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Matchday staff checks: which role needs SIA, DBS or food hygiene?
Why one check does not fit every matchday role
A matchday workforce is unusual. On the same afternoon a venue may need people on the turnstiles, in the kitchens, in hospitality lounges, on the pitch and in the academy. The checks that matter for each of those jobs are different, and asking for the wrong one wastes time or leaves a gap.
This guide sets out the checks usually considered for each type of sports and venue role in the UK. It is general information, not legal advice. Requirements depend on the role, the employment arrangement, the venue's licensing and safety certification, and the policies of the club or league. Where something needs confirming, check the official source or your own compliance lead.
Checks nearly every role needs
Whatever the job, employers in the UK must check the right to work of every person they employ, before they start, following the Home Office employer's guide to right to work checks. Beyond that, most venues will also want:
- Proof of identity and a clear employment history
- References that cover the type of work being done
- Any licences or certificates the role depends on, checked as originals, not just listed on a CV
- Confirmation that the person can work the hours and shifts the role involves
Stewards and safety staff: SIA licence or steward training?
This is the question we see raised most often, and the answer depends on who employs the steward, where they work and what they do.
The Sports Grounds Safety Authority's stewarding factsheet on the SIA exemption explains the position in summary:
- In-house stewards employed directly by the ground are exempt from SIA licensing when carrying out licensable activities, but only at a ground covered by a General Safety Certificate or a Regulated Stand Certificate (and, for a Regulated Stand Certificate, only within the area the certificate covers). Exempt in-house staff must still have training and vetting equivalent to SIA licence holders.
- Agency or contracted stewards carrying out licensable activities need an SIA Door Supervisor licence.
- Licensable activities include searching spectators on entry, physically intervening against or ejecting spectators (including refusing entry), and supervising stewards who do those things.
- Stewards in safety or service roles whose duties exclude searching, ejection and physical intervention, such as those who only spot problems or advise spectators, are not carrying out licensable activity.
The practical approach for employers is to decide what the role actually involves and how the person will be engaged, check that against the SGSA and SIA guidance, and then ask for evidence of the correct licence or training. For candidates, it helps to keep a record of any steward training, first aid and licence details in one place.
Event security and control room roles
If a role involves licensable security activity, for example door supervision or CCTV in a public space, an SIA licence of the right type is normally expected. Employers should check the licence against the SIA's public register, confirm that the licence type matches the work, and note the expiry date. Control room operators may need a different licence type from front-line security officers, so it is worth checking rather than assuming.
Apex checks SIA licences against the SIA public register for event security roles before anyone is put forward, and asks candidates for their licence details when they register.
Hospitality and kitchen teams: food hygiene and allergens
For chefs, kitchen porters, bar and kiosk staff and VIP hosts, the focus is food safety rather than licensing. UK food businesses must make sure staff who handle food are supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene in line with their work. There is no legal requirement to hold a particular qualification (see, for example, Bristol City Council's food safety training guidance), but a Level 2 food hygiene certificate is widely requested for food handlers, and supervisors and head chefs are often expected to hold a higher level. Allergen awareness matters at every venue that serves food, especially on a busy matchday.
For bar roles, the venue's premises licence arrangements and the personal licence of the designated premises supervisor are separate matters for the venue to manage.
Coaching, academy and medical staff: DBS and safeguarding
Anyone working with children or vulnerable adults is likely to need a DBS check, and for some roles an enhanced check with a barred list check. Eligibility depends on the nature of the role, and an employer can only request the level the role is eligible for. Safeguarding training is a separate requirement from the DBS certificate, and governing bodies in each sport set their own expectations for coaches, so check the requirements of the relevant governing body.
Sports physiotherapists should be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, which employers can verify on the HCPC register. Performance analysts and strength and conditioning coaches may be asked for relevant qualifications and first aid certification.
Groundstaff and facilities
Groundspeople and maintenance technicians are generally asked for evidence of competence in the equipment and treatments they use. That can include pesticide application certificates, machinery training and health and safety awareness. Cleaning and post-match teams are usually asked for a site induction and relevant health and safety training. The exact certificates depend on the venue and the work, so list them in the role description.
Quick reference by role
| Role type | Commonly checked |
|---|---|
| Turnstile and matchday host | Right to work, ID, references, steward or customer service training as set by the venue |
| Steward and safety steward | Right to work, steward training, first aid where required, SIA licence where the activity and engagement require it |
| Event security officer | Right to work, correct SIA licence type, ID |
| Chef, kitchen porter, bar and kiosk | Right to work, food hygiene certificate, allergen awareness |
| Academy and community coach | Right to work, DBS at the eligible level, safeguarding training, coaching qualifications |
| Physiotherapist and medical staff | Right to work, HCPC registration, first aid, DBS where eligible |
| Groundsperson and facilities | Right to work, equipment and treatment certificates, site safety training |
Tips for employers hiring for a matchday surge
- Write down the checks for each role before you post it, so they are consistent from one fixture to the next.
- Ask for licence and certificate details at the start, not on the morning of the match.
- Keep expiry dates in one place and review them before each season.
- Separate permanent roles from matchday-only shifts, since the evidence needed may differ.
Frequently asked questions
Do all matchday stewards need an SIA licence?
No. Stewards whose duties exclude searching, ejection and physical intervention are not carrying out licensable activity. In-house stewards at a certificated ground can be exempt, with equivalent training and vetting, while agency or contracted stewards doing licensable work need an SIA Door Supervisor licence. Check the SGSA and SIA guidance for your situation.
Is a food hygiene certificate a legal requirement for kitchen staff?
The law requires food handlers to be supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene appropriate to their work. A certificate is a common way of showing this, but the law does not require a particular qualification.
Does a DBS certificate expire?
A DBS certificate shows the information held at the date it was issued. Employers set their own recheck policies, and with the person's consent can use the DBS Update Service to check whether a certificate is still current, where the person has subscribed.
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