Hostile Environment Awareness Training for Team Leaders (HEAT-TL) Course

• One of the SPG Hostile Environment Readiness Training (HERT) Programme Courses, tailored for team leaders and supervisors responsible for personnel safety and operational effectiveness.
• Delivered by experienced former Elite UK Military and Private Security Company (PSC) trainers with real-world, hostile environment leadership experience.
• Focuses on leadership, risk management, and team coordination in crisis situations.
• Supports compliance with organisational duty-of-care and international security standards.
• Prepares leaders to confidently manage evolving threats and maintain team cohesion.

To develop competent and confident team leaders who can effectively plan, manage, and lead teams in hostile environments, ensuring the safety and operational success of personnel under their care and command.

By the end of the course, participants will:

• Understand the principles of operational leadership in hostile or unstable, complex environments.
• Develop skills in risk assessment, threat mitigation, and contingency planning.
• Learn how to conduct effective client, mission, and team briefings.
• Gain practical experience in organising and managing team resources and communications.
• Master the setup and operation of a functional operations room.
• Enhance decision-making and crisis management capabilities under pressure.

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Lead and manage deployed teams with clarity, authority, and responsiveness.
• Conduct comprehensive site surveys and threat assessments to inform operational planning.
• Develop and implement robust emergency and contingency plans.
• Deliver clear, concise briefings to clients, stakeholders, and team members.
• Establish and maintain operational control through an efficient operations room setup.
• Coordinate team movements, taskings, and protective efforts in dynamic, high-risk settings.

The course comprises of the following subject areas:

• Leadership & Team Management in Hostile Environments
• Operational Planning & Risk Assessment Methodologies
• Client Liaison and Mission Briefing Techniques
• Organising and Leading Protective Teams
• Operations Room Setup and Management
• Site Security Surveys & Threat Analysis
• Route Planning and Movement Coordination
• Emergency Response and Contingency Planning
• Standard Operating Procedures & Compliance
• Stress & Conflict Management for Leaders

The course is aimed at, but not limited to the following target audience:

• Current and aspiring team leaders, supervisors, and managers currently or potentially situated in hostile environment operations.
• Close Protection Team Leaders, Security Supervisors, and NGO Team Coordinators.
• Personnel responsible for operational planning, team welfare, and mission success in high-risk areas.

• Previous completion of the Special Projects Group Hostile Environment Awareness Training for Team Members (HEAT-TM) Course.
• Experience working in or managing personnel in high-risk or unstable environments is desirable, but not essential.
• Basic physical fitness and proficiency in the course language.

Upon completion of this Course, course participants will receive a Certificate in Hostile Environment Awareness Training for Team Leaders

Click on either the ‘Buy Course £750 GBP’ button in the page banner (NOTE: the button will only be visible if there are dates showing in the Course Calendar), or you can select the required ‘Sign Up’ button in the Course Calendar at the bottom of this page. This will take you a course booking are on our Partner site (VIRSEC.org). You will need to create an account before continuing. Please then select the course date and make payment via the eCommerce gateway. We will confirm your booking within 48 hours. If you wish to pay by an alternate method, please email us at: [email protected] and we will respond accordingly.

At Special Projects Group, we offer competitive bulk discount pricing for companies and organisations looking to purchase our courses for multiple employees. Whether you’re equipping anything from a small team to a complete department, we provide scalable pricing options to suit your training needs. Discounts are applied based on the number of participants, with greater savings available for larger groups. To discuss your specific requirements and receive a personalised quote, please contact our training coordination team by email at [email protected], and one of our team will happily assist you.

The course is held at our Strategic Partner’s Venue at Canada House, 3 Chepstow Street, Manchester, M1 5FW, United Kingdom. An information Pack will be emailed to the delegates email address used at the time of purchasing the course. If you are interested in bulk purchases, we will provide you details at the time of receipt of your email enquiry.

SPG are a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) and as such, we offer former, and current serving members of the Armed Forces a 15% discount. Contact us to secure your discount code prior to booking or email us to pay by BACs / Bank Transfer and we will provide you with the relevant payment details.