Elevating front-of-house security through people and service
Organisations increasingly require front-of-house services that protect people, assets and brand reputation. The STARS programme delivers this by combining a premium customer experience with integrated security capability - deploying highly trained, people-focused professionals who add measurable value, reduce complexity and raise service standards across each site. Alongside delivering value to clients, the programme also builds a strong talent pipeline by creating long-term career opportunities for a broader and more diverse range of individuals.
Training and development within STARS
At Securitas, training and development are embedded throughout the STARS programme, not just at onboarding. From day one, individuals take part in a structured induction designed to build strong foundations for the role, combining front-of-house professionalism with core security capabilities.
This includes customer service excellence, communication and presentation skills, security protocols, situational awareness and emergency response - all tailored to the specific working environment. Additional training covers First Aid fundamentals, Fire Marshal responsibilities, Unconscious Bias and ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) awareness.
Development continues well beyond initial training. Regular refresher sessions, annual recertification and scenario-based learning help build confidence and professional judgement over time. Ongoing support through site engagement, quarterly focus topics and the wider STARS community ensures that skills remain relevant as risk environments continue to evolve.
This continuous approach gives individuals the confidence and credibility to succeed in customer-facing security roles.
Career progression within the security industry
By investing in continuous professional development, the programme enables STARS personnel to progress into a range of managerial, training and leadership roles.
A strong example of this is Melissa De Sousa, who began her career as a STARS ten years ago. Reflecting on her journey, Melissa highlights the confidence and opportunities the programme provided from the outset:
“I began my journey as a STARS ten years ago and progressed into a Regional Programme Coordinator role. Today, I am a Regional Training Manager at a multinational technology client, supporting a whole region across 40+ countries.
I joined STARS from a retail security background, but the programme opened my eyes to what I could achieve. The blend of security, administration, customer service and acting as an ambassador for the client was exactly what I didn’t realise I was looking for.
Through STARS, I grew in confidence, strengthened my organisational skills and found the courage to step outside my comfort zone. I was given opportunities to speak publicly, represent Securitas and take part in events that broadened my horizons. I went from being extremely shy to confidently delivering multi-day training sessions, thanks to the support I received throughout my journey. STARS has truly shaped me into the person I am today.”
STARS plays a key role in attracting talent from diverse and underrepresented groups, while also supporting pathways for women into what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry.
By combining structured training, ongoing support and clearly defined career pathways, the programme helps to remove barriers to progression and enables long-term careers in security.
Why consider STARS if you have a customer experience background?
If you come from a guest experience, hospitality or customer-focused background, you already have many of the core skills needed to succeed as a STARS professional - creating strong first impressions, communicating with confidence and responding calmly to situations. These skills directly influence how safe and supported people feel within a building or public space.
In a world where first impressions matter and security is increasingly important, STARS represents the future of front-of-house roles.