SIA-licensed & vetted
Every officer holds a valid SIA licence and is BS 7858 vetted before deployment. We are an SIA Approved Contractor (ACS).
Ashridge Security · Manned guarding
Manned Guarding Services
SIA-licensed, directly-employed security officers protecting your people, premises and assets — static guarding, access control and reception, backed by a 24/7 control room.
What you get
How Ashridge manned guarding works.
Directly employed
Our officers are on our own payroll, not subcontracted — better continuity, accountability and standards on your site.
24/7 control room
Live support, monitoring and escalation behind every contract, with relief cover so there are never gaps.
Audited to ISO standards
Certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, with documented patrols and reporting for assurance.
In detail
What is manned guarding?
Manned guarding, also called security guarding or static guarding, is the deployment of trained, SIA-licensed security officers to protect premises, people and assets against theft, damage and unauthorised access. It covers static posts and reception, access and visitor control, internal and external patrols, key holding and alarm response, as set out in the British Standard for static guarding, BS 7499.
When does a business need manned guarding?
Manned guarding suits sites where a physical presence does what cameras and alarms alone cannot: controlling who enters, protecting high-value stock or equipment, managing reception and visitors, and responding to incidents on the spot. It is widely used across corporate offices and front of house, construction and infrastructure, logistics and warehousing, retail, utilities and critical national infrastructure, and vacant or high-risk property. Insurers and major clients often require SIA-licensed, accredited guarding as a condition of cover or contract.
Under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, anyone guarding premises against theft or unauthorised access under a contract must hold a valid SIA licence, and deploying unlicensed officers is a criminal offence. There are around half a million active SIA licences in the UK (SIA, 2025).
What to look for in a security guarding company
The accreditations separate a reliable provider from a risky one. Look for SIA Approved Contractor (ACS) status, the voluntary SIA company-level approval, and compliance with the key British Standards: BS 7499 for static guarding, BS 7858 for officer vetting, and ISO-certified quality management. Ask whether officers are directly employed or subcontracted, because direct employment gives better continuity and accountability on your site.
Ashridge Group is an SIA Approved Contractor, certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, and we directly employ and BS 7858 vet every officer.
How much does manned guarding cost?
Manned guarding is priced per site after a risk assessment, not from a fixed rate, because cost depends on the hours and shift pattern, the number of officers, the level of vetting and training the role needs, the site’s risk and whether it is one site or many. Labour is the largest component: the National Living Wage rose to £12.71 an hour from April 2026, and licensed, accredited cover is charged above the minimum. We give a clear per-site quote. For a fuller breakdown, see our guide to what manned guarding costs in the UK.
Manned guarding, mobile patrols or CCTV?
The right answer depends on risk and budget. Manned guarding gives a constant, visible presence that can challenge intruders and respond immediately, and suits higher-risk or public-facing sites. A mobile patrol visits a site at set or random times and costs less for lower-risk or dispersed sites. CCTV and remote monitoring capture evidence and cover large areas but still rely on guards or police to attend. Many sites combine all three, with guarding at the highest-risk times. We advise on the mix that fits your site.
How Ashridge delivers manned guarding
Every officer is SIA-licensed and BS 7858 vetted, and we employ them directly rather than subcontracting, with relief cover and a 24/7 control room behind every contract. On the £1.5bn A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon scheme, then the UK’s largest construction project, we took over a struggling security contract across 14 compounds and recovered it within weeks. For UK Power Networks we delivered an eight-month, HSE-mandated programme in which our agents visited more than 24,000 properties, reporting a 100% success rate to the HSE. For Engie, our longest-standing client, we provide manned guarding and reception among soft services across 20 corporate, rail and critical-infrastructure sites.
If you are switching provider, we handle the TUPE transfer of an existing guarding team properly, protecting continuity for your site and a fair transfer for the officers. We cover sites nationwide from our Buckinghamshire base; see the areas we cover or our construction site security service.
Further reading on manned guarding
- What Does Manned Guarding Cost in the UK? A Business Guide
- Manned Guarding vs Mobile Patrol — Which Does Your Site Need?
Frequently asked questions
Start with a site risk assessment, then choose an SIA Approved Contractor that directly employs SIA-licensed, BS 7858-vetted officers. Agree the hours, posts and duties, and the provider gives a per-site quote and mobilises trained officers. We can survey your site and propose cover, usually within one working day.
Anyone guarding premises against theft, damage or unauthorised access under a contract for services must hold a valid SIA licence under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, and using unlicensed officers is a criminal offence. Every Ashridge officer is SIA-licensed and BS 7858 vetted.
Check for SIA Approved Contractor (ACS) status, compliance with the British Standards BS 7499 (static guarding) and BS 7858 (vetting), and ISO-certified quality management. Ask whether officers are directly employed rather than subcontracted, which gives better continuity and accountability. Ashridge holds all of these.
Manned guarding is quoted per site after a risk assessment, not from a fixed rate. Cost depends on the hours and shift pattern, the number of officers, vetting and training, and site risk. Labour is the biggest factor, and licensed, accredited cover is charged above the National Living Wage, which rose to £12.71 an hour from April 2026.
When a guarding contract transfers to a new provider it is usually a TUPE transfer, so the existing officers move across with their terms and continuity of employment. We manage TUPE transfers properly, protecting service continuity for your site and a fair transfer for the team.
We typically mobilise within 24 hours of instruction, and often the same day for urgent cover, through our 24/7 control room on 0800 085 5022.
Speak to the team
Cover for a single site or a national estate.
Tell us about your site and requirements and we’ll respond within one working day, with short-notice mobilisation where you need it.