With effect from 1st April 2019 to achieve SIA ACS (Security Industry Authority Approved Contractor Status) accreditation companies must reach the required minimum achievement level for all indicators in the Self Assessment Workbook (SAW). The maximum score now achievable is +145 points, a reduction of 30 points on the previous SAW.

Based on the ACS scores published on the SIA website, with effect from 1st April 2020 companies audited against the revised SAW will require a score of 95 to place them in the top 15% of all SIA ACS  accredited contract security companies and make them eligible to join The ACS Pacesetters.

There are currently approximately 860 Contract Security Guarding Companies who have achieved ACS accreditation therefore, it is very difficult for the buyers of security services to differentiate between them. The ACS Pacesetters places emphasis on the importance of the annual score, making the tender process for end-users very much simpler.

In restricting membership of the ACS Pacesetters to the top 15% of SIA approved security companies, approximately 130 organisations are eligible to join. These companies, both national and regional, have proved they are market leaders in the security guarding industry and are therefore capable of providing an excellent standard of service to their clients and a high degree of care for their employees. As a client, it makes sense to include companies in the top 15% of the ACS scoring system when compiling your tender list.