The Association of University Chief Security Officers (AUCSO), in conjunction with the National Association for Healthcare Security (NAHS) and Nu-ology Training, has unveiled a significant collaboration aimed at providing accredited counter-terrorism protective security training. This initiative is tailored for professionals in the university and healthcare security sectors.
This collaboration represents a notable advancement for these sectors as they have long recognized the importance of alignment. By partnering, AUCSO and NAHS, along with Nu-ology Training, are striving to create a unified approach to enhancing security preparedness within these environments, which often face similar challenges.
Strengthening Professional Standards
The partnership will grant AUCSO and NAHS members access to the SFJ Awards Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness.
This qualification, developed alongside the National Counter-Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), aligns with the upcoming Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn's Law. As universities and healthcare facilities are complex and public-facing, this initiative is particularly aimed at bolstering capabilities, supporting professional standards, and preparing institutions for new legislative obligations.
Seeking Specialist Advice
This move is the first step in a broader training collaboration focused on future challenges
This move is the first step in a broader training collaboration focused on future challenges, with AUCSO, NAHS, and Nu-ology Training eager to further professional development across both sectors.
The Level 3 accreditation provides participants with the skills to identify terrorist threats, evaluate risks, and formulate mitigation strategies specific to their operational contexts, while understanding the importance of consulting specialists when necessary.
Joint Training Sessions Offered
SFJ Awards identifies this qualification as the only one endorsed by Counter Terrorism Policing and NaCTSO, dedicated to enhancing UK's counter-terrorism preparedness. Nu-ology Training will deliver the joint training sessions, leveraging its expertise as an SFJ Awards-approved center. These sessions focus on quality, practical training across security, safety, and resilience fields.
Sessions will be regionally accessible, coordinated by AUCSO and NAHS regional heads, and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, accommodating 8 to 15 participants per course. Upcoming dates and locations will be communicated soon.
Preparing for Future Security Needs
Sessions will be regionally accessible, coordinated by AUCSO and NAHS regional heads
A NAHS representative expressed the gravity of this collaborative effort, noting the new responsibilities the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 introduces. "This collaboration marks a significant moment for healthcare security. Working alongside AUCSO and Nu-ology allows us to strengthen capability across shared and complex estates," they stated.
Geoff Brown, Chair of AUCSO, emphasized the dynamic nature of university environments. "The new legislation reinforces the importance of robust, informed protective security. This partnership is a strong example of sectors coming together to build capability," he remarked.
Julie Barker, COO of AUCSO, highlighted the venture's broader vision. "By partnering with NAHS and Nu-ology, AUCSO is creating a clear pathway for competence and preparedness across sectors with shared challenges. This partnership promises to deliver real value for our members and the communities we serve," she said.
Building a Nationally Recognized Pathway
Director of Nu-ology Training, Claire Humble, affirmed their commitment to this critical collaboration. "The SFJ Awards / NaCTSO Level 3 Award is a critical qualification at a critical time," she noted, highlighting its role in enhancing resilience across healthcare and university domains.
While the qualification itself doesn't ensure compliance with the 2025 Act, it establishes a structured pathway for individuals seeking to enhance their counter-terrorism security knowledge and preparedness.
The Association of University Chief Security Officers (AUCSO) has agreed a major new sector collaboration with the National Association for Healthcare Security (NAHS) and Nu-ology Training to deliver accredited counter-terrorism protective security training for university and healthcare security professionals.
The partnership marks an important step forward for both the university and healthcare security sectors. After many years of recognizing the value of closer alignment, AUCSO and NAHS have come together, in collaboration with Nu-ology Training, to support a more joined-up approach to protective security preparedness across two sectors with many shared challenges.
Supporting professional standards
The collaboration will provide AUCSO and NAHS members with access to the SFJ Awards Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness, developed in collaboration with the National Counter-Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and designed to align with the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s Law.
As universities, hospitals and healthcare sites are among the UK’s most complex, open and publicly accessible environments, and frequently operate side-by-side across shared or adjacent estates, the partnership is designed to strengthen capability, support professional standards and help organizations prepare for the responsibilities introduced under the new legislation.
Seeking specialist advice
It also represents the first phase of a wider, future-focused training collaboration between AUCSO, NAHS and Nu-ology Training, with all three organizations keen to explore further opportunities to support professional development, resilience and preparedness across the sectors.
The Level 3 qualification equips learners with the knowledge, skills and understanding to recognize terrorist attack methodologies, assess the likelihood of threats, and identify appropriate mitigation strategies. It also supports learners in understanding how to apply those strategies proportionately within their own operational settings, while recognizing the limits of their own expertise and when to seek specialist advice.
Joint training sessions
SFJ Awards states that the qualification is the only one endorsed by Counter Terrorism Policing and NaCTSO, with the qualification developed to strengthen UK counter-terrorism protective security and organizational preparedness.
Joint training sessions will be delivered by Nu-ology Training, an SFJ Awards-approved center specializing in accredited programmes across the security, safety and resilience sectors. Founded and led by experienced practitioners, Nu-ology combines operational expertise with strong educational practice to deliver learner-centred, employer-focused training.
Protective security nationwide
Courses will be delivered regionally, with AUCSO and NAHS regional heads supporting arrangements for suitable classroom facilities. Places will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, with each course running for a minimum of eight and a maximum of 15 delegates. Regional delivery dates and locations will be announced shortly.
A spokesperson from NAHS said: “This collaboration marks a significant moment for healthcare security. The introduction of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 places new responsibilities on our sector, and our members need access to high-quality, accredited training that helps prepare them for what lies ahead. Working alongside AUCSO and Nu-ology allows us to strengthen capability across shared and complex estates and support a consistent, professional approach to protective security nationwide.”
Future-focused training collaboration
Geoff Brown, Chair, AUCSO said: “University campuses are dynamic, complex environments, often operating side-by-side with healthcare, research, transport and public spaces. The new legislation reinforces the importance of robust, informed and proportionate protective security. This partnership is a strong example of sectors coming together to share knowledge, build capability and support professional standards at a time when preparedness has never been more important.”
Julie Barker, Chief Operating Officer, AUCSO said: “By partnering with NAHS and Nu-ology, AUCSO is helping to create a clear and accessible pathway for competence and preparedness across two sectors with many shared challenges. This is also the start of what we hope will become a wider and future-focused training collaboration. It is an exciting opportunity to build on the expertise of all three organizations and deliver real value for our members, our institutions and the wider communities we serve.”
Nationally recognized pathway
Claire Humble, Director, Nu-ology Training, said: “We are proud to support this important sector collaboration. The SFJ Awards / NaCTSO Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness is a critical qualification at a critical time.”
“By working with AUCSO and NAHS, we can deliver accessible, accredited training that strengthens resilience across healthcare and university environments. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to professionalisation, preparedness and public safety.”
While the qualification does not in itself guarantee compliance with the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, it provides a structured and nationally recognized pathway for individuals and organizations seeking to build knowledge, confidence and capability in counter-terrorism protective security and preparedness.
