Event Safety - Qualifications

Unless you have certain qualifications it is highly unlikely that Event Safety is a full time job for you.  Most event safety staff are employed either as contractors or on zero hours contracts.

There is the potential to make money but you could quite easily find yourself working a lot of hours to do so.

Event safety especially at an entry level will tend to attract people looking for some extra money around other commitments.  For example students or as was the case for me someone looking to make a few extra pounds whilst learning and honing a specific skill.

In my case I fell in love with the job and twenty two years later I'm still doing it.  That said during that time I've said goodbye to a number of great colleagues whose careers outside of event safety have taken off to the point that they can't do both and event safety has lost out.

The fact that I am now in the positions that I am will I'm sure tell you that as well as doing the job I have put a lot into my professional development.  For the record, I hold a NVQ Level 4 Diploma in Spectator Safety Management and the NCRQ Level 6 certificate in Applied Health and Safety with merit.  I also have over the years taken other courses that are now defunct and no longer recognised.

If you are going to be in event safety for a sustained period then you will need to obtain a qualification in event safety.  Currently this is the NVQ2 in Spectator Safety.  As is always the way this may change later this year but as things stand at the moment this is the course that you need.

To pass this course you will need to produce a portfolio of evidence of you doing the job and to demonstrate a level of competence in doing so.  Your NVQ assessor and training college will help you to do this.

Depending on your aspirations there are other additional courses that you can do to take your learning further and to potentially gain access to higher level jobs within event safety but if you are happy at an entry level then the NVQ 2 is the one for you.

If you are considering going further in the first instance I would encourage you to speak with one of the people that are doing the job that you covet.  Personally speaking I'm always happy to speak with members of my team that want my job.  I will mentor and guide them and assist them in any way that I can.  Why?  It's simple.  When I leave that job for the next one I know that there is someone there that can deliver for me and will do so to my standards.