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Steward qualifications and training

Stewards require appropriate training and qualifications to fulfil their roles.

Ground management has the responsibility for ensuring that all safety personnel, whether in-house or provided under contract, are competent and, where not already qualified, have received sufficient training to carry out the duties and responsibilities assigned to them.

All stewards must have a Level 2 Certificate in Spectator Safety (or previous equivalent), or be working towards it.

This must be completed within 12 months, dating from the start of their first induction training.

The training should also include completion of the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) Awareness eLearning and Basic Life Support Skills. These are prerequisites for obtaining a Level 2 Spectator Safety qualification.

It is the responsibility of ground management to ensure that all stewards are trained, and that their competence to undertake the duties expected of them is assessed. This includes seeking appropriate assurance from agency suppliers.

Security roles

Stewards employed to perform security type roles such as the following must also have the relevant physical intervention training:

  • searching people or property,
  • refusing entry, or
  • the removal of non-compliant spectators from the venue.

For staff other than those employed directly by the ground (also known as in-house stewards), they must also have a Security Industry Authority (SIA) Door Supervisor licence in order to carry out these licensable activities.

In-house staff at sports grounds are exempt from this licence. However, they must be sufficiently qualified, trained in physical intervention and be vetted to the appropriate level.

Training and assessment process

The following outlines the steps that all stewards, whether employed in-house by the ground or by an agency, should follow to ensure they are trained and have the competence to undertake the duties expected of them.

Step 1

  • undertake induction and venue familiarisation training
  • undertake training and underpinning knowledge for the core units of the relevant National Occupational Standards
  • attend a minimum of four events partnered by a qualified and experienced steward (preferably at the same venue)
  • complete the qualification within a period of no more than 12 months, dating from the start of induction training

Step 2

  • continue and complete training for remaining units of the relevant National Occupational Standards
  • undergo assessment for occupational competence
  • undergo assessment for suitability for specialist duties, for example in safeguarding, disability or fire safety

Step 3

  • obtain external verification of competence, for example by successfully completing a qualification

Step 4

  • undertake ongoing training in such areas as customer service, communication techniques, disability awareness, security / counter terrorism awareness and conflict resolution

Venue specific training

Venue specific training should normally be delivered to each employee, volunteer or contractor before or
when they first attend the venue. This important familiarisation training is to outline the safety and security
features and requirements of the venue. This includes:

  • The general layout of the venue including key safety features.
  • Location of ingress and egress points.
  • Location of emergency exit routes.
  • Location of first aid and emergency response units.
  • The venue specific regulations and requirements for spectators and staff members.
  • Venue specific communication signals and codewords.
  • Generic operational procedures and policies.

Event specific training

Alongside gaining an understanding of the venue, training should include elements specific to the nature of
the event taking place. This includes:

  • The characteristics of the event.
  • Which categories of spectator will be in attendance.
  • Other factors that might influence spectator behaviour, such as the event’s timing, its significance and,
    where applicable, the attendance of visiting supporters.
  • Any external factors that might influence the safety management of the event, such as the weather,
    activities in Zone Ex, issues affecting local road networks or transport providers, or other events in the
    vicinity or on the same day.

Importantly changes to the usual operational procedures or policies will need to be identified and
communicated.

Role specific training

Staff members deployed to specific roles or locations within each venue will need to be appropriately
trained on the key safety, security and service roles and actions needed for the event and location/
deployment. This includes:

  • Car park staff and logistics.
  • Turnstile operators and points of entry scanning.
  • Fire marshals.
  • Safety stewards.
  • Security personnel.
  • Exit or pass gate attendants.
  • Field of play attendants.
  • Lift attendant.

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