Protective Security Advisor Higher Apprenticeship - Leeds (Building Specialists)

Summary

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?   At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives.

Wage

Competitive

Competitive wage offered

Training course

Protective security adviser (level 4)

Hours

Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week. Exact working hours to be confirmed.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 7 September 2026

Duration

2 years

Positions available

2

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

WSP's security consulting team is a team driven by creativity, curiosity and technical excellence. We attract experienced security professionals and the brightest minds and support them to do their best work with collaborative, multidisciplinary teams.

We are trusted, impartial security advisers invested in our clients’ safety and security, and in making a positive impact on communities. 
You will be joining our expanding Security Consulting Team as a protective security apprentice who will learn the role of a security consultant within the built environment.

The WSP Security Consulting team operates in multiple sectors within the UK and internationally. This role is to work within the project delivery teams supporting experienced team members on securing and protecting some of the most iconic buildings globally.

Core Functions: 

• To learn and assist in designing, implementing, and maintaining physical security measures
• To support organisations in protecting premises, staff, and assets against theft, intrusion, and other physical threats
• To gain hands-on experience with security technologies and protective strategies under the guidance of experienced consultants
• To support experienced staff in daily tasks whilst completing structured training
• Learn and apply industry specific standards and policies
• To learn and use 2D and 3d drawing tools
• Attend training sessions as part of the apprenticeship programme
• Assist in evaluating buildings and facilities for vulnerabilities
• Help identify risks related to unauthorized access, theft, or sabotage
• Learn to design electronic security solutions such as Video
• Surveillance, access control systems, and alarms
• To learn how to draft security policies and procedures
• To learn how to provide basic guidance on safe access and visitor management policies and procedures
• Opportunities to obtain industry recognised qualifications

Where you'll work

First Floor, 3 Wellington Place
Leeds
LS1 4AP

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

INTELLIGENCIA TRAINING LIMITED

Training course

Protective security adviser (level 4)

What you'll learn

• Utilise crime and security science knowledge and theory in the planning of organisational protective security to address protective security requirements and meet organisational needs.
• Apply the principles of security convergence to protective security planning.
• Comply with legislation, local and national policies and practice within limits of own role.
• Engage and influence the governance process to enable security risk decisions.
• Interpret organisational needs in the application of protective security.
• Follow ISO standards within limits of own role with consideration of the implications of non-compliance.
• Support individuals with differing social-economic and diverse backgrounds who are faced with challenges when interacting with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Produce asset registers for organisations, applying asset identification and classification principles.
• Produce 'Threat Analysis' based on an organisation's assets, services and location, applying asset identification and classification principles.
• Assess vulnerability and impact to the organisation within protective security risk documentation.
• Produce a security risk assessment.
• Develop physical security mitigations for forcible attack vectors.
• Develop physical security mitigations for surreptitious attack vectors.
• Utilise assured products to mitigate protective security risk.
• Develop measures to mitigate against organisational insider risk.
• Develop mitigations against hostile reconnaissance.
• Apply personal security and safety protocols in the work environment.
• Develop mitigations, using converged security, to mitigate technical security attack vectors.
• Develop mitigations for technical security attack vectors.
• Review identified vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malware in organisational assets to develop mitigations to protect confidentiality, integrity and availability of data.
• Develop mitigations to prevent data loss within organisations.
• Utilise organisational cyber security approaches for authentication and access with full consideration of password good practise mitigations and for potential attack vectors.
• Review Incident Response and Incident Management plans to ensure efficiency contributing to organisational resilience.
• Review information gathered through investigations to make recommendations for decision making.
• Make recommendations to senior leadership for protective security.
• Utilise organisational learning to enhance protective security and resilience.
• Incorporate sustainable practice when designing security mitigations.
• Engage in self-reflection, feedback and professional development activities to improve own professional practice.
• Manage challenging communications using language and style that reflect the situation and audience.
• Assess information gained through digital technology to inform decisions.
• Apply logical thinking and problem-solving tools and techniques, identifying issues and proposing solutions to problems.
• Apply influencing techniques to achieve goals and objectives.
• Follow organisational reporting protocols.
• Create and deliver presentations using communication skills and strategies to maximise understanding of intended purpose.
• Liaise with cross-functional security teams for protective security planning.
• Utilise crime and security science knowledge and theory in the planning of organisational protective security to address protective security requirements and meet organisational needs.
• Apply the principles of security convergence to protective security planning.
• Comply with legislation, local and national policies and practice within limits of own role.
• Engage and influence the governance process to enable security risk decisions.
• Interpret organisational needs in the application of protective security.
• Follow ISO standards within limits of own role with consideration of the implications of non-compliance.
• Support individuals with differing social-economic and diverse backgrounds who are faced with challenges when interacting with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Produce asset registers for organisations, applying asset identification and classification principles.
• Produce 'Threat Analysis' based on an organisation's assets, services and location, applying asset identification and classification principles.
• Assess vulnerability and impact to the organisation within protective security risk documentation.
• Produce a security risk assessment.
• Develop physical security mitigations for forcible attack vectors.
• Develop physical security mitigations for surreptitious attack vectors.
• Utilise assured products to mitigate protective security risk.
• Develop measures to mitigate against organisational insider risk.
• Develop mitigations against hostile reconnaissance.
• Apply personal security and safety protocols in the work environment.
• Develop mitigations, using converged security, to mitigate technical security attack vectors.
• Develop mitigations for technical security attack vectors.
• Review identified vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malware in organisational assets to develop mitigations to protect confidentiality, integrity and availability of data.
• Develop mitigations to prevent data loss within organisations.
• Utilise organisational cyber security approaches for authentication and access with full consideration of password good practise mitigations and for potential attack vectors.
• Review Incident Response and Incident Management plans to ensure efficiency contributing to organisational resilience.
• Review information gathered through investigations to make recommendations for decision making.
• Make recommendations to senior leadership for protective security.
• Utilise organisational learning to enhance protective security and resilience.
• Incorporate sustainable practice when designing security mitigations.
• Engage in self-reflection, feedback and professional development activities to improve own professional practice.
• Manage challenging communications using language and style that reflect the situation and audience.
• Assess information gained through digital technology to inform decisions.
• Apply logical thinking and problem-solving tools and techniques, identifying issues and proposing solutions to problems.
• Apply influencing techniques to achieve goals and objectives.
• Follow organisational reporting protocols.
• Create and deliver presentations using communication skills and strategies to maximise understanding of intended purpose.
• Liaise with cross-functional security teams for protective security planning.

Training schedule

• Most delivery will be a combination of classroom-based and online learning, alongside on-the-job training. Studying a Higher Apprenticeship in Protective Security Advisor and gain a Level 4 qualification.
• You will be enrolled onto a bespoke internal development programme to help you to attain the knowledge, skills and behaviours to successfully achieve your apprenticeship, and support your career
• You will have the support of your team, line manager, mentor and buddy as well as a dedicated early careers team

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

5 GCSEs including English, Maths, Science (grade Level 5 or above)

Desirable qualifications

A Level in:

3 A Levels (or equivalent) in a relevant subject (grade Pass)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Logical
• Team working

Other requirements

Candidates must complete the application form in full, answering all specified questions. This is mandatory for all candidates, regardless of their background. Those who pass this initial stage are required to complete an online behavioural assessment. The application form and the behavioural assessment are essential parts of our recruitment process.