SIA Close Protection licensed
Every officer holds the SIA Close Protection licence, the industry’s most advanced qualification, and is BS 7858 vetted before deployment.
Ashridge Security · Close Protection
Close Protection
SIA Close Protection-licensed officers safeguarding executives, high-net-worth individuals and their families, in the UK and on assignment abroad.
Quick quote
Get a close protection quote
What you get
How Ashridge delivers close protection.
Directly employed
Officers are on our own payroll, not subcontracted — continuity, accountability and discretion for sensitive assignments.
UK and overseas cover
Protection for day-to-day movements, travel and events, in the UK and on assignment abroad.
Confidential by default
Assignments are handled discreetly, from initial enquiry through to delivery.
Enquire in confidence.
In detail
What is close protection?
Close protection is the deployment of SIA Close Protection-licensed officers to protect a person — rather than a building or site — against physical assault, harassment or injury. It covers day-to-day movements, travel, events and public appearances, planned around a threat and risk assessment specific to the individual.
Who needs close protection?
Close protection suits executives, high-net-worth individuals, their families, and public figures facing an elevated personal risk — following a specific threat, a high-profile role, high media exposure, or travel to higher-risk locations. Cover can be a single event, a fixed-term assignment, or ongoing.
SIA Close Protection licensing
Close protection is one of the SIA’s licensable activities under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, and is the most advanced SIA licence, generally requiring prior experience or specialist training beyond the standard security guarding qualification. Every Ashridge close protection officer holds a valid SIA Close Protection licence and is BS 7858 vetted before deployment.
How much does close protection cost?
Close protection is priced per assignment after a confidential threat and risk assessment, not from a fixed rate, because cost depends on the level of risk, the number of officers required, whether cover is UK-based or overseas, and the length of the assignment. Contact us in confidence to discuss your requirement and we’ll respond within one working day.
How Ashridge delivers close protection
Officers are directly employed, not subcontracted, SIA Close Protection licensed and BS 7858 vetted, drawn from the same pool that delivers our manned guarding and corporate security contracts. Every enquiry is handled in confidence, from initial contact through to delivery.
We cover assignments nationwide from our Buckinghamshire base. See our manned guarding and corporate security services, or the areas we cover.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Every enquiry, assessment and assignment is handled in confidence, and details are shared only with those who need them to plan and deliver your cover.
Yes. Every officer holds a valid SIA Close Protection licence, the industry's most advanced qualification, and is BS 7858 vetted before deployment.
Yes, we can arrange cover for travel and assignments abroad as well as in the UK — tell us the itinerary and we'll advise on what's needed.
Timescales depend on the assessment and the officers required, but we can typically mobilise within a short notice period — call us to discuss your timeline.
Proof
Where we have done this.
Security
Milton Keynes Theatre: 7 years of manned guarding without a missed show
Seven years, zero missed shows: since 2019 Ashridge Group has delivered manned guarding, alarm response and key holding for Milton Keynes Theatre, deploying 2-4 SIA-licensed officers across roughly ten performances a week to audiences of 1,000+.
Security
Experian UK
We provided security and front-of-house cover for Experian UK, a FTSE 100 credit reference agency, from 2018 to 2022 — a 22-strong team across two Nottingham sites including its data centre, a 24/7 control room managing access control for 20 UK locations, and SIA-licensed receptionists across…
Security
Front of house security for Sony
Ashridge Group has managed front of house security and reception for Sony since 2017, running an around-the-clock service at a major corporate site. Officers act as brand ambassadors at the front desk as well as security staff. Sony presented an internal company award to the team…
Confidential enquiry
Discuss a close protection requirement.
Every enquiry is handled in confidence. Tell us about the assignment and we’ll respond within one working day.