Where Can I Hire a Bodyguard? - A Practical Guide for UK & Ireland Clients

People usually ask this question at a specific moment. Something has changed. Visibility has increased, travel has become more frequent, or a situation no longer feels quite as straightforward as it used to. 

If you’re asking where you can hire a bodyguard in the UK or Ireland, the answer is straightforward. Professional bodyguards are engaged through established private security firms that specialise in bodyguard services and close protection.

What matters is not the building they operate from, but the standards, vetting and judgement behind the service.

Where Can I Hire a Bodyguard in the UK or Ireland?

In both the UK and Ireland, legitimate bodyguard services are delivered through professionally run private security companies.

These firms are responsible for:

• Vetting and licensing operatives

• Insurance and legal compliance

• Operational oversight and continuity

• Matching the right individual to the right client

In the UK, professional bodyguards, more accurately known as Close Protection Officers, must hold the correct SIA Close Protection licence. In Ireland, while regulation is structured differently, reputable providers still need to operate to the same professional standards.

If someone is offering bodyguard services informally, without a company structure or accountability, that alone should raise questions.

What People Really Mean When They Search for a “Bodyguard”

Many people search for a bodyguard because it’s the term they recognise. In reality, what they’re often looking for is close protection.

Close protection goes far beyond having someone physically present. It includes:

• Risk and threat assessment

• Discreet planning around movements and routines

• Situational awareness in public and private settings

• Judgement calls made quietly, in real time

Using the word bodyguard is not wrong. It’s simply the public-facing term for a more structured professional service.

Understanding this distinction helps ensure you engage the right level of protection, rather than something that only looks reassuring on the surface.

Where Do Celebrities and High-Profile Individuals Hire Bodyguards?

Celebrities, executives and public figures do not hire personal bodyguards casually or independently.

Protection is usually arranged through:

• Established private security firms

• Management teams, legal advisors or private offices

• PAs or EAs acting on the principal’s behalf

The focus is rarely on visibility. In most cases, discretion and judgement are prioritised over overt presence. The goal is to protect the individual without changing how they live or drawing unnecessary attention.

This is why long-term relationships with trusted providers are common at this level. Consistency matters.

Where You Should Avoid Hiring a Bodyguard From

Just as important as knowing where to look is knowing where not to.

Caution is advised with:

• Online marketplaces or freelance platforms

• Informal introductions without professional oversight

• Overseas providers unfamiliar with UK or Irish operating standards

These options often lack proper vetting, insurance, backup capability and accountability. If something goes wrong, there may be no structure in place to manage it.

Professional protection should never be improvised.

Where Professional Bodyguard Services Operate

Reputable bodyguard services are not limited to a single city or office.

Professional providers operate nationally across:

• London and the Home Counties

• Manchester, Cheshire, Birmingham and surrounding regions

• Dublin, Belfast and across Ireland

Protection follows the client. Whether at home, travelling, attending events or moving between locations, the service adapts to your movements rather than anchoring you to a place.

How to Hire a Bodyguard Properly Once You Know Where to Look

Once you understand where professional bodyguards are sourced from, the process becomes clearer.

It usually begins with a discreet conversation, not a commitment. This allows a provider to understand:

• Why protection is being considered

• Whether bodyguard services or close protection are appropriate

• The level of visibility required

• The duration and context of the requirement

From there, the focus should be on matching the right operative to your lifestyle, not simply assigning availability.

A Note for PAs and EAs Tasked With Finding a Bodyguard

For PAs and EAs, sourcing protection is often done quietly and under time pressure.

You’re balancing discretion, speed and responsibility. Technical credentials matter, but so does consistency, judgement and the ability to integrate seamlessly into a principal’s life.

A professional provider understands the position you’re in. They work with you, communicate clearly and respect the sensitivity of the role you play.

Asking the right questions early prevents complications later.

Why Bodyguard Services and Close Protection Are About Trust

Whether you call it a bodyguard or close protection, the principle is the same.

You are granting someone access to your movements, routines and private life. That requires trust, not just capability.

The right provider operates calmly, quietly and consistently in the background. Protection should feel steady and unobtrusive, not performative or disruptive.

Why Clients Choose VIS for Bodyguard Services

At VIS, bodyguard services are delivered by veteran-led teams operating to the highest professional standards across the UK and Ireland.

Our approach is discreet, measured and built around trust. We focus on long-term protection, not short-term presence, and we tailor every deployment to the individual rather than a template.

Protection should support your life, not change it.

Final Thought

If you’re asking where you can hire a bodyguard, you’re already asking the right question.

The next step is choosing a provider who understands that protection is not about appearance or proximity, but about judgement, discretion and trust.

If you’re considering professional bodyguard or close protection services in the UK or Ireland, we’re always available for a discreet conversation, in confidence. Get in touch.