Former Royal Military Police officer Tracy Webster established Pinnacle Risk Consultancy, a renowned specialist security services business, back in 2016. This veteran-owned UK business today possesses offices in Yorkshire, Manchester, and London, tactically offering it close proximity to the UK’s major cities and easy access to many of its most bustling towns and counties. With Tracy being recognised as the Most Influential Female CEO 2024 – UK (Security and Protection), we catch up with her to find out more about her journey and this incredible operation.
When it comes to security, there is no such thing as a uniform approach. Every situation and every client is different, and so too is the solution that needs to be applied to their case. Offering a fully bespoke and tailored service that expertly covers all of the nuances of a particular brief, Pinnacle Risk Consultancy is, as its name suggests, at the very top of the pack when it comes to specialist security services. From close protection to TSCM (technical surveillance counter measures), this encompassing service covers all possible bases.
Pinnacle Risks offers these high-end, specialist security services to a range of diverse clients across the globe, from ultra-high-net-worth individuals to celebrities and even members of royal families, as well as at-risk professionals, corporate and commercial entities, and anyone else requiring security within the workplace. Regardless of the client, the company operates with “Presence of Mind”, something that extends to all of its highly experienced male and female bodyguards and field experts deployed both in the UK and worldwide.
Thanks to a background in the Royal Military Police and a wealth of experience working in the Specialist Investigation Branch, Pinnacle Risk’s CEO is more than qualified to lead in this sector. In the years since stepping away from the military, this former Redcap has spent her time further honing the skills she picked up during her service, developing by working with the likes of surveillance techniques and on undercover deployments. Whatever the nature of the mission, Tracy acts with a hands-on approach and a strict adherence to legal parameters.
Having worked within the private security industry now for the better part of two decades, it pays to go back to the beginning of Tracy’s career to fully appreciate the impact that she continues to have in this setting. In 1996, 17-year-old Tracy Webster decided to pursue her interest in law enforcement and the armed forces, signing on to serve her queen and country for the Royal Military Police. This was far from the norm at the time, particularly for a young woman from a small farming village nestled in the Yorkshire Dales.
Many people questioned this decision, and Tracy enjoyed spending the next seven years proving them wrong. Commenting on her time served with the armed forces, Tracy explains, “I learnt so much and my time in the military provided a superb foundation for the rest of my life.” From teaching her the importance of high standards to showing her what it takes to pull together and work as a team, it is the skills Tracy first picked up in the Royal Military Police that continue to guide Pinnacle Risk Consulting to success to this day.
As her career in the armed forces began to wind down, Tracy was already looking at transferring her skillset to the private security industry, a move she saw as an obvious and welcome career change. Securing a position at a corporate security organisation shortly after, Tracy was responsible for managing a specialist security unit. Tracy would excel in this role for the next 12 years, until she made the leap in 2016 and set up her own business, a feat she attributes to the knowledge and experience afforded to her by peers and colleagues.
Nearly eight years on, Tracy has built Pinnacle Risk into an accredited, leading consultancy firm comprised of a close-knit team of male and female industry professionals. Approximately 85% of this team consists of former military personnel, and the diverse nature of this highly skilled workforce aligns perfectly with the increased demand for female bodyguards and protection officers. Many female clients prefer working with a female protection officer as they feel more comfortable being protected by a woman.
“I am a champion of women in business, especially those operating within the private security sector, as we are a small and rare commodity. I see the value of us supporting each other not just in the United Kingdom, but on a global scale.”
A female owner, CEO, military veteran, and trained bodyguard all rolled into one, the role that Tracy plays in the success of the business is crucial. With her background and skillset, she is the company’s unique selling point. Clients from all over the world seek out the business to leverage this knowledge for their own gain, and Tracy collaborates closely with her team to see that this is carried out with maximum impact. Developing this team and ensuring that they thrive in their roles is one of Tracy’s most pressing priorities as CEO.
Whilst the welfare of her team and clients is of the utmost importance, Tracy tells us that she refuses to micromanage during deployment, solely because she has faith in the capability of her executive staff to deliver excellence. This is just one of many managerial traits that Tracy picked up during her time serving the nation, a tenure which has influenced her leadership approach no end. The core values that Pinnacle Risk has adopted also largely stem from the British Army, prioritising the likes of trust, teamwork, and leadership above all else.
For Tracy, getting stuck in is another big part of her duties. She explains, “when time allows, I operate as a personal protection officer on the ground with my teams. This allows me to maintain my skillset as a protection officer and affords me time with my staff that I wouldn’t ordinarily have.” She continues, “it also allows an opportunity for me to see the quality of my staff operating live on the ground, ensuring they are maintaining the highest standards. I feel this compliments my leadership style and creates stronger bonds amongst my staff.”
Unsurprisingly, work of this nature can be stressful for extended periods, sometimes weeks or months at a time. To counteract this, the team pull together as a unit and constantly support one another. As an extension of this, Tracy also strives to remain approachable, transparent, and respectful across all interactions with her team. She puts it best when she says, “I am a firm believer that if my operators are supported by me and enjoying their roles professionally, this reflects hugely on the experience of clients engaging with Pinnacle Risk Consultancy.”
It is also important to note that the company is heavily involved with the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC), and Tracy and co. pledge to support the defence community, veterans, and reservists, as well as their families, across the business. A Proud AFC signatory and holder of the Employment Recognition Scheme Gold Award, Pinnacle Risk Consultancy is essentially an extension of the success of the British Armed Forces, mixing its remarkable values with a suite of professional services that guarantee personal protection of the highest standard.
Well-versed in everything from female bodyguard services through to TSCM bug sweeps and physical penetration testing, Pinnacle Risk Consultancy takes the safety of its clients incredibly seriously. For its suite of specialist security services and the ongoing dedication that it has across this challenging sphere, we celebrate the company’s visionary leader with this award. Having come a long way from the small Yorkshire village in which she was raised, Tracy Webster is today a pioneer, a leader, and an influential CEO.
For business enquiries, contact Tracy Webster from Pinnacle Risk Consultancy on their website – https://www.pinnacle-risk.com/
