MOD Guard Service
The MGS (MOD Guard Service) plays a vital role supporting MOD security.
What we do
The MGS has guarded the defence estate for over 25 years and provides unarmed guarding services for over 100 sites in England, Scotland and Wales, including high profile locations such as MOD Main Building in London and His Majesty’s Naval Bases at Portsmouth, Devonport and the Clyde. We are passionate about the services we provide and work hard to keep pace with developments in the security industry, as we seek to be the unarmed guarding provider of choice.
We strive to ensure our standards are maintained through external accreditation, holding the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) Gold standard, Customer Service Excellence (CSE) and Committed to Equality (C2E) awards.
MOD Guard Service (MGS) provides the highest level of security, supporting critical Defence capability. Gareth Morgan, MGS-HO-Eng and Comms Officer, Crown Copyright.
The MGS is part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and employs over 2,000 operational and support staff as civil servants. They are managed by a Head Office team, dispersed strategically around the country according to requirements.
MGS officers are very often the first point of contact with the MOD for employees, visitors and contractors and they pride themselves on a customer-focused culture, working to DIO’s Values as well as our own core values of honesty, integrity, professionalism and efficiency. Watch a short video about working for the Ministry of Defence Guard Service
MGS services
MGS offers a range of services to meet customer needs.
MGS protects over 100 MOD sites in Great Britain, helping to keep the Defence Estate safe and secure. Gareth Morgan, MGS-HO-Eng and Comms Officer, Crown Copyright.
These include:
- control of access and egress
- security searches
- reception management
- event security co-ordination
- incident cordon and control
- control room management including CCTV and alarm monitoring and response
- first aid
- patrolling, including dog patrols. Further information about our Dog Sections can be found by watching a video on being a dog handler in the Ministry of Defence Guard Service.
The MGS works closely with other security partners to provide, when appropriate, a fully integrated security solution for the site.
Working for MGS
To achieve our goals, we need dedicated highly motivated people with diverse backgrounds, experience and skills, who are able to adapt to meet the complex range of threats and challenges in a rapidly changing world.
MGS guards enjoying a local engagement communications visit. Gareth Morgan, MGS-HO-Eng and Comms Officer, Crown Copyright.
Our staff come from a variety of backgrounds and professions and bring a wealth of customer service and security experience. We take the time to understand our customers’ values and security needs, and our highly trained officers must be equipped to deliver services which reflect our culture and underpin the security mission.
We offer a broad range of interesting and challenging jobs, with a variety of working patterns, contributing directly to the UK’s Defence Mission. We enable our people to work at the right place, with the right people, at the right time. We believe that if we look after our people they will be passionate about delivering great things for our customers.
MGS are committed to equality and have thriving MOD diversity and inclusion networks. Gareth Morgan, MGS-HO-Eng and Comms Officer, Crown Copyright.
We understand the importance of life outside of work, and our industry leading, flexible working practices will give all our staff the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance.
We recruit security officers and managers, admin support staff, programme and project managers and training and communications staff.
We welcome applications from all sections of the community, especially those from black and minority ethnic as they are under-represented within our organisation. The MGS is committed to being an equal opportunities employer.
MGS dog sections support Armed Forces capability by keeping MOD sites operating safely and securely. Gareth Morgan, MGS-HO-Eng and Comms Officer, Crown Copyright.
MGS staff are broader banded civil servants and as such have many opportunities to develop and progress both within MOD and across the wider Civil Service.
Our training
Security officers in the MOD Guard Service benefit from industry leading training and are supported by management processes that are externally audited to the National Inspectorate Gold Standard. We aim to:
- equip our people with the skills and capabilities to deliver service excellence
- provide easy access to the right learning
- enable line managers and individuals to take ownership for their development goals
- improve confidence and understanding gained through quality learning experiences.
We provide the highest standard of training throughout the year in classrooms across the country. Gareth Morgan, MGS-HO-Eng and Comms Officer, Crown Copyright.
We take pride in our quality of service and we are dedicated to providing our staff are given the highest standard of training and offered the best available development opportunities to ensure that standard is maintained. All operational staff must complete mandatory functional training associated with their role and responsibilities.
The MGS invests heavily in its in-house training and is accredited to provide British Safety Council qualifications. We are proud that our efforts have been recognised by the prestigious National Training Awards.
Head Office management regularly visit MGS sites to drive our culture of continues improvement. Gareth Morgan, MGS-HO-Eng and Comms Officer, Crown Copyright.
New entrant requirements
All new entrants will be subject to security vetting. All new entrants must also pass a selection interview.
Working hours and leave
Most staff work on average 42 hours per week (41 in London). Further benefits include:
- day and shift working for operational staff
- flexitime scheme upon completion of 6 months service
- alternative working practices
- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
- in addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday
- generous maternity and paternity package
- highly competitive pension scheme
MGS protects the Defence Estate 365 days of the year, providing the highest customer service. Gareth Morgan, MGS-HO-Eng and Comms Officer, Crown Copyright.
How to apply
If you would like to view all current vacancies in the MGS and the wider Civil Service, please take a look at the Applying for the job: Learning Resource and visit Civil Service Job portal.
Updates to this page
Published 12 December 2012Last updated 24 June 2020 + show all updates
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Updated links.
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Updated content: added two video links and multiple images to the page.
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Updated page content and added MGS Recruitment Flyer.
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Updated what we do section.
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Added link to the MGS workforce development team charter.
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Updated details about the MGS.
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Updated content
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First published.