A high-profile leadership role can accelerate brand recognition, investor interest and customer trust. For women founders and directors in the UK, visibility is often a deliberate growth strategy. Yet public success can also attract unwanted attention, from aggressive protesters and stalkers to targeted harassment online and in person. At a certain point, executive protection for UK women leaders stops being a private concern and becomes a business risk that needs budgeting for.

This guide explains when executive protection is a proportionate investment for UK women in business, how to hire legitimate close protection professionals, and what costs to expect in 2026.

Why public profile has become a business risk

Media appearances, conference keynotes, investor pitches and social media commentary all raise a founder’s profile. The 2019 Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship found that only 1% of UK venture capital went to all-female founder teams, compared with 89% to all-male teams. The review has repeatedly highlighted that profile and networks are critical to women founders’ access to funding and markets. The British Business Bank’s Small Business Finance Markets 2023 report found that all-female founder teams received just 2p for every £1 of equity investment in UK startups, underlining why visibility and network-building matter. However, increased visibility also means more people know where you will be, what you think and who you employ.

The risk is not theoretical. The National Business Crime Centre, part of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, works with businesses across the UK on threats ranging from organised crime to violence against staff and leaders. While published statistics on threats specifically against business leaders are limited, the Centre’s guidance makes clear that senior personnel can become targets because of their public association with a brand, sector or political stance.

For women leaders, the risk can be amplified by gendered harassment. A 2023 Fawcett Society and Channel 4 survey found that 41% of women MPs had received threats of death or violence. Research by the Centre for Social Justice has documented that women in public life receive disproportionate threats of sexual and physical violence; its 2024 report Unsafe in Public Life found that one in seven women in public life had been threatened with sexual violence. The Office for National Statistics Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that 4.9% of adults aged 16 and over experienced stalking in the year ending March 2020. That pattern extends to high-profile founders, chief executives and non-executive directors.

When to consider executive protection

Close protection is not only for celebrities or multinational chief executives. A UK woman running a business should think seriously about close protection or enhanced security when one or more of the following apply:

• You are receiving credible threats, stalking or repeated unwanted contact.
• Your business operates in a controversial sector, such as defence, energy, animal research or healthcare provision.
• You are travelling to high-risk regions for trade missions, supplier visits or client meetings.
• You are attending high-visibility events where your attendance is publicly advertised.
• You have recently closed a high-value funding round, acquisition or IPO that has been widely reported.

The trigger is usually a combination of likelihood and impact. A single angry email is unlikely to justify a full-time protection officer. A pattern of escalating behaviour, or a specific credible threat, probably does.

How to hire a legitimate close protection provider

In the UK, close protection work is a licensable activity under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Anyone providing close protection services must hold a valid licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA). It is a criminal offence to supply these services without an SIA licence, and it is also an offence for a business to hire unlicensed operatives.

Before appointing a provider, check the following:

1. Verify the SIA licence. Ask for the operative’s SIA licence number and check it on the SIA’s online register. A close protection licence is separate from a door supervisor licence.
2. Check insurance. Reputable providers carry public liability and professional indemnity insurance. Request a certificate of insurance.
3. Look for sector membership. Membership of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) or the Security Institute indicates adherence to recognised standards.
4. Ask about experience relevant to your risk. Corporate protection, hostile-environment travel and event security require different skills.
5. Request a written proposal. It should set out the threat assessment, recommended measures, named operatives, costs and cancellation terms.

Be wary of agencies that promise “bodyguard” services without mentioning SIA licensing, or that refuse to put details in writing.

Executive protection costs for UK women leaders in 2026

Costs vary widely depending on risk level, location, duration and whether you need a single operative or a team. The table below sets out illustrative cost ranges based on typical 2025-2026 UK quotes. Treat these as starting points for your own quotes rather than fixed prices.

These figures are indicative and exclude VAT. For occasional event cover, many founders find it more practical to book protection for specific dates rather than retain a full-time officer. If the need is ongoing, a monthly retainer may be more cost-effective.

Remember that some security spending may be an allowable business expense if it is wholly and exclusively for business purposes. HMRC guidance allows reasonable security costs where the threat arises from the business. Keep detailed records and discuss the treatment with your accountant.

Build security into your business plan

Executive protection should sit alongside wider risk management. Most women-led SMEs will address the lower-cost, higher-frequency risks first: cyber insurance, public liability cover, staff safety training and a clear incident response plan. Our guide on what is cyber insurance explains how to protect digital assets, while a startup’s guide to insurance covers core business policies.

Once those foundations are in place, consider these steps:

1. Carry out a threat assessment. Document who might target you, why, and how. Update it annually or after a major business event.
2. Review your digital footprint. Remove or restrict personal information that reveals your home address, daily routine or family details.
3. Train your team. Receptionists, PAs and event staff are often the first point of contact for an aggressor. Give them clear escalation procedures.
4. Coordinate with venues. For public events, share your concerns with the organiser’s security lead in advance.
5. Know the law. Report credible threats to the police. Stalking, harassment and malicious communications are criminal offences in England and Wales under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and the Malicious Communications Act 1988.

Practical next steps for women leaders

Executive protection for UK women leaders is a cost of success that few founders budget for, but it becomes essential when visibility turns into vulnerability. Start with a realistic threat assessment, put basic security measures in place, and know when to bring in licensed professionals. If your public profile is rising, make personal security part of your 2026 business planning, not an afterthought.

For broader context on the scale of women’s enterprise in the UK, see Women in Business: Key UK Facts.