Security Guards vs Event Stewards. What’s the Difference?
When you are planning staff for a show, festival or sporting fixture, it helps to understand security guards vs event stewards and what each role is there to do. The two roles often work at the same events, but they carry out different duties and are covered by different rules. Stewards look after crowd management, entry control and support for emergency procedures, while security officers guard against damage, theft, unauthorised access or disorderly behaviour, which is work that can require a licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA). At WHMG we provide event security and stewarding across the UK, and below we explain what each role involves, when an SIA licence is needed and how we can help with both.
What does an event steward do?
Our event stewarding services cover crowd management, entry control and support for emergency procedures. Typical stewarding duties include directing people to their seats, toilets and first aid points, and checking that guests have paid for entry or have an invitation.
According to SIA guidance on event stewards, you do not need a licence to direct people to their seats, toilets or first aid facilities, or to check that someone has paid for entry or has an invitation. If a steward then refuses someone entry or makes them leave, a licence is needed.
What does a security guard do at an event?
Security officers provide a physical presence to guard against damage, theft, unauthorised access or disorderly behaviour. At events this includes access control and gate management, searching people on entry and dealing with anyone who has to be refused entry or asked to leave. Our event security services cover crowd management, access control, emergency response and risk assessment for events of any size.
Which SIA licence is needed at events?
The SIA's guidance for people working at events sets out two main licences for this work. You can see every licence type in the GOV.UK licensing guidance.
A door supervisor licence is needed for guarding work at licensed premises, meaning a venue licensed to sell alcohol or provide regulated entertainment such as live music, while it is open to the public, serving alcohol or hosting regulated entertainment. This applies to people employed in-house by the company running the event as well as those supplied under a contract.
A security guard licence is needed for the same guarding work at premises that are not licensed, where the person is supplied under a contract for services, for example through a private security company.
Unpaid volunteers who receive no payment, reward or benefit of any kind do not need a licence.
Stewarding at sports grounds
Sports grounds with an active safety certificate work slightly differently. Stewards employed in-house at a certified sports ground in England or Wales do not need an SIA licence. The Sports Grounds Safety Authority explains that this exemption covers in-house stewards only, and that those carrying out licensable activities must have an equivalent level of training and vetting. Agency stewards searching spectators on entry need an SIA door supervisor licence along with the required Level 2 qualification. If you are planning security for a sporting event, it is worth checking which rules apply to your venue early on.
Planning security and stewarding together
WHMG provides event security, stewarding and emergency response, so organisers can arrange all three through one team. Martyn's Law is also worth keeping in mind. Its duties are expected to come into force in 2027 and will ask those responsible for qualifying events to have public protection procedures in place and staff who understand them.
How WHMG supports event organisers
WHMG was founded in 2006 and delivers security, stewarding and logistics services to events across the UK. Our teams have supported the funerals of Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, the London Marathon, the Royal Windsor Horse Show and the Henley Royal Regatta, along with equestrian events and festivals. Many of our staff come from the military and emergency services, and we are accredited by the UK Crowd Management Association, as listed on our accreditations page. Alongside stewarding and security we provide access control and gate management, event control and incident management, and medical, fire and rescue cover.
Planning staff for your next event
Understanding security guards vs event stewards makes it easier to decide who you need at your event and which licences they must hold. If you would like help planning security and stewarding for an upcoming event, get in touch with the WHMG team or call 01889 500164.
