Security Guards for Hire in London

Alma Risk is a security company in London supplying security guards for hire and manned guarding across the UK. Every security officer we deploy is licensed and vetted, and most come from Armed Forces or police backgrounds. Every contract starts with a free risk assessment, so your guarding plan is based on real risks.

Whether you need to hire security guards in London for one event or cover for several sites across the UK, our security guard services protect your staff, customers, property and assets. As a risk consultancy providing security services well beyond guarding, we can also add close protection or bug sweeps as your security needs change.

Book your free security risk assessment: call +44 (0)20 3858 9494 or email operations@alma-risk.com.

Key facts about Alma's manned guarding service

In short, Alma supplies vetted, licensed security officers, with unplanned absences covered within 30 to 60 minutes.

What security guard services do we provide?

Our guards protect a place: your building, store, estate or event. Duties are tailored to each site and typically include:

• Static and front of house guarding, in uniform or plain clothes
• Access and entrance control, visitor checks and pass management
• Internal and mobile security patrols with digitally logged checkpoints
• CCTV security monitoring in line with GDPR
• First response to security, fire and medical incidents
• Alarm response, lock up checks and evacuation support

Who hires Alma's guards?

Businesses and private clients hire Alma to protect people, property and assets, most often in five settings:

• Luxury retail and jewellers. Entrance control and rehearsed robbery procedures that help minimise commercial losses.
• Hotels, clubs and hospitality. Front of house officers in hospitality style dress.
• Corporate offices. Reception security and out of hours cover that protects operational continuity for law firms and professional practices.
• Country estates and private homes. Discreet protection for grounds, buildings and families. See Residential Security Teams.
• Events. SIA licensed door supervisors, security officers and event managers, including short notice cover. See Event Security Planning and Oversight.

Why choose Alma to guard your site?

Clients choose Alma for discreet, experienced officers who are closely managed and backed by a full risk consultancy.

Highly trained, discreet officers

Officers suited to high end settings, where presentation matters as much as vigilance.

Strong head office oversight

A named contact, monthly reporting and regular site visits.

A service shaped by real risk

A free risk assessment sets the plan, and a three month review keeps it right.

Flexible cover at short notice

A wider officer pool lets us scale up quickly for events or changing threats.

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

Alma prices every contract individually, because the right level of cover depends on your site and its risks. You receive a tailored quote after a free risk assessment.

What factors influence the cost of hiring a security guard?

Rates rise for nights, weekends and bank holidays. Short notice bookings, events, higher risk sites, front of house presentation standards and shorter contracts also cost more.

What the hourly rate includes

The rate is all inclusive, with no extra charges for the basics. You get a licensed, vetted and trained officer in uniform, replacement cover if they are absent, supervision and head office management, and a free risk assessment with a three month site review.

Why the cheapest quote can cost more

A very low rate usually means less experienced officers and higher turnover. A steady team learns what normal looks like, so it notices when something is wrong.

How does hiring guards with Alma work?

Hiring guards with Alma follows seven steps. Planned contracts usually start within a few weeks of agreeing the proposal, and urgent requirements can often be covered within 24 to 48 hours.

1. Consultation to understand your site and concerns.
2. Site visit and free risk assessment.
3. Tailored proposal, usually within days.
4. Contract and service level agreement with agreed KPIs.
5. Mobilisation: officers are vetted, trained and briefed.
6. Go live with close head office oversight.
7. Review after three months, then quarterly performance reviews.

How do we select and train our officers?

Alma selects security personnel for experience first, then screens and trains them for each site. Most are former Armed Forces or police, joined by hospitality trained officers for front of house roles.

Every candidate is interviewed and screened to a standard consistent with BS 7858, the British Standard for screening security staff. Checks cover identity, right to work, licence validity and five years of employment history. DBS and credit checks are added where the role requires them.

Training goes beyond the SIA standard. It includes site inductions, incident response, conflict management, first aid and regular refreshers.

What technology do Alma's guards use?

Alma's guards use digital incident reports, logged patrol checkpoints, real time tracking and lone worker monitoring. They have 24/7 back up from our Operations Centre, the control room in London. Our situational awareness platform can also connect to your existing cameras and use AI to flag potential incidents automatically.

Examples of Alma's guarding work

Alma guards sites ranging from luxury retail to a historic country estate.

Luxury jeweller, multiple UK stores

Officers control entrances during trading under an SLA that includes 100% entrance control and cover gaps filled within 30 to 60 minutes.

Historic country estate

Alma took over an underperforming contract at the same cost. Former Armed Forces officers now live on site 24/7, supported by AI assisted camera monitoring.

Credentials and licensing

Every Alma officer holds an individual SIA licence, and the company runs an ISO 9001 quality management system.

• Licensing. Under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, it is a criminal offence to work as a guard in the UK without a valid licence from the Security Industry Authority. Every officer we deploy holds a current front line licence suited to their role: security guard licences for offices, retail and estates, and door supervisor licences for events, bars, clubs and other licensed premises. Alma's directors hold non front line licences.
• Quality. An ISO 9001 quality management system assessed by BSI.

Where can you hire Alma guards?

Alma is a security company in London, with its head office at 2 Eaton Gate, London SW1W 9BJ. Our London security guards cover central London, and we have established guarding contracts in Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire and Buckinghamshire. We can deploy officers to sites elsewhere in the UK on request, including short notice event cover. Alma has also provided guarding overseas as part of wider travel safety and security projects.

Need to hire security guards in London or across the UK?

Tell us about your site for a free, no obligation risk assessment. Call +44 (0)20 3858 9494, email operations@alma-risk.com or book a call online.

Frequently asked questions

These are the questions clients most often ask before hiring guards from Alma.

What should I look for when hiring a security company?

Check licensing, vetting, training, insurance and absence cover. You can verify any officer on the SIA's public register of licence holders using their name or 16 digit licence number.

Are your guards SIA licensed?

Yes. Our guards carry verified SIA licences for their role, and we check each licence before deployment.

Do I need door supervisors or security guards for an event?

Most events need door supervisors. A door supervisor licence is required for guarding venues that are licensed to sell alcohol or host entertainment while open to the public. A security guard licence does not cover that work. A door supervisor licence also covers general security guard duties, so it is the standard licence for event staff. Alma confirms the right licence for each role during your risk assessment.

Do security guards work alone or in teams?

Both, depending on the risk assessment. Officers working alone have lone worker welfare checks, while larger sites have on-site teams led by an experienced site lead.

What happens if a guard does not turn up?

We cover the gap from our wider officer pool, typically within 30 to 60 minutes, managed by our head office 24/7.

Can individuals hire security guards or bodyguards?

Yes. Individuals and families can hire licensed officers for a home, estate or event. Alma also provides close protection, often called bodyguards, when you need someone to protect a person rather than a place.

Can you hire armed guards in the UK?

No. Private security officers in the UK do not carry firearms. Alma officers rely on training in conflict management, incident response and clear escalation procedures.

What is the difference between a security guard and a close protection officer?

A guard protects a place, such as a building or event. A close protection officer protects a person wherever they go. Each role needs a different licence, and Alma provides both.

Reviewed by Ian McCaul, Operations and Future Projects Director, Alma Risk.

Last updated: 5 October 2026.