The awarding body is Edexcel. Edexcel is the UK's largest awarding body offering academic and vocational qualifications and testing to schools, colleges, employers and other places of learning in the UK and internationally.
Yes, all students will receive a Level 4 BTEC Professional Award for each individual five-day course that they undertake. Upon completion of our three core Awards you will be able to claim a Level 4 BTEC Professional Certificate in Tactical Covert Surveillance with an additional cost. After completion of all five Awards you will be able to claim a Level 4 BTEC Professional Diploma in Tactical Covert Surveillance, also with an additional cost.
BTECs are practical work-related qualifications, which provide an equivalent to GCSEs or A-Levels and are 'aimed' at employers.
The difference between BTEC Awards, Certificates and Diplomas lies in the number of hours training undertaken. 50 hours training is necessary to achieve an Award, 150 hours for a Certificate and 250 hours for a Diploma.
The difference between Level 3 BTEC and Level 4 BTEC is not based on the length of the training, but rather the type of knowledge and skills that students acquire. While Level 3 courses teach students the advanced technical skills required to become a proficient surveillance operative, Level 4 courses teach both advanced technical skills and broader management knowledge. Level 4 qualifications develop skills such as planning, delegation and management, and as such they equip students for future roles as surveillance team leaders or operations managers.
No, BTEC qualifications are valid for life because they are a measure of achievement.
Yes, all of our courses start from the basics and gradually build more advanced skills, making them suitable even for complete novices. Sometimes students with no prior experience actually have an advantage because they arrive without any bad habits or out-dated ideas to hamper their learning.
As a starting point we recommend our Level 4 BTEC Professional Award in Tactical Surveillance Procedures. This core Award is the most generalised of our courses and gives an excellent overview of covert tactical surveillance.
The average number of students per course is around 12, although we have the facilities to cater for up to 24. Importantly, regardless of how many students enrol, there is always a student : instructor ratio of 3:1 to ensure that the quality of our training is always second-to-none.
The course fees cover use of all training facilities, hire vehicles, kit and equipment, but do not include food or accommodation. A certification fee is also incorporated within the cost of your first course.
Yes, we offer a special discount rate to students who complete more than one award with us. After the first award we cover the certification fee of all subsequent awards.
Yes. Our provider number is 2990.
In order to secure a place on a course a 20% deposit is required and the remaining fees must then be paid in full no later than two weeks prior to the course start date. We can accept payment by cash, card or cheque (made payable to ‘The Surveillance Group Ltd’). As an approved provider for ELCAS, we accept Enhanced Learning Credits as payment. In accordance with ELCAS guidelines, if you are using Enhanced Learning Credits, please do not attempt to pay a deposit until your claim has been authorised. Please only pay a deposit once you have received a Claim Authorisation Note and forwarded the original copy to us.
Yes. Once you have paid an initial 20% deposit we are happy for you to pay the remaining fees in as many instalments as you like, provided that the balance is paid in full no later than two weeks prior to the course start date.
No, all of our courses are non-residential. As such, it is the responsibility of the student to provide their own food and accommodation. We do, however, provide light refreshments throughout our courses and we can send you a list of hotels in the local area upon request.
If you possess your own surveillance equipment we are happy for you to bring it along, but this is certainly not a necessity. The Surveillance Group will provide all operational kit, equipment and hire vehicles for the duration of your course.
Yes, you will still complete all of the same exercises as the other students, but you will simply be a vehicle passenger during mobile exercises as opposed to a driver.
There is no written examination at the end of our courses. However, all courses conclude with a final operation exercise, where students are practically assessed on the technical and management skills that they have been taught.
Our pass rate is almost 100%. Students are continually assessed during the course and if our instructors notice any areas of weakness they provide additional one-on-one guidance and support to ensure that the student is ‘up to scratch’ prior to the final assessment exercise.
Yes, if you would like to speak to a past student, we will be happy to put you in contact with them after seeking their permission.
Yes, we recruit largely off our courses so there is a real possibility of being offered an interview for employment at the end of your course. However, we cannot guarantee a position to everyone. We simply monitor the performance of students over the duration of a course and then select some of the most suitable candidates for interview if we have opportunities available. Even if you do not secure a position with The Surveillance Group, Level 4 BTEC is the highest level of training currently available within the surveillance industry and will certainly increase your wider employability. There are numerous opportunities within the private and public sector, which you can find out more about by attending one of our free Insight to Industry Open Days at our Training Centre in Worcester
It is not necessary to bring your CV along to your course. Should you be invited to an interview for employment following the completion of your course, you will be asked to provide a CV and covering letter at this stage.
No, we do not have a specified minimum or maximum age for employment. However, being an experienced driver is a pre-requisite for employment and a military background is also a desirable (although not essential) characteristic.
To work effectively a surveillance operative must be able to walk at a very brisk pace and spend prolonged periods of time in confined spaces. Unless a medical condition restricts you in either of these areas, it should not prevent you from working in this type of role.
To compliment your surveillance qualification, you may wish to undertake further training in subjects such as risk assessment, health and safety, management and teaching adults. In addition to our surveillance courses.
Most surveillance operatives are required to work throughout the UK (and sometimes abroad). Extensive travel and time spent away from home are integral to the job. The Surveillance Group has two-person teams distributed throughout the UK and as far as possible we do endeavour to keep operatives working within their home region. Ultimately, however, operatives must be prepared to work wherever there is operational demand.
Typical working hours are 6.30am to 5.00pm plus substantial travelling time either side. However, the length of an operation is ultimately dictated by the movements of the surveillance subject and therefore working hours are often lengthy and unpredictable.
Rates of pay vary across the industry. Some companies employ surveillance operatives on a sub-contract basis, whereas other, like ourselves, offer permanent, full-time contracts. Annual salaries for full-time work can vary between £20,000 and £33,000, depending upon the company that you work for and the type of surveillance that you conduct.
No, surveillance and private investigation are not yet licensable activities, although it is anticipated that this may change in the future.
The Surveillance Group is the only dedicated surveillance company approved to deliver Level 4 BTEC qualifications in surveillance. No one else can deliver the same combination of operational relevance PLUS employment opportunities PLUS the Level 4 strategic and management skills needed not just to START in surveillance but to SUCCEED in surveillance.
Please contact The Surveillance Group’s Training Co-ordinator, Rachel, on 0800 587 0170 or
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. Alternatively, submit an Enquiry Form using this
link. Rachel will be able to check course availability for you and, if necessary, reserve you a provisional place. In order to formally book onto a course you will need to send Rachel a completed course booking form, a 20% deposit and, if using Enhanced Learning Credits, the original copy of your Claim Authorisation Note. You will then be sent joining instructions, pre-course reading and other documentation.
