About SPS Security — Regional Security Services Provider
Serving Yorkshire & Lincolnshire Since 1992
SPS Security is a regional specialist, not a national provider. Our head office is in Hull, with regional offices in Grimsby and Lincoln. We deliver integrated security solutions with the local knowledge and accountability that national firms simply can't match.
Why clients choose SPS
Over 30 years in the region
Directly employed teams
Named accountability from day one
GPS-verified attendance and reporting
Supporting trust line
Regional offices in Hull, Grimsby and Lincoln, supporting integrated security delivery across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Out-of-hours security and the systems behind it
Our focus is joined-up protection for sites when nobody is there. SPS Security officers open up, lock up, patrol and respond to alarms, coordinated from our 24/7 control room in Hull. Through SPS Technical, the same group installs, maintains and monitors the intruder alarms, fire systems and CCTV those officers rely on. When an alarm keeps going off, the officer who attends and the engineer who fixes the fault work for the same group.
Response and out-of-hours security
Keyholding & Alarm Response
Over 500 keyholding contracts. SIA-licensed officers attend your alarm 24/7 so your staff don't have to.
Find out moreOpen Up & Lock Up
Scheduled opening and closing, seven days a week, with alarm setting and a time-stamped report every visit.
Find out moreMobile Patrols
GPS-verified patrol visits across Hull, Grimsby, Scunthorpe and the wider region.
Find out moreFire and security systems through SPS Technical
- Intruder alarm installation and maintenance
- Alarm monitoring
- Fire alarm systems
- CCTV installation and monitoring
- Access control
- System maintenance and takeovers
We also provide security guarding, vacant property inspections and CCTV monitoring from our Hull, Grimsby and Lincoln offices. See all services.
Founded in Hull. Regional expertise across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
SPS Security has been providing professional security services across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire since 1992. We are not a franchise, a national firm with a local branch, or a start-up. We are an independently owned, regionally operated security company with over three decades of continuous service.
Our commitment to local employment is central to how we operate. Every front-line officer, mobile patrol driver and control room operator is directly employed by SPS — recruited from the communities we serve, trained in-house and managed by regional teams based in Hull, Grimsby and Lincoln.
This means clients get genuine local accountability: people who know the area, understand the risks and are invested in delivering a reliable service — not agency staff or subcontracted labour managed from hundreds of miles away.
35 years
Established in 1992, still independently owned and regionally focused
98%
Directly employed officers
3 offices
Hull, Grimsby and Lincoln supporting local employment across the region
~18%
Staff turnover — well below the security industry average
Our local employment commitment
Every officer is recruited, vetted and trained locally by SPS
Named account managers on every contract from day one
Regional recruitment supporting local job markets across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Stable, contracted employment with clear progression routes
Over 95% of contracts delivered by our own directly employed teams
Investment in apprenticeships, training and professional development
A regional security business built over 30 years
Founded in Hull in 1992, SPS Security has grown from a local guarding operation into a substantial regional security and technical services group — serving businesses across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire with guarding, mobile patrols, keyholding, monitoring and technical security services.
TapClick any number to see what's behind it.
500+
Keyholding and alarm response contracts
Every one backed by SIA-licensed officers and our 24/7 control room in Hull, so when an alarm goes off at 3am, your staff stay in bed.
See keyholding servicesBehind the SPS name is a substantial regional operation. Each week, SPS delivers more than 10,000 hours of security service, supports over 500 keyholding and alarm response contracts, and monitors more than 200 remote CCTV and access control systems through our 24/7 control room and connected support model.
Alongside this, SPS Technical and TESS support more than 2,500 maintained, monitored and serviced intruder alarm, fire alarm, CCTV and access control systems, deliver more than 3,850 planned, reactive and technical visits per year, and provide regional engineering capability through a team of 25+ multi-skilled engineers. SPS is also part of a wider regional group employing nearly 1,000 people across Security, Cleaning and Technical Services, giving clients the reassurance of scale, resilience and operational depth while retaining the local accountability and responsiveness of a regional provider.
SPS is part of a £25m+ regional group spanning Security, Cleaning and Technical Services. This gives clients the reassurance of scale, infrastructure and resilience, while still retaining the local accountability, responsiveness and cost-effective support of a regional provider.
Tools that put you in control
We've built a suite of free tools to help businesses understand their security risk, benchmark costs and review their current provision — before they ever need to speak to a salesperson.
Local Risk Snapshot
Get free, postcode-level crime and risk data for your premises — powered by Police UK data. Understand what's happening around your site before making any security decisions.
Try the toolSecurity Cost Planner
Transparent, benchmark pricing for security services across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Build a detailed cost estimate for guarding, patrols, keyholding and more — no sales call required.
Try the toolRapid Security Check
A quick, structured review of your current security arrangements. See where the gaps are, what's working and what your priority actions should be — in under five minutes.
Try the toolHybrid Security Review
Review your mix of guarding, technology and patrol cover. Get a personalised recommendation on how to combine physical and technical security for better protection and value.
Try the toolMartyn's Law — are you ready?
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act — known as Martyn's Law — is now on the statute book. It places new legal duties on venues and events above certain capacity thresholds to take practicable measures to protect the public from terrorist attack and to reduce harm.
Martyn's Law has been decades in the making, and applies to venues, event organisers and public-facing businesses across education, healthcare, retail, hospitality and the public sector. Our Martyn's Law information hub brings together the publicly available official guidance in plain language, and our readiness review tool helps you see which areas to look at. It is information to help you prepare, not legal or compliance advice.
Built on regional expertise
Established in 1992, SPS Security has grown from a local guarding provider into a regional security operator covering Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Three years later, in 1995, we formed Independent Cleaning Services, now ICS Cleaning, because clients who trusted us with their security wanted the same reliability from their cleaning. That idea of one local group looking after a whole site still shapes the business today.
Today, our model combines guarding, response, monitoring and technical capability with direct accountability, local management and stronger visibility for clients.
Key milestones
SPS Security founded in Hull as Security Patrol Services, holding keys, patrolling sites and providing guarding across East Yorkshire, with a 24/7 control room from the start.
Independent Cleaning Services, now ICS Cleaning, formed so clients could get commercial cleaning and specialist cleaning from the same trusted local group as their security.
Expansion into technical security with in-house engineering capability, today delivered through SPS Technical.
Our 24/7 control room renovated and upgraded with new monitoring technology, and growth into North East Lincolnshire with our Grimsby office.
Lincoln office opened, SPS Security acquired TESS in 2023, and the control room was upgraded again in 2024, with continued investment in monitoring and reporting technology.
One regional group for security, systems and cleaning
Many of our clients use more than one SPS Group company. A school might have SPS Security lock up every evening, SPS Technical maintain its fire and intruder alarms, and ICS Cleaning clean it every day, with one local group accountable for all three. Fewer suppliers to manage, and people who already know the site.
Since 1992
SPS SecurityYou are here
Keyholding and alarm response, open-up and lock-up, mobile patrols and security guarding, coordinated from our 24/7 control room in Hull.
Since 1995
ICS Cleaning
Commercial, contract and specialist cleaning for offices, schools, industrial sites and public buildings across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Visit ICS CleaningSPS Security's systems division
SPS Technical
Installation, maintenance and monitoring of intruder alarms, fire alarms, CCTV and access control, by local engineers.
Visit SPS TechnicalPart of SPS Security since 2023
TESS
Hull fire and security systems specialist, owned by SPS Security and working alongside SPS Technical.
Visit TESSWhat drives how we work
Accountability
We own the outcome. Whether delivered directly or through approved partners, accountability stays with SPS.
People first
Our ~18% staff turnover rate — well below industry norms — reflects how we invest in our people.
Local impact
Local employment, regional supply chains, and practical sustainability shape every decision.
Standards-led
Rigorous processes, SIA compliance, structured reporting, and continuous improvement drive our delivery.
An operational model built around accountability and local delivery
What separates SPS from larger national providers is not just our regional presence — it is how we structure and deliver security operationally. Our model is designed around four principles that directly affect the quality, consistency and reliability of the service our clients receive every day.
Directly Employed Officers
Every security officer, mobile patrol driver and control room operator working on an SPS contract is directly employed by SPS Security. We do not use agency labour or subcontracted front-line staff. This means clients receive officers who are recruited from the local area, trained in-house to SPS standards and managed by regional supervisors who know the sites and the people on them. Direct employment also means better staff retention, stronger site knowledge and fewer of the inconsistencies that come with high-turnover, agency-supplied security.
Named Account Management
Every SPS contract has a named account manager — a single point of contact responsible for service delivery, officer performance and operational standards. Account managers are based in our regional offices, not in a remote call centre. They visit sites regularly, attend client meetings in person and take direct responsibility for resolving issues. This named accountability model means clients always know exactly who is managing their security, and that person is close enough to respond quickly when circumstances change.
24/7 Control Room Support
Our Hull-based control room operates around the clock, coordinating mobile patrols, keyholding responses, alarm activations and lone worker check-ins. The control room also manages remote CCTV monitoring, access control support and real-time incident escalation. Because the control room is operated by SPS staff — not outsourced to a third-party monitoring centre — operators know the sites, the officers and the procedures. This reduces response times, improves accuracy and gives clients a direct connection to the people managing their security at any hour.
Integrated Service Delivery
Many clients need more than one type of security service. A warehouse may need static guarding during the day, mobile patrols at night and keyholding at weekends. A retail park may need CCTV monitoring, alarm response and regular foot patrols. SPS delivers these services as a single, coordinated package — managed through one account manager, one control room and one reporting platform. This integrated approach removes the gaps, overlaps and communication failures that occur when different services are provided by different companies.
These four elements — direct employment, named accountability, in-house control room support and integrated delivery — are not marketing claims. They are structural decisions that shape how every SPS contract is designed, staffed and managed. They are also the reason our staff turnover sits at approximately 18%, well below the security industry norm, and why client retention rates remain consistently high across our contract base.
For businesses reviewing their current security provision or considering a change of provider, understanding how a company actually delivers its service — not just what it promises — is one of the most important factors in making a sound decision. Our free security review tool can help you assess your current arrangements, and our cost planner provides transparent benchmark pricing for comparison.
Investing in the people who deliver your security
The quality of any security service is ultimately determined by the people who deliver it. A well-designed security plan means very little if the officers on the ground are poorly trained, unfamiliar with the site or unlikely to stay beyond their first few weeks. At SPS Security, workforce investment is not a secondary consideration — it is central to how we design and sustain every contract.
Local recruitment
We recruit security officers from the communities they serve. Every SPS vacancy is advertised locally, and wherever possible, officers are assigned to sites within reasonable travelling distance of their home. This reduces travel fatigue, improves punctuality and builds the kind of site familiarity that directly affects quality of service. Officers who live near the sites they protect understand the local area, recognise regular visitors and notice when something is out of place.
Structured training
New officers complete a structured induction programme before being deployed to any client site. This includes SPS operational procedures, incident reporting, conflict management, health and safety awareness and site-specific briefings. Training does not stop after induction — officers receive ongoing refresher training, and supervisors carry out regular site audits to identify development needs. Where clients require specialist skills such as first aid, fire marshal duties or access control management, SPS delivers this training in-house or through approved providers at no additional cost to the officer.
Retention and progression
The security industry average staff turnover rate is estimated at between 30% and 40%. SPS Security maintains a turnover rate of approximately 18% — roughly half the industry norm. This stability is not accidental. It reflects competitive pay, consistent shift patterns, accessible management and genuine opportunities for career progression. Officers who demonstrate reliability and competence are actively supported into supervisory, mobile operations and control room roles. Several of our current management team started as front-line security officers.
Vetting and compliance
Every SPS officer holds a valid SIA licence and is vetted to BS7858 standards, which includes a five-year employment history check, identity verification and criminal records disclosure. For higher-risk sites, enhanced DBS checks and client-specific vetting requirements are applied. Our in-house HR and compliance team manages this process end-to-end, ensuring that every officer deployed to a client site meets the required standard before they arrive. Compliance records are maintained digitally and are available for client review on request.
This commitment to workforce quality is also why SPS self-delivers over 95% of its contracts using directly employed staff rather than relying on agency labour or subcontractors. When officers are employed directly, trained consistently and managed locally, clients see fewer missed shifts, better incident handling and a level of site knowledge that temporary or agency-supplied staff cannot replicate.
If you are evaluating security providers or reviewing your existing contract, the workforce model behind the service is one of the most important factors to consider. Our careers hub provides a transparent view of how we recruit and what we offer our people, and our social value page explains how local employment supports the communities we serve.
Local presence, regional reach
See our work in action
Logistics Hub Perimeter Security
Distribution Centre (West Yorkshire)
Challenge
A 250,000 sq ft distribution centre was experiencing regular perimeter breaches and attempted cargo theft. Existing static CCTV provided limited deterrence and reactive response was too slow.
Solution
SPS installed upgraded CCTV with analytics and remote monitoring through our control room, integrated with mobile patrol routes optimized using GPS data. Guards received real-time alerts from control room operators during patrols.
Results
Perimeter breaches reduced by 85% within six months. No successful cargo theft incidents recorded since implementation. Insurance premium reduced following security upgrade demonstration.
85%
Breaches reduced
0
Cargo theft
60% Reduction in False Alarm Call-Outs
Regional Retail Park (Hull)
Challenge
A retail park was experiencing 15-20 false alarm activations per month, resulting in unnecessary mobile response costs and operational disruption. Previous providers had not identified the root causes.
Solution
SPS implemented an integrated approach: CCTV monitoring connected to our 24/7 control room for visual verification before dispatch, plus a systematic review of alarm sensor placement and sensitivity settings by our technical team.
Results
False alarm call-outs reduced by 60% within three months. Annual security costs decreased by £8,400 while maintaining full coverage. Root cause analysis identified faulty PIR sensors and environmental triggers, which were resolved.
60%
False alarms reduced
£8,400
Annual cost saving
SPS Security is a regional security company established in 1992, headquartered in Hull with offices in Grimsby and Lincoln. We provide SIA-licensed guarding, mobile patrols, keyholding, lock and unlock, alarm response, CCTV monitoring and technical security across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Over 95% of contracts are self-delivered by directly employed officers, with named account management and 24/7 control room support.
Learn more about SPS
Our Values & Ethos
The eight principles that shape how we design, deliver and manage security.
Read moreSocial Value
Local employment, training, apprenticeships, community support and responsible procurement.
Read moreAccreditations & Compliance
SIA ACS, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, CHAS, SafeContractor, SSAIB and BAFE credentials.
Read moreOur Story
From Security Patrol Services in 1992 to a regional security operator covering Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Read moreOur Services
Guarding, mobile patrols, keyholding, CCTV monitoring, technical security and more.
Read moreSectors We Serve
Industrial, logistics, education, retail, public sector and event venue security.
Read moreSecurity Tools
Free online assessment tools to review your security arrangements and benchmark costs.
Read moreHow We Operate
Coverage, client reporting, integrated delivery and our 24/7 control room.
Read moreCareers
Current security vacancies across Hull, Grimsby, Leeds, Doncaster and wider Yorkshire.
Read moreSustainability
Our approach to environmental responsibility, waste reduction and sustainable operations.
Read moreSecurity Insights
Articles, guides and practical advice on security management, risk and compliance.
Read moreCurrent Vacancies
Browse and apply for live security officer, patrol and control room roles.
Read more