The Keyholding Company
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The Keyholding Company
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Remove the stress of sourcing short-term guarding cover.

Our award-winning technology rapidly sources SIA-licensed guards to help you fill roster gaps. Whether it's to cover annual leave, sickness or recruitment vacancies, we're on hand to help at short notice.

Why choose us?

Fully compliant

Quality is important, which is why we only work with ACS-accredited partners who strictly employ SIA licensed officers.

One point of contact

Let us do the heavy lifting. Our technology and team of experts will find you the right guard for the job.

Easy management

Flex your services to suit your requirements. Amend, edit or cancel your shifts using our easy-to-use calendar view.

Book, manage and track shifts online

You’re in control. Outline the time, place, and type of guard you need on our platform. Our technology finds you the most suitable local partner for the job and sends a booking confirmation within 35 minutes. Use the platform to manage your shift schedule in real time, or get ahead and rebook on the spot.

Our award-winning technology

Get transparency for peace of mind

  • Before a shift we’ll send you the guard’s full name, SIA credentials and a photo so you know exactly who to expect. We send guards regular shift reminders, and they check in and out within geo-fenced site boundaries, so you know they are in the right place at the right time. At the end of the shift you’ll receive a full, comprehensive job report.

You're in expert hands

  • Our dedicated team are committed to delivering a quality service and ensuring effective governance across our supply chain. Along with our Quality Assurance team, they continually analyse partner performance and identify, investigate and address any issues, reporting back so you remain up to date.

Our COP119 certification further reinforces this, confirming that our approach to labour provision meets the highest industry standards for compliance and transparency.

Our standards

Guarding news

Quality, compliance & clarity: E&T Guarding

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Tackling your guarding roster gaps

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How our tech solves your guarding headaches

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The Keyholding Company have proven on multiple occasions to be a consistent, reliable source for quality security guards. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for additional support.

Dale Weatherson, former Senior Regional Loss Prevention Manager, Next

Working with The Keyholding Company’s guarding team makes securing any of our 134 stores a breeze. Communication is quick and easy, and the security guards who attend are always very professional.

Dominic Ibrahim, Maintenance Coordinator, Deichmann

The Keyholding Company have provided us alarm response and last-minute guarding services as far south as the Isle of Wight and as far north as Arbroath. They have never let us down.

Andy Miller, National Maintenance Manager, Cats Protection

Their guarding services have been effective in tackling issues we dealt with in-house. From start to finish the whole process is seamless. It's an investment we do not regret.

Derrick Gough, Head of Loss Prevention, CeX/DeX
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FAQs

What is emergency and temporary security guarding?

Emergency and temporary guarding is fast, flexible cover from SIA-licensed officers, deployed when staff shortages, sickness or holiday gaps leave rosters short; it also covers planned needs like events, vacant properties and seasonal peaks. The Keyholding Company draws on 11,000 guards across 200 ACS-accredited partners, fulfils 99.7% of shifts and delivers a detailed report after every one.

How much does a temporary security guard cost per hour?

Hourly rates vary with region, shift length and licensing requirements. Prices may increase for difficult-to-cover locations, licensing requirements and bank holidays. A compliant rate must cover the officer’s wages, SIA licensing, BS 7858 vetting and insurance. The Keyholding Company prices each booking on the specific site and shift pattern required, and delivers coverage through a network of 200 local ACS-accredited partners.

How quickly can I get a security guard at short notice?

Short-notice cover is often available the same day, depending on location and requirements. Book a guard through our platform, specifying the time, location and guard type, and The Keyholding Company will confirm your booking within 35 minutes. Before every shift you will receive the guard’s name, SIA credentials and photo. Backed by 200 ACS-accredited partners and 11,000 SIA-licensed guards, we maintain a 99.7% shift fulfilment rate.

What is COP119 and why does it matter when hiring guards?

COP119 is the Code of Practice for the provision of labour in the security and events sector. Certified suppliers are independently audited on SIA licensing, BS 7858 vetting, right-to-work, PAYE and minimum wage compliance. The Keyholding Company holds COP119 certification, proof that our labour provision meets recognised UK standards for ethical, transparent and compliant deployment.

What should I check before hiring a security company?

Check four things: the company holds SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) accreditation, officers hold valid SIA licences and are vetted to BS 7858, and the provider carries appropriate insurance. COP119 certification adds an independent audit of licensing, vetting, right-to-work and pay compliance. The Keyholding Company meets all of these standards and robustly audits our network of 200 ACS-accredited partners to ensure our network delivers the highest quality of service.

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