Professional Security
Professional Security is a Leeds-headquartered UK manned-security provider deploying 7,000 SIA-licensed officers across 2,000+ hospitality, retail, QSR, transport, event, and local-government sites nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersLeeds, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Professional Security does
Professional Security (legally Effective Security Services Ltd) is a Leeds-headquartered UK private security services provider operating across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The company supplies SIA-licensed personnel for manned guarding, door supervision, close protection, and event security at hospitality venues, retail estates, transport hubs, local government facilities, and large-scale sporting and entertainment events. As of the most recent disclosures, the firm deploys roughly 7,000 licensed officers across more than 2,000 customer sites, with named enterprise clients including McDonald's, Popeyes, Hollywood Bowl, Rekom, Roxy Leisure, Cosy Club, Tattu, and Concept Taverns. The portfolio spans bars, pubs, breweries, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, QSR chains, competitive socialising venues, casinos, retail chains, business improvement districts, councils, rail operators, festivals, concerts, and stadia.
The operating model is direct-to-client, sales-led, and quote-based, with bespoke resourcing sized to site complexity and licensed-venue requirements. Professional Security complements frontline staffing with a technology stack that includes the C247 workforce-management platform for real-time visibility across shifts and sites, the Halo incident-management system for rapid reporting and response, and Axon body-worn cameras for evidence capture and officer safety. The firm also sells entry-point services such as a free 30-minute Security Readiness Check and SIA-renewal training (Level 2 Door Supervisor Refresher; Level 2 Spectator Safety RQF qualification), which double as lead-generation and workforce-pipeline tools. It holds SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) status across security guarding, door supervision, and close protection, and recorded an audit score of +140, placing it in the top 1% of UK providers. Revenue and ownership are not publicly disclosed; the company is privately held with no identified parent or external venture backing, and approximately 95% of its workforce is engaged on a casual/zero-hours basis.
Professional Security firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Professional Security
- Legal name
- Effective Security Services Ltd
- Website
- https://professionalsecurityuk.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Professional Security is a Leeds-headquartered UK manned-security provider deploying 7,000 SIA-licensed officers across 2,000+ hospitality, retail, QSR, transport, event, and local-government sites nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Professional Security industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Manned Security Services
- NAICS
- Security Guards and Patrol Services (561612), Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services (56161)
- SIC
- Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nightclub, Bar & Entertainment Venue Security (BPAKACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Manned Guarding & Site Security (Static Guards) (BPABAMAA), Theater, Cinema & Performing Arts Venue Security (BPAKACAG), Executive Protection & VIP Close Protection (THAHALAE)
Keywords
Where Professional Security is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leeds
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Professional Security business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Security Guarding Services: Provision of SIA-licensed security personnel for guarding operations across various sectors including hospitality, retail, and commercial sites
- Door Supervision: Door supervisor services for licensed venues including bars, nightclubs, QSR, and hospitality establishments
- Event Security: Security coverage for festivals, concerts, stadia, sporting venues, and transport operations
- Close Protection: Executive protection and close protection services for high-profile individuals and corporate clients
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Professional Security product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Professional Security delivers manned SIA-licensed security guarding, door supervision, event security, and close protection services to hospitality venues, retail chains, local government facilities, QSR operators, transport hubs, and event organisers across the UK. With 7,000 licensed officers deployed at over 2,000 sites, the company provides tailored, quote-priced security staffing solutions supplemented by training qualifications and an advisory Security Readiness Check.
Product overview
Professional Security provides a unified portfolio of manned guarding and electronic security services across the UK, covering hospitality venues (bars, pubs, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, casinos, competitive socialising), retail, transport, local government, QSR, and events. The core offerings comprise Security Guarding, Door Supervision, Close Protection, and Event Security, complemented by training qualifications (Door Supervisor Refresher and Spectator Safety) and an advisory Security Readiness Check service. Services are delivered by 7,000 SIA-licensed staff across over 2,000 sites nationwide, integrating C247 workforce management, Halo incident management, and Axon body-worn cameras for operational transparency.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Security Guarding Nationwide manned guarding services for offices, retail, construction, warehouses, industrial sites, and multi-site networks across the UK, delivered by SIA-licensed officers.
- Door Supervision Door supervisor services for licensed venues including bars, nightclubs, and quick-service restaurants, focused on entry control, crowd management, age verification, and licensing compliance.
- Event Security Security services for festivals, concerts, stadia, sporting venues, and large public events, providing crowd management and emergency response capability.
- Close Protection Close protection services for high-risk or high-profile individuals and corporate clients requiring executive protection and personal security.
- Retail Security Security services for retail environments and business improvement districts, including loss prevention, asset protection, and access control.
- Transport Security Security services for transport hubs, rail deployments, and event-travel operations including passenger safety and crowd management during major travel events.
- Local Government Security Security services for local government facilities and public-facing council operations, addressing public safety, regulatory compliance, and counter-terrorism readiness.
- QSR Security Specialist security services tailored for quick-service restaurant chains and franchises across the UK, including entry control and customer/staff safety.
- Level 2 Door Supervisor Refresher Course (SIA Renewal Training) SIA renewal training course for door supervisors, enabling licence renewal for security personnel working in licensed venues.
- Level 2 Spectator Safety Qualification (RQF) Qualification for security personnel working at events and sporting venues, supporting SIA-aligned spectator safety competency.
- Security Readiness Check A free 30-minute expert-led review of a venue's security setup, identifying risks and gaps before busy periods.
Quantifiable outcome
- SIA ACS score of +140 places company in top 1% of UK security providers
Companies that use Professional Security
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Professional Security technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Professional Security partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered major.
- Lawn Tennis Association (LTA)majorProfessional Security provides security teams to support the LTA throughout the grass court tennis season, including major sporting events.
- London North Eastern Railway (LNER)majorPartnership for major rail deployment supporting safe transport of fans during major sporting events at Wembley.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Professional Security competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sodexo UK: UK arm of global Sodexo Group, delivering facilities management, food services, and security solutions including manned guarding and reception/concierge security. Overlaps with Professional Security in corporate and venue security contracts.
- ISS A/S (UK): Global facility services provider operating in the UK with security services including manned guarding and security systems. Broader portfolio than Professional Security but directly competes for integrated facility security contracts.
- Allied Universal: Global security services giant with significant UK presence across manned guarding, event security, and security technology. Operates as a broad incumbent selling an integrated security offering alongside Professional Security's specialist UK hospitality focus.
Direct peers
- Mitie Security: One of the UK's largest facilities management and security services providers with a sizeable manned guarding, door supervision, and event security offering. Directly competes with Professional Security for multi-site enterprise contracts.
- FGH Security: UK-headquartered security services firm with a strong focus on event and venue security, similar door supervision and stadia/festival work. Direct competitor to Professional Security across UK hospitality and event guarding contracts.
- Kingdom Services Group: Large UK-based security and cleaning services provider with an established presence in door supervision, retail security, and event guarding. Comparable in scale and customer mix to Professional Security.
- Wilson James: UK-based specialist security and logistics firm with strong presence in construction, corporate, and aviation guarding. Comparable in scale and contract-led UK delivery model to Professional Security.
- CIS Security: UK-headquartered security services provider specialising in front-of-house, concierge, and manned guarding for corporate, residential, and hospitality clients. Comparable mid-tier UK security firm competing with Professional Security for premium contracts.
- Securitas UK: UK arm of the global Securitas Group, providing manned guarding, mobile patrol, and security solutions across commercial, retail, and event environments. Direct competitor for enterprise and multi-site security contracts in the UK.
- Bidvest Noonan: UK and Ireland security and facilities services firm, formed from the merger of Bidvest and Noonan, providing manned guarding, door supervision, and event security. Directly competes with Professional Security across retail, hospitality, and corporate contracts.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Professional Security social profiles
Digital presenceProfessional Security financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Professional Security leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Professional Security funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Professional Security M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Professional Security
What does Professional Security do?
Professional Security delivers manned SIA-licensed security guarding, door supervision, event security, and close protection services to hospitality venues, retail chains, local government facilities, QSR operators, transport hubs, and event organisers across the UK. With 7,000 licensed officers deployed at over 2,000 sites, the company provides tailored, quote-priced security staffing solutions supplemented by training qualifications and an advisory Security Readiness Check.
Is Professional Security a public or private company?
Professional Security is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Professional Security founded?
Professional Security was founded in 2004. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Professional Security based?
Professional Security is headquartered in Leeds, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Professional Security make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Security Guarding Services are the primary driver. The others are door Supervision, event Security and close Protection.
Who are Professional Security's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sodexo UK, ISS A/S (UK) and Allied Universal. Direct peers are Mitie Security, FGH Security, Kingdom Services Group, Wilson James, CIS Security, Securitas UK and Bidvest Noonan.
Does Professional Security have an API?
No public API is recorded for Professional Security.
What industry is Professional Security in?
Professional Security's product category is Manned Security Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKACAF, Nightclub, Bar & Entertainment Venue Security, with a secondary code of BPABAMAA, Manned Guarding & Site Security (Static Guards). Its NAICS code is 561612 and its SIC code is 7381.