This qualification is the natural next step for organisations already working with us on Martyn’s Law compliance. Where our RED5 programme builds capability across your teams by role, from frontline responders through to incident directors, the Level 3 Award formally accredits the person who has to own the risk assessment and the plan.

This five-day, instructor-led programme is not a tick-box exercise. You will take part in guided discussions, practical exercises and applied learning throughout, working towards your assessments with support from practitioners who understand the realities of security on the ground. Everything is grounded in real-life scenarios, so what you learn on day one can be applied to your own site by the end of the week.

Across six modules you will build from the fundamentals of terrorist threat and methodology through to writing a counter-terrorism risk assessment and preparedness plan for your own venue. Three assessments lead to the qualification: a multiple-choice exam, a written assignment and a professional discussion, all set and quality assured by the awarding body.

If you are responsible for a venue, site or organisation and need to demonstrate genuine competence rather than awareness alone, get in touch to find out how we can deliver this qualification for your team and keep you compliant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is Counter-Terrorism Training Important for Businesses?

Terrorism is no longer treated as a risk that only affects high-profile landmarks or major events. Attacks in the UK have targeted shopping centres, transport hubs, offices, places of worship and open public spaces, and the methodologies used are often low-sophistication and fast-moving.

That shift has changed what is expected of the people running those spaces. Counter-terrorism training equips your team to recognise hostile reconnaissance and suspicious behaviour, understand how attacks are planned and carried out, and put proportionate protective security measures in place before anything happens.

Just as importantly, it covers what happens during and after an incident. Preparedness is the difference between a plan that exists on paper and a team that knows how to evacuate, invacuate, lock down and communicate under pressure. For most organisations, that capability is now a board-level expectation rather than a nice to have.

Does the SFJ Level 3 Award Help You Comply With Martyn’s Law?

Yes. The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, and the Home Office has said it is expected to come into force in spring 2027, with the Security Industry Authority acting as regulator.

Standard tier premises are those hosting between 200 and 799 people at the same time, while the enhanced tier covers premises and events hosting 800 or more. We set out what each tier involves, and which venue types are caught, in detail on our Martyn’s Law page.

The Act does not name a specific qualification. What it does require is that responsible persons can show their approach is informed, proportionate and properly documented. This course was built with those duties in mind, and the written assignment produces exactly the kind of counter-terrorism risk assessment and preparedness plan you will need to evidence.

Who Should Attend Counter-Terrorism Training?

The course is designed for anyone with responsibility for the safety, security and preparedness of a venue, site or organisation, or anyone involved in risk assessment and safety planning.

In practice that usually means security managers, facilities and estates managers, health and safety leads, duty and operations managers, event organisers, and the senior person who will be named as responsible under Martyn’s Law.

It is equally relevant across our sectors, from shopping centres and stadiums to offices, education settings, hotels and places of worship. Because the qualification targets competence rather than general awareness, it works best when the people attending are the ones who will actually write, own and test the plan. For everyone else, our RED1 Incident Responders course and active shooter training can be delivered alongside it as part of the same programme.