organisations recruit, manage, screen and supply additional security and event labour. It can apply to businesses providing both licensed and unlicensed workers, depending on the services they provide. BSI describes the standard as covering the management, resourcing and staffing of bought-in labour used to support security and event work.

But who actually needs BS 10119 certification in the UK?

The answer depends on the type of work your organisation carries out and whether you provide additional labour to the security or events sector.

What Is BS 10119 Certification?

BS 10119:2026 is a British Standard called “Provision of labour to the security and events sectors. Code of practice.”

It provides a framework for organisations that supply additional workers to security and event operations. The standard looks at areas such as recruitment, screening, training, employment records, responsibilities, working arrangements and compliance.

The aim is to help organisations provide labour in a controlled and professional way while reducing the risks associated with poorly managed or unsuitable workers.

BSI states that the standard is intended for providers of security and events staff, event and property managers, and contractors that procure supplementary labour.

Who Needs BS 10119 Certification?

1. Security Labour Providers

Security labour providers are one of the main groups that can benefit from BS 10119 certification.

If your company supplies security personnel to other businesses, sites, events or contractors, BS 10119 can provide a recognised framework for managing that service.

This can include businesses supplying:

• Security guards
• Door supervisors
• Event security staff
• Security officers
• Temporary security personnel
• Additional security teams
• Other security-related labour

Where workers are supplied to support another organisation's security operation, having a structured labour management system can help demonstrate that the business takes recruitment, screening and compliance seriously.

2. Event Staffing Providers

BS 10119 is also relevant to organisations supplying labour to the events sector.

Events often require additional staff for short periods, particularly during busy periods or large public events. A labour provider may supply workers to help with security, crowd management or other event-related duties.

Businesses involved in event staffing may therefore find BS 10119 particularly useful for demonstrating that their recruitment and workforce processes are properly managed.

This may include labour providers working with:

• Festivals
• Concerts
• Sporting events
• Exhibitions
• Conferences
• Public events
• Entertainment venues

The standard is designed to support organisations that need to bring in additional labour without compromising security and safety.

3. Security Companies Using Additional Labour

Not every organisation using security staff is a labour provider. However, if your business regularly brings in additional security personnel from external providers, BS 10119 may also be relevant.

For example, a security contractor may need extra workers for a large contract or a temporary increase in demand. BS 10119 can help organisations understand what good labour provision should look like when sourcing supplementary workers.

This can be particularly useful where the quality, reliability and compliance of supplied personnel are important to the client.

4. Event and Property Managers

BSI specifically identifies event and property managers among the organisations for which BS 10119 is intended.

Large properties and events may rely on external labour providers to support security and operational requirements.

For these organisations, understanding BS 10119 can help when selecting and managing labour suppliers.

A property manager, for example, may want confidence that a security labour provider has suitable processes for recruitment, worker screening, training and employment records.

Similarly, an event manager may need to demonstrate that the workers supporting an event have been sourced and managed through appropriate processes.

5. Contractors Procuring Supplementary Labour

Another important group is contractors that procure supplementary labour.

Businesses sometimes need more workers than their existing workforce can provide. Instead of recruiting permanent employees, they may use an external labour provider.

BS 10119 can help create a more consistent approach to this type of arrangement.

For contractors, working with a BS 10119-certified labour provider can provide additional confidence that the provider has suitable systems in place for managing its workforce.

What Does BS 10119 Cover?

Understanding the areas covered by the standard can help businesses decide whether it is relevant to them.

BS 10119:2026 covers areas including:

• Organisational responsibilities
• Labour management
• Recruitment
• Worker screening
• Training
• Personal protective equipment where applicable
• Employment terms and conditions
• Documentation and records
• Sourcing and supplying additional labour
• Compliance with relevant requirements

BSI also highlights areas such as SIA licensing, right-to-work checks, employment status, working time, PAYE, data protection and security screening where applicable.

This means BS 10119 is not simply about having enough workers available. It is about having the right processes around the provision and management of that labour.

Does Every Security Company Need BS 10119?

No. BS 10119 is not automatically required for every security company in the UK.

The standard is primarily concerned with the provision of labour to the security and events sectors.

If your business simply employs its own permanent security staff and does not provide additional labour to other organisations, the relevance of BS 10119 may be different.

However, if your business supplies security or event workers to clients, contractors or other organisations, BS 10119 may be highly relevant.

It is therefore important to look at how your business operates rather than assuming that the standard applies to every company in the security industry.

Why Should Labour Providers Consider BS 10119 Certification?

There are several reasons why a UK labour provider may consider certification.

Build Client Confidence

Clients want to know that the people they are receiving have been recruited and managed properly.

BS 10119 can provide evidence of a structured approach to labour provision and help build confidence with customers.

Improve Recruitment and Screening

Good recruitment and screening processes are important when supplying workers to the security and events sectors.

BS 10119 provides recommendations around screening, training and workforce management, helping businesses create more consistent processes.

Support Compliance

Labour providers need to consider a range of legal and industry requirements.

These can include right-to-work checks, employment requirements, working time, PAYE, data protection and SIA licensing where applicable.

BS 10119 can help businesses put suitable controls around these areas.

Strengthen Your Reputation

Certification can demonstrate that your organisation takes professional standards seriously.

For a labour provider competing for new contracts, this can help differentiate the business from providers that cannot demonstrate the same level of structured management.

Support Business Growth

A strong compliance framework can make it easier for businesses to demonstrate their capabilities when approaching new clients.

BSI notes that BS 10119 can support customer confidence and help with new market entry.

How Can a Business Prepare for BS 10119 Certification?

If you believe BS 10119 is relevant to your organisation, the first step should be to understand the requirements that apply to your business.

A typical preparation process may include:

1. Review your current processes

Look at how you currently recruit, screen, train and manage workers.

2. Identify gaps

Compare your existing procedures against the requirements and recommendations of BS 10119.

3. Improve policies and procedures

Update documentation where processes are missing or need improvement.

4. Strengthen records

Make sure important recruitment, employment, screening and training records are properly maintained.

5. Train relevant staff

Your management and operational teams should understand their responsibilities.

6. Complete an internal review

Before the certification assessment, review your systems and address any outstanding issues.

7. Prepare for certification assessment

Once your organisation is ready, you can proceed with the appropriate certification process.

Working with an experienced BS 10119 consultant can make this process easier by helping identify gaps and prepare the business before the formal assessment.

Is BS 10119 Relevant to Your Business?

If your organisation supplies security or event labour to other businesses, BS 10119 should be on your radar.

It can also be relevant to event managers, property managers and contractors that procure supplementary labour. BSI specifically identifies these groups as users of the standard.

The key question is simple:

Does your organisation provide, manage or procure additional labour for the security or events sector?

If the answer is yes, it is worth reviewing BS 10119 and understanding how the standard could apply to your operations.

Get Help With BS 10119 Certification

Preparing for certification does not need to be complicated, but it does require a clear understanding of your current processes and where improvements may be needed.

Tritact® Consulting can help UK businesses understand BS 10119 requirements, identify compliance gaps and prepare their systems for certification.

From initial gap analysis and policy development to implementation support and audit preparation, getting the right guidance can help your business approach BS 10119 certification with greater confidence.

If you are a security labour provider, event staffing company, contractor or organisation that relies on supplementary security and event labour, now is a good time to review your current arrangements and see whether BS 10119 certification is right for your business.