If you are responsible for the security of a venue, site, or organisation, the market for counter-terrorism training can feel crowded. There are awareness sessions, online modules, bespoke workshops, and formal qualifications — all presented with varying degrees of credibility. Choosing the wrong one is not just a waste of budget; in the context of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (Martyn’s Law), it could leave your organisation exposed.
This article cuts through the noise. It sets out how the Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness differs from other counter-terrorism training available in the UK, and why that distinction matters for your organisation.
The Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness was not created overnight. It evolved from the Competent Person in the Workplace (CPIW) course — a programme that had already established a strong reputation within professional security circles as a credible, operationally grounded approach to counter-terrorism preparedness.
The qualification has since been formally developed by SFJ Awards in direct collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) — the government body responsible for providing protective security advice to businesses and organisations across the UK. That collaboration is not a marketing footnote. It means the content, structure, and learning outcomes of the qualification have been shaped by the very people responsible for setting national counter-terrorism standards.
Understanding that lineage matters when you are comparing it to the many alternative courses available on the open market.
This is the clearest point of distinction, and it is one no other counter-terrorism qualification in the UK can currently make. The Level 3 Award is formally endorsed by both:
Endorsement at this level means the qualification has been reviewed, validated, and formally approved by the national bodies with direct operational responsibility for counter-terrorism in the UK. It is not a self-awarded badge. For organisations seeking assurance that their training investment is credible, legally defensible, and operationally sound, this dual endorsement is the standard to look for.
This is the clearest point of distinction, and it is one no other counter-terrorism qualification in the UK can currently make. The Level 3 Award is formally endorsed by both:
Endorsement at this level means the qualification has been reviewed, validated, and formally approved by the national bodies with direct operational responsibility for counter-terrorism in the UK. It is not a self-awarded badge. For organisations seeking assurance that their training investment is credible, legally defensible, and operationally sound, this dual endorsement is the standard to look for.
Many counter-terrorism training products on the market — including some well-marketed ones — result in a certificate of attendance or a branded completion record. These have their place in raising awareness, but they are not qualifications. They carry no regulated standard, no independent assessment, and no formal recognition outside of the organisation that issued them.
The Level 3 Award is an SFJ Awards regulated qualification that sits within the UK’s Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). To achieve it, learners must:
This is not a tick-box exercise. It is a structured programme with clear learning outcomes, independent assessment, and a qualification that carries genuine professional weight.
The credibility of any training programme is inseparable from the people who deliver it. The Level 3 Award at Ubique Risk Management is delivered by tutors who have spent careers working within specialist counter-terrorism roles — not trainers who have learned the material from a course themselves.
The tutor team includes former police officers with experience across all four pillars of the Government’s CONTEST counter-terrorism strategy: Pursue, Prevent, Protect, and Prepare. Their experience spans armed response, intelligence operations, CBRN preparedness, civil nuclear security, and major event management. That depth of operational background is reflected in the practical, scenario-based delivery style of the course.
The Level 3 Award is designed for individuals responsible for managing venues, sites, or organisations — whether they are approaching the qualification as a personal professional development step or as part of their organisation’s response to Martyn’s Law. There are no formal entry requirements.
It is particularly well-suited to:
It is also approved for ELCAS (Enhanced Learning Credits) funding, making it accessible to eligible serving and former military personnel.
There is no shortage of counter-terrorism training available in the UK. But there is only one Level 3 qualification that has been developed with NaCTSO, endorsed by both NaCTSO and Counter Terrorism Policing, assessed to a regulated standard, and delivered by practitioners with decades of specialist operational experience.
For organisations that need to demonstrate genuine preparedness — not just a training record — that distinction is significant.
Ubique Risk Management delivers the Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness from its Training Academy in Warrington, with course dates running through to November 2026. In-house delivery is also available for groups of five or more delegates.
A launch discount rate of £1,450 inc. VAT is available when booked and paid by 29 May 2026 (standard rate: £1,850 inc. VAT). Multiple-delegate discounts are available — contact us to discuss.
View course dates and book your place →
Or call the team on 0161 506 9822 or email info@ubiquerm.co.uk.
