What is BS7858 Vetting? A Complete Guide for Security Professionals

If you work in the UK security industry — or you are looking for security jobs in the UK — you will have come across the term BS7858. It appears on almost every job description, every contract and every vetting form. But what exactly is it, what does it require, and how does it affect your ability to find and keep security vacancies?

This guide covers everything you need to know about BS7858 vetting — written from inside the industry, for security professionals at every level.

What is BS7858?

BS7858 is the British Standard for the Screening of individuals working in a secure environment. Published by the British Standards Institution (BSI), it sets out the minimum requirements for background screening that security companies must follow before employing someone in a position of trust or security.

It is not a legal requirement in its own right — but it is a contractual requirement for the vast majority of security contracts in the UK. If a security company holds an SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) licence, they are required to screen employees to BS7858 standard. Most public sector and blue-chip private sector clients also write BS7858 compliance into their contracts.

What Does BS7858 Vetting Require?

BS7858 vetting requires a verified background check covering the previous five years of a candidate's life. This includes:

1. Full Employment History

Every employer you have worked for in the past five years must be verified. That means company name, address, dates of employment, job title and a reference contact. There must be no unexplained gaps. Any period of unemployment, self-employment, education or other activity must be accounted for and verified.

2. Full Address History

Every address you have lived at in the past five years must be provided — with exact dates of moving in and moving out. Again, no gaps are permitted. A single missing month can cause a BS7858 check to fail.

3. Right to Work in the UK

Original documents confirming your right to work in the UK must be checked. This is a legal requirement under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. Acceptable documents include a UK or Irish passport, a Biometric Residence Permit or a share code from the GOV.UK right to work check.

4. SIA Licence Verification

For licensed security roles, your SIA licence must be verified as current and valid. This includes checking the licence type, the expiry date and that it has not been revoked. At UK Security Jobs, we verify every candidate's SIA licence against the SIA public register before they can access the platform.

5. Character References

BS7858 requires at least two character references — typically from former employers or people of professional standing who have known you for a minimum period. Personal friends and family are not acceptable referees.

6. Criminal Record Check

A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is required. Most security roles require a Basic DBS check at minimum. Close protection and certain licensed premises roles may require a Standard or Enhanced check. Having a criminal record does not automatically disqualify you — the nature and date of any offences are considered in context.

What Causes a BS7858 Check to Fail?

The most common reasons BS7858 vetting fails — or cannot be completed — are:

• Gaps in employment history — even a single unexplained month can prevent completion
• Gaps in address history — same rule applies to where you have lived
• Inability to provide contact details for previous employers — if a company has closed, you need to prove you worked there by other means
• Expired or invalid SIA licence — for licensed roles, an expired licence ends the process immediately
• No right to work documents — without valid documentation, employment is illegal
• Providing false information — any deliberate inaccuracy is an immediate disqualifier

How UK Security Jobs Builds BS7858 Into Every Profile

At UK Security Jobs, every candidate profile is structured around BS7858 requirements from the moment they register. Rather than completing vetting at the point of job offer — when it can delay a start date by weeks — candidates on our platform build their BS7858 profile before they ever apply for a role.

Our vettability score system gives every candidate a live score out of 100, with each section of their profile contributing to the total. Employment history contributes 20 points. Address history contributes 15 points. Right to work documents contribute to the overall score. When a candidate applies for a security vacancy, the employer can immediately see their vettability score and understand how BS7858-ready they are.

This saves security companies significant time — and means candidates who are ready to work can start faster.

Tips for Passing BS7858 Vetting

• Start building your history now. Do not wait until you need a job. Gather employer contact details, addresses and reference details before you need them.
• Account for every gap. If you were unemployed, travelling or in education — document it. You need to explain every month of the five-year period.
• Keep your SIA licence current. An expired licence stops vetting immediately for licensed roles. Set a reminder three months before your expiry date.
• Know your referees. Two professional referees who can be contacted promptly. Warn them in advance that they may be approached.
• Register on UK Security Jobs. Our free registration walks you through building a complete BS7858 profile step by step.

Frequently Asked Questions About BS7858

Does a criminal record automatically fail BS7858?

No. BS7858 does not automatically exclude candidates with criminal records. The nature of the offence, how long ago it occurred and the specific role being applied for are all considered. Some convictions — particularly violent or dishonesty offences — are more likely to present a problem for security roles, but each case is assessed individually.

What if a former employer has gone out of business?

If a company you worked for has since closed, you need to provide alternative evidence of your employment — such as P60s, payslips, bank statements showing salary payments, or HMRC employment records. It is worth requesting your employment history from HMRC in advance.

How long does BS7858 vetting take?

A straightforward BS7858 check with clean history and responsive referees typically takes two to four weeks. Delays are almost always caused by gaps in information or slow reference responses. Candidates who have pre-built their profile on UK Security Jobs can significantly reduce this timeline.

Is BS7858 required for all security jobs?

Not technically — but in practice, any door supervisor job, security guard job, CCTV operator job or close protection role with a professional security company will require BS7858 screening. It is the industry standard.