Bodyguards / Close Protection

Thank you for to taking time to read this post.

Our business is mainly investigations and surveillance, but my wife, and co-director, is also an experienced and SIA licensed Close Protection Officer, and licensed Chaperone. She's actually in London on a task at present looking after visiting royalty.

We are looking to offer discreet protection services (including counter surveillance), as opposed to a full team of large bodyguards, to high net worth clients/families and/or businesses. This is so attention isn't drawn to them, in case paparazzi or any other threats are on the agenda, and will allow them to go about their daily lives in relative peace.

We would like to hear from anyone who has used close protection or counter surveillance teams, or knows of individuals or businesses that have used bodyguards, or other asset protection services in the past. Information like how effective they were, was it worth the expense, and what would they like to see in the future, would be of great help to us. Any feedback gained will be used to help with what the service will entail, and how it will be delivered.

We have a set of protocols already in place, but a little market research will hopefully help us with the USP we're looking for. If you would like any further information, please get in touch. Thanks for any help that is forthcoming.

Andy

Andy,
I love the idea of your services!
I might use you when I get famous and successful enough!
How cool would it be to have bodyguards looking after you at a 4N meeting!!
Brad Burton must almost be at that stage. Brad, I can see you doing your talks with your protection team on stage with you!
Andy, great idea and there is definitely a market for your service.
Good luck with it.

Hi Andy,

In a previous existence I was a target surveillance officer/ surveillance driver with a leading UK law enforcement agency so I can appreciate the skills required in this sector. An ordinary 9-5 job it certainly ain't  !!

I think one of the main barriers you have to overcome in finding good quality work is the Catch-22 situation that clients want a company with a proven reputation (because their safety is on the line) - but how do you build that reputation without first having clients? Having the appropriate qualifications is a given start point of course, but it is only a start point.

What might impress (and thus reassure) potential clients would be the ability to say truthfully that the team members were (say) ex-SAS/ Military Police/ Diplomatic Protection Group and thus had a wealth of operational experience upon which to draw - experience which could be essential for keeping the client in one piece if the worst case scenario were to actually develop.

As for finding these elusive clients I would suggest approaching the security directors for major international companies to discuss their requirements for protecting senior executives. Bearing in mind the need to reassure I don't think just giving them a brochure will do the trick, but maybe offering to put on a free (but short) demo of your services might work? Maybe you offer to drive the security director from one meeting to another, treating him as the Principal, so that he (or she!) can make a first hand evaluation of your skills?

Of course, if I were a security director offered such a demo I'd be tempted to arrange an ambush just to see how you reacted - but I'm devious that way  !!

I hope these comments are of help, but if you'd like to chat them through with me then please don't hesitate to give me a call.

I wish you all the best as you develop the business.

Andy