Picking a security provider is a harder decision than it used to be. A site that once needed a guard on the gate now needs licensed officers, remote monitoring, digital reporting and paperwork that holds up when a client or an insurer asks to see it.

The numbers explain the pressure. The Security Industry Authority recorded roughly 460,000 active licence holders across the UK at the end of 2025, yet first time licence applications fell from 94,332 in 2024 to 79,455 in 2025. Demand keeps rising while fewer people join the trade, so the firms that hold on to trained officers and run tight operations are the ones worth shortlisting.

This blog features the top 10 security companies in UK, showing their specialisation, innovation and reliability. You will also find what these providers typically charge, the licences and approvals to verify before you sign anything, and the new legal duties that are about to change how crowded venues are protected.

1. G4S-GLOBAL SECURITY SOLUTIONS

Why choose G4S?

G4S is the world’s second-largest security firm with a strong presence in the United Kingdom. Services provided include risk consultancy and cash handling, manned guarding, and electronic surveillance. This is matched by its innovative approach to AI-driven security solutions and smart monitoring systems. 

Key Services 

• Manned guarding for corporate and public sectors 
• High-tech security monitoring and surveillance 
• Secure transportation of cash and safety of ATMs 
• Risk consulting for businesses and governments 

Anytime you hold large events, G4S is likely to be part and parcel of that, such as the London Olympics, which demonstrates the extent of high-profile operations they can undertake.

2. SECURITAS – INTELLIGENT PROTECTIVE SERVICES

Why choose Securitas? 

Securitas creates integrated security solutions for more than 80,000 clients worldwide. Their proficiency in intelligent surveillance, real-time analytics, and the melding of human and AI security makes them an assured partner. 

Key Services

• Mobile patrol and alarm response  
• Advanced electronic security systems  
• Fire and safety risk management  
• Special security for critical industries

Many banks and financial institutions in the UK work with Securitas to confirm secure transactions and keep sensitive information safe.

3. MITIE SECURITY – TECHNOLOGY-FIRST PROTECTION

Why choose Mitie?

They are known for the technology-first approach toward security-using AI, drones, and data-driven insights to augment conventional security methods. Their customization range extends across sectors including retail, healthcare, and institutions of the government.

Key Services 

• Smart surveillance and AI monitoring  
• Cybersecurity and fraud prevention  
• Retail and corporate security solutions 
• Risk assessment consulting

Mitie Security successfully implemented a drone-based security surveillance system at one of the major airports in the UK, causing a 40% reduction of security breaches.

4. WILSON JAMES – SECURE LOGISTICS AND AVIATION SECURITY

Why choose Wilson James?

Widely known for aviation security, Wilson James has mastered the art of safe logistics and security for construction sites. They provide risk management solutions to high-security industries.

Key Services

• Airline and airport security  
• Secure transport of valuable assets 
• Construction site surveillance 
• Visitor management and concierge security

The company provides security services for Heathrow Airport, ensuring strict safety compliance.

5. CORPS SECURITY – VETERAN LED SECURITY SOLUTIONS

Why choose Corps Security? 

Corps Security, a British veteran led company, with a history of over 150 years covers manned guarding, CCTV monitoring, and corporate security services.

Key Services

• Ex-military personnel for high-security roles  
• Remote CCTV monitoring and incident response 
• Fire safety and risk assessments 
• Concierge security for luxury properties

Corps Security employs first-class protection to the high-profile government offices and embassies.

6. KINGDOM SECURITY – ALL GENERAL GUARDING SERVICES

Why choose Kingdom Security?

Kingdom Security promises its guard and environmental protection services which are among other services under the environment-friendly aspects.

Key Services

• Mobility and key holding 
• Environmental enforcement (littering management and behavioural anti-social) 
• Corporate and retail security 
• Cleansing and maintenance of security clientele

Kingdom Security helps major shopping centres in the UK with retail prevention against loss as well as customer safety.

7. ICTS UK – FUTURISTIC SECURITY

Why choose ICTS UK?

They are focusing mostly on technology-driven security solutions to the aviation, transport as well as the public sectors. Their take on biometric screening and behavioural analysis is probably unique.

Key Services

• Airport security and passenger screening 
• Cybersecurity for transport networks  
• Face recognition access control  
• Identifying and gathering tank intelligence services

On London’s major transport hubs, one would find themselves relying entirely upon innovative security measures put in place by ICTS UK.

8. CHURCHILL SECURITY – TAILORED SECURITY SOLUTIONS

Why choose Churchill Security? 

Founded in 2006, Churchill Security is known as an adaptable company that consummately implements multiple styles of security solutions to the need of clients-from the provision of static guards for various events to the safeguarding of businesses from potential harm.

Key Services

• Event security for both festival and corporate gatherings 
• Monitoring of construction sites 
• Key holding with alarm response 
• CCTV installation and maintenance

The work of Churchill Security in safeguarding music festivals from all over the UK was truly essential.

9. OAKPARK SECURITY – A DATA RESOURCEFUL PROVIDER OF PROTECTION SERVICES

Why choose Oakpark Security?

The prediction and prevention of any forthcoming breach against security is the pre-taught behaviour of Oakpark Security, supported with proper data analysis.

Key Services

• Risk intelligence and security audit 
• Static guarding with real-time monitoring 
• Business recovery and disaster coverage 
• Cyber and physical security convergence

Oakpark Security has enabled businesses in once high-risk areas to prevent threats from even escalating.

10. WARD SECURITY – ELITE SECURITY SOLUTIONS

Why choose Ward Security?

Ward Security provides premium solutions for security with a focus on close protection, canine security, and corporate protection. 

Key Services

• Enhanced K9 security for threat detection 
• VIP close-protection services 
• AI-integrated smart-security solutions 
• Business risk assessment and consulting 

Ward Security is a trusted provider of personal protection for themselves and their estates for high-net-worth individuals. 

How to Choose the Right Security Company in the UK

A shortlist of well known names is only the starting point. The right fit depends on your site, your risk profile and how much reporting you need handed over. Work through these points before you ask anyone for a quote.

Check the licence position first

Every officer working in guarding, door supervision, key holding or CCTV monitoring must hold a valid SIA licence. Ask for licence numbers rather than assurances, then confirm them yourself on the SIA register.

Match the provider to the risk

Aviation, retail, construction and corporate offices all fail in different ways. A firm that is strong on airport screening may be the wrong choice for a shopping centre with a stock loss problem. Read the case work, not the homepage.

Ask how officers are supervised

Coverage on paper means very little if nobody checks that patrols actually happen. Providers using GPS tracked routes and timed checkpoints can prove attendance. Our guide to the types of security patrols in the UK explains what each format is suited to.

Look at turnover and training

High staff churn shows up as unfamiliar faces on your site every week. Ask what the annual turnover rate is, how new officers are inducted, and who covers a sickness absence at short notice.

Read the contract terms

Notice periods, minimum hours, holiday cover charges and annual rate reviews are where budgets quietly grow. Get the full cost picture in writing before you commit.

How Much Do Security Companies Charge in the UK

Rates move with the service, the region and the shift pattern rather than the brand name alone. Market guidance for 2026 puts most guarding work between 12 and 25 pounds an hour.

• Static and manned guarding: roughly 12 to 16 pounds an hour
• Door supervision: roughly 15 to 20 pounds an hour
• Mobile patrol and alarm response: roughly 18 to 24 pounds an hour
• Close protection: roughly 25 to 40 pounds an hour

Location shifts the figure again. London and the South East sit at the top of every band, while Northern England, Scotland and Wales usually run below the national average. Night work carries a premium, and weekends or bank holidays can push a rate up sharply.

Behind those rates sit costs the provider has to absorb, licensing among them. Our breakdown of SIA licence cost shows what a firm pays to keep one officer compliant, which is useful context when a quote comes in unusually low.

SIA Licensing and ACS Approval: What to Verify Before You Sign

Two very different things get mixed up here. An SIA licence covers the individual officer. Approved Contractor Scheme status covers the business behind them.

What an SIA licence proves

It confirms the officer has completed the required training and background checks for the role they are doing. It tells you nothing about the company employing them.

What ACS approval proves

The Approved Contractor Scheme is a voluntary standard assessed against how the business is actually run, covering leadership, financial management, service delivery and staff welfare. Most public sector and large corporate contracts will not consider a supplier without it. Our guide to becoming an SIA approved contractor covers what the assessment involves.

What to ask every provider for

• The ACS approval certificate and the current score band
• SIA licence numbers for the officers assigned to your site
• Evidence of BS7858 screening for anyone in a security cleared role
• Public liability and employer liability insurance certificates
• A named contract manager and an escalation route out of hours

What Martyn’s Law Means for UK Security Providers

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, better known as Martyn’s Law, received Royal Assent in April 2025 and creates new duties for premises and events that draw a crowd. The Security Industry Authority is the regulator.

• Standard tier applies where 200 to 799 people are expected. The responsible person must notify the SIA and put public protection procedures in place.
• Enhanced tier applies where 800 or more people are expected. Those premises must also introduce measures that reduce vulnerability to an attack, then document and submit them to the SIA.

Government set an implementation period of at least 24 months from Royal Assent, so venues have time to prepare but not a great deal of room to delay. For security providers this is a commercial opening rather than a burden. Firms that can run risk assessments, train staff on evacuation and lockdown, and produce the written evidence a regulator will ask for are already being approached by venue operators and event organisers.

Enhancing Security Operations with Smart Workforce

With its advanced automated features, Smart Workforce can transform the staff management of these security companies. This comprehensive automated tool covers the administrative areas and culminates in a big positive change in operational efficiency with the effective application of newer technologies.

By deploying SWF, security firms can automate their staff scheduling, ensure simplified compliance, enhance incident reporting, and protect lone workers-which are the pillars of sustaining superior security. 

How Smart Workforce Can Elevate Security Firms

• Seamless Staff Scheduling & Deployment  

SWF offers a streamlined scheduling feature that helps deploy security officers most effectively based on demand, client requirements, and compliance needs to eliminate understaffing or overstaffing, as well as last-minute scheduling conflicts. 

• BS7858 Staff Vetting & Background Checks

Security firms must comply with BS7858 screening standards to ensure their employees are trustworthy. Its automated background screening streamlines this process by conducting identity verification, criminal record checks, and employment history analysis—reducing hiring risks and expediting recruitment. 

• Real-Time Attendance Tracking & Mobile Check-ins 

A GPS-enabled mobile app allows security personnel to check in remotely, log work hours in real time, and ensure accurate time & attendance tracking, reducing payroll discrepancies and time fraud. 

• Incident Reporting & Risk Management

With Smart Workforce, security officers can report incidents instantly using a mobile app and ensure timely resolution through an automated escalation system—improving workplace safety. 

• Improved Guard Patrol Monitoring

Guard Patrol System enables supervisors to monitor security personnel in real-time, track their patrol routes using GPS, and ensure accountability with automated check-in points—enhancing security coverage and response times.

Final Thoughts

The security environment in the UK is moving quickly. Licensing is tighter, crowded venues face new legal duties, and clients now expect reporting they can audit rather than a signature in a logbook at the end of a shift.

No single provider on this list is the right answer for everyone. G4S and Securitas suit large multi site operations. Wilson James and ICTS UK make sense where aviation and transport rules apply. Corps, Churchill, Kingdom, Oakpark and Ward each hold strong ground in a narrower field, and that focus is often worth more than sheer scale. Compare them against your own risk, your budget and the evidence you will need to show an insurer or a regulator. If you are still working out what you actually need, our overview of security solutions in the UK is a sensible next step.

Whichever firm you pick, the operation behind the officers decides how well the contract runs. Whether it is G4S optimising staff scheduling, Securitas improving incident management, or Mitie Security streamlining payroll, Smart Workforce gives security companies the scheduling, vetting, patrol tracking and reporting they need to keep every shift covered and every record ready when someone asks for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the biggest security company in the UK?

G4S remains the largest by workforce and contract volume, and it now operates as part of Allied Universal. Securitas and Mitie follow closely on UK revenue, particularly across corporate guarding and technology led monitoring.

How much does it cost to hire a security guard in the UK?

Most guarding contracts fall between 12 and 25 pounds an hour depending on the service and the region. Static guarding sits at the lower end, mobile patrol and close protection at the higher end, and London rates run well above the national average.

How do I check if a security company is SIA approved?

Search the register of approved contractors on the SIA pages of the GOV.UK site using the company name. For individual officers, use the SIA licence checker with the number printed on the badge.

What is the difference between a security guard and a door supervisor?

A security officer protects premises, property and people. A door supervisor holds a separate licence that allows them to work where alcohol is served or where crowds need managing, and the training adds conflict handling and physical intervention.

Do small businesses need a full time security contract?

Usually not. Many smaller sites use mobile patrol visits, key holding and alarm response instead of a permanent officer, which cuts the monthly cost while still giving you a documented response to any incident.

Can one company handle both physical and cyber security?

Some can. Mitie, ICTS UK and Oakpark offer converged services where access control and network security are managed together. Smaller guarding firms tend to partner with a specialist rather than deliver it in-house.

How long does it take to put a new security contract in place?

Two to six weeks is typical. Vetting is the slowest part, since BS7858 screening covers five years of employment history and referencing, so a provider promising cover in 48 hours is either using existing staff or cutting corners.