Manned guarding
Static officers for reception, access control, patrols of your premises and incident reporting. Suited to offices, warehouses and mixed-use buildings that need a visible presence.
Manned guarding services
USSG · Manchester security services
Security services in Manchester
USSG provides security services in Manchester and across Greater Manchester from our head office in Stockport, around five miles from the city centre. As an SIA Approved Contractor, we supply manned guarding, key holding and alarm response, and security for offices, shops, construction sites and events, alongside commercial cleaning.
- SIA Approved Contractor for security guarding and key holding
- Officers screened to BS 7858
- Operating since 2016
- 24/7 operational support
- Rated 4.6 on Google from 43 reviews
Run from Greater Manchester, close to your site
Choosing a security company in Manchester is easier when you know where the work is managed from. Ours is run from our head office at Houldsworth Street Business & Arts Centre in Stockport, just across the boundary from Manchester, so the people who plan your cover, brief your officers and handle escalations work in the same city region as your site.
Every assignment starts with a site assessment. We agree the duties, hours, reporting and escalation contacts with you before an officer is deployed, and write them into assignment instructions that the officer follows on every shift.
Our officers are directly employed and screened to BS 7858 before deployment. That matters on Manchester sites where the same faces at reception or the gate build trust with staff, tenants and visitors.
Our security services in Manchester
Most Manchester sites need a mix: an officer on site during the riskiest hours, and a plan for alarms and call-outs the rest of the time. Choose the services that match how your site actually runs.
Key holding and alarm response
We hold your keys securely and attend alarm activations, so your staff are not called out at night to an empty building. Key holding in Manchester suits premises that close overnight or at weekends.
Key holding and alarm response
Construction site security
Gate control during working hours, out-of-hours guarding, and checks on plant, materials and hoarding for city-centre and edge-of-town builds.
Construction site security
Retail security
Uniformed officers who deter theft, support staff with difficult customers and keep clear incident records that help when you report crime to the police.
Retail security guards
Event security
SIA-licensed officers for venues, private events and corporate functions, planned around your capacity, entrances and timings.
Event security services
Office and reception security
Front-of-house officers who manage visitors, contractors and deliveries in managed and multi-tenant office buildings.
Office security services
Vacant property security
Inspections and guarding for empty buildings between tenancies or ahead of redevelopment, to reduce the risk of squatting, theft and fly-tipping.
Vacant property security
Waking watch
Fire safety patrols for residential blocks while fire alarm upgrades or remediation work are completed.
Waking watch services
K9 security
Licensed dog handler teams for large or open sites, where a dog adds detection and a strong deterrent.
K9 security dogs
CCTV
Camera systems that work alongside your officers and alarm response, so incidents are seen, recorded and followed up.
CCTV services
Car park management
Support for private car parks, from patrols to managing who comes in and out.
Car park management
Commercial cleaning
Office, communal-area and site cleaning, scheduled alongside your security cover so one supplier looks after both.
Commercial cleaning servicesAreas we cover across Manchester
We provide security services in Manchester city centre and every district on the map, and take enquiries from across Greater Manchester. Select a district to see the kinds of sites common there and what to include in your enquiry.
City centre: Deansgate, Spinningfields and St Peter’s Square
Office towers, banks and professional services firms with busy receptions. Tell us about shared entrances, out-of-hours access and lift lobbies.
Northern Quarter and Ancoats
Bars, restaurants, independent shops and new residential schemes. For mixed-use buildings, mention late licences and how residents get in.
Piccadilly and the Oxford Road corridor
A major transport hub and the area around the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, with large student accommodation blocks.
Salford Quays and MediaCityUK
Studios, offices and waterside apartments. Include any filming or broadcast schedules that change access times.
Trafford Park
One of Europe’s largest industrial estates, full of warehouses, yards and logistics depots. Gate locations, vehicle movements and shift patterns help us plan cover.
Etihad Campus and east Manchester
Home to the Etihad Stadium and Co-op Live, plus regeneration sites. Event enquiries should include expected capacity and entry points.
Cheetham Hill and north Manchester
Wholesale units, warehouses and retail parks. Yard access, opening hours and stock values are the key details.
Didsbury and south Manchester
Shops, offices and residential streets, where key holding and alarm response often suit better than a full-time officer.
Wythenshawe and Airport City
Hotels, logistics and offices around Manchester Airport. Tell us if your site runs around flight schedules or 24-hour shifts.
Stockport
Where our head office is. For sites across the borough, see security services in Stockport.
We also take enquiries from Salford, Trafford, Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton and Wigan, subject to a site assessment. Further afield, see Liverpool, Leeds or all areas we cover.
Match the cover to your site type
These are starting points. Your final plan depends on what the site assessment finds.
| Site type | Common risks | Cover that often fits |
|---|---|---|
| Construction site | Theft of tools, plant and materials; trespass out of hours | Gate officer by day, guarding or alarm response at night |
| Shop or retail unit | Shoplifting; abuse towards staff | Uniformed officer during peak trading hours, with incident reporting |
| Office building | Tailgating; unmanaged visitors and contractors | Reception and access control by day, key holding overnight |
| Venue or event | Crowd flow; searches at entry; emergency procedures | SIA-licensed event officers planned around capacity |
| Student accommodation | Unauthorised entry; welfare concerns at night | Night officer or patrols, with incident logs for the operator |
| Warehouse or yard | Vehicle and load theft; perimeter breaches | Gate control and patrols; K9 teams for large open sites |
| Empty building | Squatting; metal theft; fly-tipping | Inspections, guarding and alarm response |
| Residential block | Fire alarm faults during remediation works | Waking watch patrols |
From enquiry to an officer on site
Cover, hours and reporting are agreed after a site assessment, so nothing on shift is left to guesswork.
Send your site details
Postcode, type of premises, the hours you need covered, the duties and your preferred start date.
Site assessment
We look at access points, risks and how the site runs day to day before recommending cover.
Written proposal
Officer numbers, hours, duties, reporting and escalation contacts, agreed with you in writing.
Briefing and start
Officers are briefed on your assignment instructions before their first shift.
Reporting and review
You receive regular reports, and we adjust cover as your site changes.
How much does a security guard cost in Manchester?
Security guards in Manchester typically cost £18 to £25 per hour, based on our UK security guard cost guide. Nights, weekends, bank holidays, short-notice starts and specialist duties can sit above that range. We confirm an exact rate in writing after assessing your site.
What changes the price
- Hours and daysNights, weekends and bank holidays usually cost more than weekday daytime cover.
- Number of officersLarger or busier sites may need more than one officer, or a supervisor.
- DutiesReception, retail, event and dog handler roles involve different licences and training.
- NoticeShort-notice starts can cost more than cover planned in advance.
- Contract lengthOngoing contracts are usually priced differently from one-off or short-term cover.
From April 2026 the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour. An officer’s pay is only part of the hourly rate, which also covers employer National Insurance, holiday pay, pension contributions, licensing, training, supervision and insurance.
Not every site needs an officer all day. Key holding and alarm response, or guarding only during the riskiest hours, can bring the cost down. If you are adding cameras, see our guide to CCTV installation costs.
Martyn’s Law and Manchester venues
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as Martyn’s Law, is named after Martyn Hett, one of 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena attack in May 2017. It became law in April 2025, with an implementation period of at least 24 months before the duties apply.
If you run a venue, bar, events space or large shop in Manchester, this is a sensible time to review how your entrances are staffed and what your team would do in an emergency. Free guidance is available from ProtectUK, and you can check the current national threat level on the MI5 website or on our UK threat level page.
When you are ready to plan staffing, talk to us about event security in Manchester for your venue.
Check our credentials before you appoint us
You should be able to verify any security supplier’s claims independently. These are ours, with the evidence on our memberships and accreditations page.
- SIA Approved ContractorApproved for security guarding and key holding under the Security Industry Authority’s Approved Contractor Scheme.
- Registered company since 2016Universal Support Services Group (USSG) Ltd, company number 10289772.
- ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015Certified quality and environmental management systems.
- Constructionline Gold and SafeContractorPre-qualification that many main contractors and facilities managers check.
- Cyber Essentials and ICO registrationHow we protect your site information and personal data.
- BICSc and NASDU membershipProfessional bodies for cleaning and for security dog handling.
- Rated 4.6 on GoogleFrom 43 reviews (October 2026). Read our Google reviews.
The leadership team behind USSG
Ali ArainChief Executive Officer
Rashid BaigManaging Director
Atiq MalikChief Operating Officer
Gareth HowellsChief Commercial Officer
Read more about the team on our about us page, or see how we work in practice in our case studies.
Questions about security in Manchester
How much does a security guard cost per hour in Manchester?
Manned guarding in major cities such as Manchester typically costs £18 to £25 per hour, according to our UK security guard cost guide. The final rate depends on your hours, the number of officers, the duties involved and how much notice you give. We confirm the price in writing after a site assessment.
Is USSG based in Manchester?
Our head office is at Houldsworth Street Business & Arts Centre in Stockport, which is part of Greater Manchester and around five miles from Manchester city centre. Manchester assignments are planned and managed from there.
Are your security officers SIA licensed?
Yes. Officers on licensable duties hold the correct Security Industry Authority licence, and they are screened to BS 7858 before deployment. USSG also holds SIA Approved Contractor status for security guarding and key holding.
How quickly can security cover start in Manchester?
It depends on the duties, hours and site requirements. Urgent requests are assessed as soon as we have the site address, a contact and the hours you need covered. We confirm a start date once the assignment instructions are agreed.
Do you provide key holding and alarm response in Manchester?
Yes. We hold your keys securely and attend when your alarm activates, so your staff do not have to respond out of hours. Key holding suits premises that are empty overnight or at weekends and do not need an officer on site full time.
Can you secure a construction site in Manchester city centre?
Yes. City-centre sites usually need gate control during working hours and guarding or alarm response overnight, with attention to hoarding, deliveries and neighbouring buildings. We hold Constructionline Gold and SafeContractor accreditation, which many main contractors check before appointing suppliers.
Does Martyn’s Law apply to my Manchester venue?
It may, if your premises are used for purposes such as retail, hospitality or entertainment and can hold 200 or more people at the same time. The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 became law in April 2025, with an implementation period of at least 24 months. Check the ProtectUK guidance for your tier, then talk to us about staffing your entrances.
Do you cover Salford, Trafford and the rest of Greater Manchester?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Greater Manchester, including Salford, Trafford, Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton and Wigan. Cover for every site is confirmed after a site assessment.
Tell us about your Manchester site
Send these details and we will come back to you to arrange a site assessment.
- Site postcode and type of premises
- Days and hours you need covered
- Duties you expect from the officer
- Access, parking and any site rules
- Your preferred start date
USSG head office
Universal Support Services Group (USSG) LtdUnit NG6, Houldsworth Street
Business & Arts Centre
Stockport, Greater Manchester
SK5 6DA, United Kingdom