SFJ Awards are the appointed awarding organisation by the UK National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) – a specialist unit within Counter Terrorism Policing. NaCTSO provides authoritative Counter Terrorism (CT) advice to all business sectors in the UK.
The SFJ Awards level 3 is the only NaCTSO-endorsed course and qualification (working title: Competent Person in the Workplace (CPiW)). This course and qualification is designed for any size of organisation to effectively understand and mitigate their risks from terrorism. This has taken on new significance for organisations, since the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s Law, was passed.
Although not mandated by the Act, the Competent Persons Scheme will support all business and organisations who take their risk from CT seriously to mitigate their risks and meet their legal obligations. This course will enable them to understand and consider effective CT protective security and preparedness, including how it enhances their current holistic security practices through comprehensive integration. It is the only NaCTSO and Counter Terrorism Policing endorsed course and qualification ensuring it meets the needs of all venues, sites and organisations across the UK.
Whilst the qualification won’t be released until early 2026 (to ensure it includes the most up to date information), there are steps training providers or employers wishing to offer this course can take to prepare.
Guidance for training providers
To deliver the NaCTSO-endorsed course and qualification, training providers must be an SFJ Awards approved centre.
SFJ Awards are running a two-stage approval process to ensure that when we launch the CPiW, training providers are in the best place possible to be able to gain full SFJ Awards Centre approval and start delivery.
Stage 1: Centre approval process
Includes checks of financial performance and centre policies and procedures.
Once you have become an approved centre, and the qualification content and delivery requirements are finalised, you will then progress to Stage 2 of the application process to gain approval to deliver the CPiW qualification specifically.
Stage 2: Qualification approval
Submission of evidence that centre staff have the necessary qualifications and experience to deliver the learning programme and meet the qualification requirements.
Download the approval process guidanceFrequently asked questions about the Competent Person in the Workplace qualification
Since the announcement of the qualification earlier this year, NaCTSO and SFJ Awards have been compiling commonly asked questions to make as much information available ahead of the release as possible.
See the FAQs for:
