All clubs are required by their safety certificates to train their stewards to a nationally recognised standard.
The Football Association, FA Premier League, Football League and the Football Safety Officers’ Association have worked with 1st4Sport Qualifications to develop a new stewarding qualification, the Certificate in Event and Match Day Stewarding (CEMS). The CEMS has been accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, sitting at Level 2 on the National Qualifications Framework, and it is regarded by the Football Licensing Authority as being to the required nationally recognised standard.
The football authorities have also, in conjunction with the Football Safety Officers’ Association and the Football Licensing Authority, produced a unique training package for stewards containing eight modules. This training package has been recently revised to include a new Module 8 on "Conflict Management".
All FA Premier and Football League clubs are training their stewards according to the Training Package, which is the learning resource around which the CEMS qualification has been based.
Whilst training to a nationally recognised standard is compulsory (and all clubs are using the football authorities’ Stewards’ Training Package), clubs can choose to put their stewards through either the CEMS or the NVQ in Spectator Control Level 2. Either of these qualifications is acceptable to the safety authorities.
Anyone interested in becoming a steward should contact a club and, in particular, the Safety Officer.