A marketplace where security shifts are funded before the officer leaves home.
Security Shift UK connects self-employed SIA-licensed security officers with businesses that need temporary cover. Every shift is paid into escrow upfront. Officers are verified, GPS-tracked, and paid within 5 working days. No agencies. No unpaid invoices. No risk of a no-show.
Security Shift UK is a technology marketplace, not a recruitment agency. All officers operate as independent contractors.
The security industry runs on trust. We put that trust in code.
Officers travel unpaid.
Self-employed security officers routinely arrive on site to find the shift cancelled, the rate changed, or the client uncontactable. There is no enforcement mechanism — just a verbal agreement.
Companies gamble on unknowns.
A no-show at 11pm on a Friday leaves a venue exposed. Hiring through informal channels means no proof of SIA licence, no Right to Work, no GPS evidence, and no audit trail if something goes wrong.
Escrow + verification, every time.
Security Shift UK holds the company's payment in escrow before the officer is even dispatched. The officer's SIA licence, Right to Work, and identity are verified in real time. Sign-on and sign-off are GPS + selfie captured. Funds release only on proof.
Four steps. Full protection.
Post & Fund
A company posts a temporary shift with venue, time, rate and required SIA licence. They fund it into escrow — either pay-per-job by card, or draw from a prepaid account credit balance.
Match & Verify
Only SIA-verified officers with valid Right to Work can apply. AI matching considers distance, licence type, reliability score and previous performance. Emergency shifts can be instant-booked by trusted officers.
Sign On, Work, Sign Off
The officer arrives and checks in via GPS geofence (150m radius) and a live selfie. The same process at shift end. A manager approves the hours. Every event is audit-logged.
Release & Reconcile
Escrow releases to the officer within 5 working days of verified sign-off. The company receives an itemised invoice. Platform fee is 12%. No surprises, no chasing, no disputes about whether someone turned up.
Built for both sides.
Cover without the agency markup.
Post temporary shifts for events, venues, void properties or emergency cover. Only verified, SIA-licensed contractors can apply. Funds are held in escrow and only release when work is proven complete.
- Fund per job or via prepaid account credit
- 12% platform fee — no subscription, no minimums
- 100% compliance guarantee on every booking
- Full audit trail: GPS, selfies, SIA, RTW
- Build Trusted Teams for instant rebooking
Never work an unfunded shift again.
One-time verification unlocks every shift on the marketplace. Browse pre-funded shifts in your radius, set your own rate, and get paid within 5 working days of a verified sign-off. No quotas. No allocations. No chasing invoices.
- Free to join — zero entry fee
- Every shift funded into escrow before you travel
- Payout within 5 working days of verified completion
- Instant Pay optional for early release
- Reliability score unlocks higher-tier shifts
Verified at every step. Guaranteed or refunded.
SIA Licence
Verified at onboarding and re-checked before every booking. Expired licences block the officer automatically.
Right to Work
Document upload with expiry tracking. No booking allowed within 14 days of expiry.
GPS + Selfie
Every check-in and check-out requires a live GPS fix within 150m and a timestamped selfie.
Audit Trail
Every booking, approval, payout and document check is logged immutably for insurance and HMRC.
If we book a non-compliant officer to your shift, your platform fee is refunded in full.
This covers active SIA licence status, valid Right to Work, and identity match at sign-on. Raise a dispute within 24 hours and admin confirms within one working day. Full terms on our Compliance page.
Security Shift UK is not a security agency and not a recruitment firm.
We are technology infrastructure for an independent workforce. The platform facilitates direct engagement between self-employed SIA-licensed contractors and businesses that need temporary cover. We do not employ officers. We do not place permanent staff. We do not guarantee suitability for a specific venue — that remains the company's on-site supervision responsibility.
Common questions
What exactly is Security Shift UK?+
A technology marketplace that connects self-employed SIA-licensed security officers with UK businesses needing temporary shift cover. We handle escrow, compliance verification, GPS sign-on/sign-off, automated invoicing and payout — but we do not employ anyone.
When do officers get paid?+
Within 5 working days of a verified sign-off, provided there is no open dispute. Instant Pay is available as an opt-in for an early-release fee.
How does escrow work?+
When a company books a shift, the payment is held in a ring-fenced escrow balance. The officer doesn't travel until the money is confirmed. Funds only release to the officer once sign-on and sign-off are verified by GPS and manager approval.
What does the 12% fee cover?+
Compliance verification, SIA and RTW re-checking, GPS and selfie evidence capture, automated invoicing with VAT, dispute mediation, and the audit trail. No subscription or hidden charges.
Can I use this for permanent roles?+
No. Security Shift UK is strictly for temporary, casual, event-based and emergency cover. Permanent, salaried or long-term placements are not permitted.
Who handles tax and NI?+
Officers are self-employed independent contractors and are responsible for their own tax, National Insurance and self-assessment. Companies are responsible for their own statutory obligations.
What happens if an officer doesn't show up?+
Escrow funds are not released. The platform broadcasts the shift to nearby officers on a best-endeavours basis. The no-showing officer receives a strike, their reliability score drops, and disruption recovery fees may apply.
Ready to remove the risk from security staffing?
Whether you need cover for a single night or you're an officer looking for flexible, funded shifts, Security Shift UK handles the trust layer so you don't have to.